Joe Dumars speaks to Pistons fans and media immediately after Dumars selected Austin Daye as the Pistons #15 pick in the draft.  He talks about Austin, and the state of the team.

Best line….

“Yes, he’s skinnier than Tayshaun, so we definitely have to put some weight on him.”

Please note….the “no more drama” quote.  Sounds liked Dumars had enough of the current and not so current Pistons players and their “issues.”  Take it however you like but Joe sounds like he’s cleaning house.

Think Iverson sent him over the edge?

Thanks go out to the entire Pistons Organization (DW) who let me Live Blog the Event.

“A League source tells WDFN’s Matt Dery that the Pistons are close to signing second round pick Walter Sharpe to a two year contract. Sharpe was the team’s first of three second round picks out of UAB. Also, WDFN has learned that the Pistons have offered Will Bynum a one year deal to be their third point guard. Bynum played very well for the Pistons summer league team in Las Vegas.” Via Matt Dery of WDFN

Three point guards on the roster not counting Lindsey Hunter, makes you think.

Rip Hamilton looks back to the day he was drafted by The Washington Wizards.

“Shep filled in for Jamie yesterday on the WDFN morning show and one of the callers said that he was at CDR’s house on draft night. CDR told everyone there (according to this mystery caller) that he did not feel he fit with Detroit and had no interest in being a Piston and wanted to go to a team that ran more. I was working that morning and heard this exchange and I decided to do a little research.

It turns out that the caller (CDR’s friend) was right on the money. Douglas-Roberts believed that there was no way he would drop to #29 and likely felt like it was an insult to even believe that he would be available to play for a team like Detroit drafting that low. I talked to someone who knows CDR and he told me that Douglas-Roberts thought he was a top 20 lock. In addition, the Pistons did call CDR’s people and offered to work him out. There was no workout. He did not come to the Palace. Now you know the story and the kid ended up going to New Jersey at #40. “ Via Matt Dery

More on Matt’s page and I’m sure he will keep us updated on any breaking news, so stay tuned.

It was a topsy turvy night for Pistons fans on Thursday. With high hopes of a solid pick and possible a deal yesterday things didn’t happen quite as we had hoped in Piston Land.

Now don’t get me wrong, I didn’t really have high hopes of a solid pick at 29, so when The Pistons picked D.J. White I had a bit of a smile on my face. However my smile didn’t last very long when word came down that Detroit handed over the rights to White for two later picks from Seattle.

So like most of you I waited…and waited for Detroit to pick Chris-Douglas Roberts the other top prospects that were still on the board and apparently were players that Detroit had interest in. Instead Dumars picks Walter Sharpe. Who?

The skinny on Sharpe: Via Michael Rosenberg from The Detroit Free Press

“Yes, he really has struggled with narcolepsy. He was academically ineligible last semester, presumably for spelling “Sharp” wrong. And maybe the best sign that he is ready for pro sports is that he already has his first nightclub arrest under his belt.”

Great

But more promising words from Joe Dumars and Keith Langlois:

“He’s good, man, he’s good,” Dumars said. “Handles it, shoots it, long and smooth.”

Dumars said Sharpe will be a small forward in the NBA, though he was playing out of position at UAB as a power forward.

As for Sharpe’s history of off-court trouble-arrested for disorderly conduct, academically ineligible, shot two years ago though it appears he was an innocent victim – Dumars said almost all of it traces to the narcolepsy only recently diagnosed. He said Sharpe is now on medication and that “he says it’s changed his life.” Dumars said he’s talked to “more people in Alabama than I care to remember” and is perfectly convinced Sharpe has a firm grip on his life now.

Why didn’t they keep White you ask…

“The reason they didn’t keep White, Dumars said, is they saw him as too close in playing style to Jason Maxiell – an undersized power forward who can play, but a duplication of Maxiell.” Keith Langlois

As for the other picks:

“Trent Plaisted and Deron Washington, the two other second-rounders, were picked in part because they agreed to play in Europe next season. Dumars said the organization asked potential second-round picks if they would be willing to play overseas because he didn’t anticipate having a roster spot for them next season. Those who answered no, the Pistons scratched off their list. That’s one reason they didn’t take Bill Walker, though Dumars said ‘we liked him a lot.”Keith Langlois

So, right now there are a few answers to your WTF questions swirling from last night. I knew they looked at Plaisted, but had no Idea about the other two. I’m still thinking much more is to come in terms of a shake up but at this point we know it didn’t stem from the happenings of the Draft.

As for the picks, I didn’t expect much, but I can’t say I’m on the bandwagon. I did find a little hopeful insight, a Deron Washington dunk mix on YouTube.

I have the feeling most of you feel the same way I do about last night. We may need a poll for this one.

The Pistons have the #29 pick in tonight’s 2008 NBA Draft. They may not get a player that will stick that late, but don’t discount a trade brewing right now or after all the names have been called.

Last year we had an idea that Dumars was going after Rodney Stuckey, but this pick is up in the air. In fact, the future of tonight and beyond is up in the air.

The Draft will be broadcast live on ESPN and ESPN360, for those who need to stream it live, starting at 7:00 PM.

This could possibly be a night of changes far from what we are used to as Pistons fans. This team’s fate rests on the decisions of Joe Dumars. In Joe D we should trust, right?

I’m sure the comments will be lively, so stay tuned.

Straight from Matt Dery of WDFN who will giving more detail on air throughout the day at WDFN 1130 AM.

“The Pistons are gearing up for the upcoming NBA Draft.

Today they are working out some Big Men, including NC State’s JJ HICKSON, Kansas’s SASHA KAUN, TRENT PLAISTED from BYU and JOSEPH JONES from TEXAS A AND M”

Head over to WDFN and listen to Matt Live for more details.

Thanks for the heads up Matt.