Yashinsky: Where Are They Now? Ex-Pistons & Local College Stars in the NBA Playoffs

Still Alive

Draymond Green  (Golden State Warriors)

The top-seeded Warriors were in serious trouble last night against Portland.  The Blazers had dominated the action for the majority of the night and carried a double-digit lead into the final quarter.  Of course, G-State was also without the services of the likely back-to-back league MVP, Steph Curry.  But the undersized, underdog, second-round afterthought from Michigan State took matters into his own hands and decided defeat was not an option. 

He blocked a shot against Gerald Henderson.  He went down the floor and found Festus Ezeli for an easy bucket.  A couple trips later, it was another daring drive from Draymond finished with another gorgeous feed to Ezeli, this time for a rim-rattling jam and an immediate Trailblazer timeout.  The Warriors crept closer and closer, finally cutting the deficit to just three with about half the quarter left.  As the shot clock wound down, the ball naturally found Green; without panicking, he calmly slithered by his man, attracted the attention of multiple defenders, and dished to the near corner for sharpshooter Klay Thompson.  Nothing but net, the score was deadlocked, and for a guy that at that point was an atrocious 5-for-17 from the field, he had managed to take the game over without actually putting the ball in the goal.

The intensity that Green brings to the game has to be seen to be fully appreciated.  It’s not just a guy “playing with energy.”  It’s a defensive focus and tenacity on every possession that completely changes the outcome of the game.  The Warriors had no business defeating Portland last night.  The Blazers came to play, jumped out to a big lead, and sensed blood in the water playing a team without their most dynamic player. 

But none of it mattered to one Draymond Green, a player that in just his fourth year has cemented himself as one of the most versatile guys the NBA has seen in a very long time.

Tim Hardaway Jr.  (Atlanta Hawks)

It’s Timmy’s third year in the league and he’s still trying to find his footing.  After a couple of seasons putting up decent numbers for horrendous Knicks teams, he’s now playing spot minutes for a very good Atlanta Hawks club. 

The former Wolverine played sparingly in the opening round victory over Boston.  Some nights he’d get no time at all, sometimes Mike Budenholzer would throw him out there for 15-20 minutes.  In the final two games of the series, both Hawk wins, Tim Jr. did provide a nice little spark to the offense, collecting 11 points and four assists in about 35 total minutes. 

The Hawks dropped the first game to LeBron and the Cavs on Monday night, Hardaway seeing a scant eight minutes of playing time and accomplishing nothing in the process (0-4 FG, 0 AST, 0 REB).  Another showing like that and Tim might be riding some serious pine for the remainder of the series.

Darvin Ham  (Hawks assistant coach)

Dunkin’ Darvin!  It’s always fun seeing Ham Bone pop up on TV during the playoffs, even if he’s wearing a suit now instead of throwing down tomahawks for the 2004 champion Pistons.  Okay, maybe he was a complete non-factor on the court for that team, but the veteran presence he provided and the giant ears he borrowed from Don Mossi were irreplaceable elements to that title-winning squad.

Dwyane Wade  (Miami Heat)

Oh wait.  D-Wade never was a Piston, right?  He very nearly was, but then Joe Dumars went straight loco, determining that NCAA tourney stars like Wade and Carmelo Anthony paled in comparison to an anonymous seven-foot Serbian with little to no history of doing anything against relevant competition.  Not that there’s any bitterness still lingering among Pistons fans, though...

Juwan Howard  (Heat assistant coach)

It’s still semi-surprising to see Juwan in a suit and tie instead of on the bench sporting a pair of warm-ups.  The old Fab Fiver basically stopped being relevant as a player somewhere around 2005, but miraculously held on to roster spots all over the league for another decade, quietly putting together a Herculean 19-year pro career with eight different NBA teams.  Give Howard credit in his new role, though.  Now that he finally did shed the uniform and gym shoes, Juwan dresses quite sharply as an assistant, looking spiffy on Tuesday night with a dark suit, pink tie, and same-colored pocket square. 

