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Harper Becomes Pistons AssistantWhen former Bulls and Lakers standout Ron Harper expressed interest in coaching, Pistons coach Flip Saunders didn't hesitate to bring him on board. "He brings five (championship) rings and a lot of credibility," Saunders said of Harper, who retired in 2002 and has spent the last two years working with the Lakers. "His knowledge of the game is impressive." The Pistons formally announced Harper's hiring Monday. He joins Sidney Lowe, Don Zierden and Igor Kokoskov on Saunders' staff. Kokoskov is one of three members of Larry Brown's staff still with the team. The others are video coordinator Bill Pope and advance scout Brendan O'Connor. "Ron has been in a lot of situations," Saunders said. "He's a really nice addition for us." Harper brings another attribute, Saunders said -- "He's very familiar with Shaquille O'Neal (the Miami Heat center with whom he played in Los Angeles)." It didn't hurt that Harper and Saunders have the same agent -- Mark Termini. Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Pistons Worry Minor League Could Be Major Hassle
After all, they have two second-round draft picks, 19-year-old forward Amir Johnson and guard Alex Acker, whom they are extremely high on, although neither is expected to see much playing time this season. But it's no slam dunk that the Pistons will use their minor-league affiliate, the Fayetteville Patriots of the National Basketball Development League, an affiliation they share with the New York Knicks and Charlotte Bobcats. "It's sort of a work in progress right now," said Scott Perry, the Pistons' director of player personnel. "We have to really take a look and see what the environment will be down there, and see what the team will be like, before we start sending our players down there." The ultimate goal for the NBDL is to have 30 teams, with each NBA team having its own affiliation. That way, the NBA team can impose its own coaches and system and regulate playing time for its players. Most NBDL teams now have four NBA teams contributing to their roster. Fayetteville is one of two that is affiliated with just three. "I think this gives us another great opportunity, if we choose to use it," said John Hammond, vice president of basketball operations for the Pistons. "As far as us having a definite set plan to send guys down right now, we don't have one." Hammond said one of the concerns was playing time. He pointed out that with two other teams feeding players to Fayetteville, plus the team having its own players, there could be no guarantees that Johnson or Acker would play 25-30 minutes a game. "Watching those guys on our own floor every day, working with our guys, that's as good as it gets," Hammond said. "There is something to be said for accountability, for actually seeing guys every day." Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Parker Leads France Over Serbia & Montenegro; Darko Looks Solid
Many analysts were impressed with the Pistons' Darko Milicic over the course of the tournament. His numbers weren’t all that big, however, in 10 minutes of work, the youngster averaged 4.5 points, 4 rebounds and 1.25 blocks en route to a solid summer. San Antonio Spurs, Detroit Pistons Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Pistons Sep 2005 Archive
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On the surface, it would seem the NBA's new minor-league system would be a huge plus for the Pistons. 
San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker helped France defeat perennial European powerhouse Serbia & Montenegro, contributing 13 points and 3 assists in the win.