Deal falls through for Pistons

Chris McCosky of the Detroit News reports that the Pistons almost made a trade yesterday. They were close to acquiring Amal McCaskill from the Trail Blazers on Monday but the deal fell through at the last minute.

McCaskill would have gone to the Pistons in exchange for a 2nd round pick that wouldn’t be exchanged until 2009. Also, the Trail Blazers would have paid McCaskill’s salary.

The deal crumbled when MCCaskill refused to go on the Piston’s injured list.

The 29 year-old center was waived by the Blazes after the trade fell through. He will be a free agent after clearing waivers in two days. The Blazers already have a surplus of big men, including Zach Randolph, Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje, Arvydas Sabonis, Dale Davis and Rasheed Wallace.

"We will keep our eyes open and see if we can bring in another big man," Pistons President Joe Dumars said. "But it has to be the right kind of guy. Right now, we are looking to start the season with the group we have."

"It would really help if we could get another big body in here," Coach Rick Carlisle said. "It would help for practices and for insurance against another injury."

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Pistons lose Reid for season

Perry A. Ferrell of the Detroit Free Press reports that the Pistons have lost newly-acquired Don Reid for the season. Reid, who figured to play a significant roll off the bench suffered torn right Achilles tendon against the Miami Heat at the St. Pete Times Forum.

Reid, a 6-foot-8 forward and center, missed a shot early in the second quarter and in a scramble for the rebound went down with 11:06 to play. He was carried to the locker room by trainer Mike Abdenour and strength and conditioning coach Arnie Kander. They applied ice to Reid's leg.

"It felt like it slipped out from under me, then it stuck, then I heard a pop, then I thought someone was on top of my leg," Reid said after the Pistons' 85-80 overtime win. "I couldn't move my foot. I'll get it checked out tomorrow and go from there. They tried to keep it in a neutral position and iced it up."

Said teammate Michael Curry: "Every player in this locker room knows what a loss this is to us. I don't think the fans or the media realize how important he was to us. Any time he was on the floor, the energy picked up with his hustle plays."

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Sanchez finally lands in Detroit

Chris McCosky of the the Detroit News reports that Pistons guard Pepe Sanchez finally arrived in camp yesterday. Almost a month after signing a 2-year contract, Sanchez was able to cut through the international politics and red tape and fly all night from Buenos Aires, through Atlanta, before arriving in Detroit at 10 a.m. Pistons international scout Tony Ronzone picked him up and drove him directly to practice.

When asked how Sanchez looked, Pistons Coach Rick Carlisle cracked, "Well, he looks alive. That's a good thing."

To get Sanchez from Argentina to Detroit, Dumars and vice president of basketball John Hammond had to: negotiate a buy-out from his contract with a team in Spain, get clearance from the Spanish Federation, get clearance from FIBA, get clearance from the INS and obtain a work visa.

"Each one of those steps takes its own time, and we were actually on the quick path," Dumars said. "We couldn't have possibly got him here any quicker. When you are dealing with international agencies, they don't work on your clock. You work on theirs.

"So I had to take my patience pills every morning."

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