And to answer your question -- no, I’m not entirely certain why any of this Juwan-related discussion was necessary.  But I’m guessing you will give the Heat bench a second look the next time they pop up on TV.  You’re welcome for that little fashion treat.

Mitch McGary  (Oklahoma City Thunder)

Talk about an uninspiring opening act to an NBA career.  While the aforementioned Juwan Howard oozed professionalism in cranking out his near two-decade career, McGary might be lucky to get through four or five.  The former Michigan star appeared in just 20 games this year, and only 32 as a rookie.  He just recently rejoined the team on their playoff run after several weeks away due to a “personal matter.” 

It’s a fairly safe bet at this point that the torrid six-game stretch McGary experienced during the 2013 NCAA’s will ultimately represent the pinnacle of his hoops life.  In hindsight, big Mitch should have jumped ship right after the Louisville game.  That way, he avoids the disastrous, injury-filled sophomore season that ended with the discouraging marijuana-related suspension, and he probably winds up as a top-ten pick in the ’13 NBA Draft.  You hate to say it, but right now, the Mitch McGary career looks fairly similar to that of onetime Spartan standout Charles Rogers; not exactly the comparison you’re looking for as a professional athlete. 

Kyle Singler  (Thunder)

The former Piston sharpshooter was in the Thunder rotation for most of the year, but in the do-or-die nature of the NBA Playoffs, he’s been relegated to permanent spectator status.  He’s only seen action in one of the last five games.  Journeyman Anthony Morrow has taken on the role of designated bench sniper for Billy Donovan, sending Singler to the end of the bench. 

The old Blue Devil has only himself to blame, though; he entered the year as close to a 40% shooter from downtown, and this year knocked in just over 30%.  When you are on the court mainly due to your strength as an outside shooter and the stroke goes cold, chances are you won’t be counted on for major minutes.  Or in Singler’s case, any at all.

Chip Engelland  (San Antonio Spurs assistant coach/Grant Hill’s shooting coach in Detroit)

Okay, this one is a stretch as far as local affiliation, but Engelland was a big part of Grant Hill’s improvement as a perimeter threat during his time with the Pistons.  G-Hill and Engelland could often be seen at Franklin Athletic Club in Southfield in the late 1990’s refining Grant’s mechanics, even while the All-Star was on crutches.  My old piano teacher, the legendary Mike Bez, used to tell a story that Chip wanted Grant to get a little competition during some of these shooting sessions, and they’d call on the maestro to take part.  And sure enough, on a lazy weekday afternoon, with the NBA superstar hobbling around the court, Bez and his unorthodox long-range bank shot took Grant Hill to school. 

If you often wondered why Hill never quite regained his confidence or ability as a player throughout the rest of his career, now you understand the full picture.  Getting beat by Michael Jordan is one thing; losing to a guy that plays Chopsticks with his feet is another.

Chris Kaman  (Portland Trail Blazers)

Believe it or not, Chris Kaman is still an active player in the NBA.  Seems like he has been in the league forever, which isn’t entirely untrue.  The former Central Michigan phenom was drafted way back in 2003.  He’s still just 34 years old, but when you watch his stilted movements on the court and the weathered features on his face, you realize he could easily pass for 58.  Kaman is healthy at the moment, but only gets into games sporadically.  The Blazers have benefited from the emergence of Mason Plumlee at the center spot, which has relegated the onetime 18 PPG Kaman to the role of cheerleader.

(Useless Kaman stat of the day: after missing all 23 shots from three-point land during the course of his career, Kaman finally canned a triple late this season, against his hometown Pistons actually.  So he’s now a 1-for-24 career shooter from deep.  If anyone asks what new thing you learned today, you have a response ready to go.)

Eliminated

Jonas Jerebko  (Boston Celtics)

For those that felt Jerebko was underutilized during his time in Detroit, never really getting the opportunity he deserved, they were fully vindicated with the Swede’s emergence with Boston this year.  Brad Stevens put a lot on Jerebko’s shoulders and he responded beautifully.  His unique ability to spread the floor as a 6-foot-10 forward was a big reason the Celtics gave Atlanta all they could handle during a hard-fought six-game series. 

Maybe some of it was because of injury, but for whatever reason, Jonas never really seemed to have the full confidence of the Pistons organization during his almost five years here.  Our loss has been Boston’s gain.  As the Celtics continue to mature with an exciting young core and a host of top draft picks this summer, they’ll be a legit threat in the East for years to come, with Jerebko likely playing a major role throughout.

Rodney Stuckey  (Indiana Pacers)

Stuckey was an important bench cog for Indiana during their short run in this year’s playoffs, contributing about 20 minutes per night during the gut-wrenching seven-game series loss to the Raptors.  Much more was expected of Stuckey when the Pistons snagged him in the first round back in ’07. 

They thought he’d be an explosive hybrid guard that could run the offense and also pour in about 16-18 a game.  Turns out his outside attack never really improved and the playmaking gene never quite materialized.  He’s basically had Flip Murray’s career, with a tad more production and a far less interesting first name.

Greg Monroe  (Milwaukee Bucks)

Maybe losing Moose Monroe wasn’t such a big loss after all.  Take the Bucks, for example. 

Last year, pre-Moose, they won 41 games and qualified for the playoffs.  This year, with Moose in the middle, they picked up just 33 victories and did not sniff the post-season.  So much for Big Greg going up to Wisconsin and turning the Bucks into a real contender.  He’ll always be a solid player and a guy that will do plenty of dirty work; but as far as transforming a team and maybe even putting it over the top, he’s probably never going to be that type of player.

It’s unlikely to occur, but perhaps the Pistons take a cue from this situation and tread carefully in handing over the future of their franchise to Andre Drummond, another center with serious limitations in his game.  You look at the top teams around the league, and most of them are dependent upon elite play at the guard/forward spots.  The Thunder with Westbrook and Durant, the Cavs with LeBron, Golden State with Curry/Thompson/Green.  You still need some bulk and size up front, but you can get by with placeholders much of the time.  The Rockets thought Dwight Howard would turn them into a championship team and that blew up in their face.  The Clippers shelled out giant dollars for DeAndre Jordan and he costs them important games with his ghastly free throw shooting. 

Common sense says you don’t just part ways with an “All-Star” center like Drummond, especially one so young.  But failing to recognize the direction the league is going, and has gone over the last several years, is shortsighted.  I’m not saying he can’t be an important player for the Pistons, or that he can’t help them climb the ladder in the East.  But giving a “max contract” to a player that is a liability on offense and a marginal rim protector at best on defense seems like an extremely dicey proposition.  Just ask the Milwaukee Bucks. 

Josh Smith  (Houston Rockets)

Has any player regressed more over the life of their NBA career than Josh Smith?  Josh was once a shining light for an up-and-coming Hawks team.  This year he mostly stays stapled to the bench for a completely dysfunctional Rockets team that got hammered by Golden State in the opening round of the playoffs; that after he was traded away mid-season by the Clippers in exchange for some foreign draft rights and a used basketball pump. 

Consider this stunning fact as pretty solid statistical evidence of J-Smoove’s less-than-stellar desire to keep improving throughout his pro career (especially once he got PAID by Dumars).  In Smith’s first playoff appearance back in 2008, he was an ace at the free throw line, feathering in 37-of-44 for a sparkling 84%.  Now that’s a young guy really intent on making his stamp on the league.  His last two years at the line in the playoffs for Houston?  How about 32-of-76 for a rotten 42% mark.  Say what you will about the Darko disaster in 2003, or the horrendous deals given to Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva, but I think that Joe D’s lucrative four-year commitment to Josh Smith might be the worst move of all.  He was only a Piston for about 100 games, yet it felt so much longer and more painful than that.