Detroit, MI
Sleeper free agent could bring ‘Heat Culture’ to the Detroit Pistons
With the NBA Finals well underway, I stare at the television screen watching the games, thinking to myself: the Detroit Pistons aren’t even on the same planet as these teams.
It’s honestly jarring to think how far our Pistons are from competing for not only a championship, but a play-in spot. The talent, the shooting, the defense, the IQ’s of these players; our Pistons couldn’t be further from it.
The Detroit Pistons have not made the playoffs since 2018 (thanks Blake Griffin) and have not won a playoff game since 2008. Without playoff basketball in Detroit, every year I am forced to hop on a team’s bandwagon. Ever since their NBA Bubble run, I have chosen the Miami Heat. Simply put, I love the way they play. I love the “Heat Culture” thing. I love Jimmy Butler.
Related Story. The Detroit Pistons have a Jaden Ivey problem. The Detroit Pistons have a Jaden Ivey problem. dark
Their teams are never full of superstars, but rather a collection of very good players paired with overachievers and gym-class heroes who play the right way. One of those gym-class heroes is set to be a free agent this offseason, and I want the Pistons to go after him.
NEW: What the Heat can and cannot do in free agency, and the significant Rozier trade consequences that impact thathttps://t.co/naai7M29Vl
A look at who Miami is permitted to pursue and who it can’t— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) May 13, 2024
A lot of players have been thrown around that the Pistons could go after this offseason. Malik Monk, Gary Harris, Tobias Harris, Miles Bridges (no thank you), Buddy Hield, and the list goes on.
However, Caleb Martin is rarely mentioned. Throughout my bandwagon fandom of the Miami Heat these last couple of years, Martin always jumps off the screen. He’s a big guard/wing, standing at 6-foot-6 205 lbs, so he can guard larger forwards like Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown, but Martin is quick for his size making him a luxury to plugin any lineup, wherever you need him.
He can slot in at the 2, 3 or 4. He reminds me of Alex Caruso: a very solid defender, a hustler, a shooter, and a sneaky playmaker. He started 49 games during the Heat’s championship run in 2023, shooting 36 percent from three and averaging 10 points and 5 rebounds. He’s more than capable of going off in the biggest of games too, just ask the Boston Celtics:
Caleb Martin’s game 7 performance in the Eastern Conference Finals is one of the best if not the best playoff performance you’ll ever see from a role player pic.twitter.com/1g3dHtWGlT
— HEAT NATION (@Zachppp) August 15, 2023
I can’t emphasize this enough: Caleb Martin cannot be the Pistons BIG signing this offseason, but if he was their second or third notable signing, then that should be a decent offseason.
With over $60 Million in cap space, this Pistons can more than afford to overpay a little bit for a guy like Martin. I see him netting anywhere from $12 to $18 million a year, as he comes from a winning organization, he’s in his prime, he’s a willing “stick your nose in it” defender and a very solid shooter.
Like Caruso, he’s just a guy that every team could use. I am admittedly not this statistical, analyzing machine. I watch games, I check box scores, I look at player profiles and season-by-season stats, and I form an opinion. Caleb Martin checks the boxes. Where would he fit in with the Pistons? Who cares.
Sometimes you don’t need to overthink it. Martin is a big three-and-D guard/forward. Like duct tape, you just plug him wherever you need him. He could start at the 2 or 3, play the 4 in a small ball lineup, or come off the bench. Out of everything I’ve seen from Martin over the years, I am confident in saying he is a team guy who just wants to play ball and win games. Bring him to the D.
Martin has a player option for next season at $7.1 million but is expected to opt out and test free agency.
Michigan State is looking to the Motor City for its next commitment.
Multiple reports on Saturday indicated that the Spartans have set up an official visit with Martin Luther King (Mich.) athlete Don Spillers III. The visit to East Lansing is set for May 29-31 and will be the first in a string of official visits for Spillers. He’s also got reported trips to Illinois (June 5-7) and Louisville (June 12-14) scheduled.
Fast Facts on Spillers
Spillers, listed at 6’2″ and 195 pounds, is a 3-star recruit ranked 848th overall in the class of 2027 on the 247Sports Composite. He’s listed as an athlete on 247Sports, but as a wide receiver on Rivals. It looked like MSU and Courtney Hawkins wanted him as a receiver for a while, but safety seems to be the spot where Michigan State wants him now. That would make his position coach James Adams.
The Spartans seem to be considered in the lead right now. MSU has two expert predictions in its favor submitted on Rivals, one of which was submitted as recently as Friday. Rivals’ RPM metric has Michigan State at the very top, holding a comfortable lead at 94.2%. Besides Illinois and Louisville, Spillers’ other notable offers include Michigan, Maryland, Missouri, Pitt, and Purdue.
More Info, Potential Fit at MSU
Next weekend will not be the first time Spillers will be on campus. He visited East Lansing while spring practices were going on and also showed up at MSU a few times during the Jonathan Smith era. The retentions of both Hawkins and Adams by new head coach Pat Fitzgerald have allowed mutual interest to remain.
If Spillers ends up committing to the Spartans as a safety, he’d be the second player at the position to join the 2027 recruiting class. The first was 3-star St. Peter’s Prep (N.J.) prospect Ty’ire Clark. He committed back on April 4 and is ranked 1,280th overall in the class.
There should be room for multiple safeties in the 2027 recruiting class. Michigan State has three players at the spot whose eligibility is expected to expire after this fall: Nikai Martinez, Aveon Grose, and Michael Richard.
A few other names are also on MSU’s recruiting board. The Spartans have three predictions in their favor for Dakota (Mich.) prospect Elijah Goins. He’s ranked 973rd overall in the class of ’27 in the Rivals Industry Rankings and has a reported official visit scheduled with Michigan State for June 19-21.
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Detroit, MI
Metro Detroit veterans charity pleads for end to donation bin vandalism across metro area
CLINTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WXYZ) — Officials with the Veterans and America First Foundation are speaking out after for their donation bins were vandalized.
The organization, based in Clinton Township, collects clothing donations through bins placed throughout metro Detroit to support veterans and others in need with clothes, food and housing.
Bins located on West Vernor Highway near Military Street in Detroit were among the latest to be hit.
Paul Dehem, director and founder of Veterans and America First Foundation, learned about the damage on Saturday after Aiman Kawas, who is in charge of servicing the bins, discovered they had been damaged.
Dehem said the vandalism occurred within a narrow window.
“It happened sometime between Wednesday and Friday,” Dehem said.
WXYZ
“It’s just disheartening,” Dehem said.
Kawas said the West Vernor Highway incident is far from isolated.
“I was disappointed, of course this is not our first time being vandalized,” Kawas said.
WXYZ
“We have lost over 70 bins to vandalism or theft, the actual bin disappears… they take it completely,” Kawas said.
Jason Beddow, director of development for Veterans and America First Foundation, said each bin costs about $1,000 to replace.
“The vets are missing out on their charity and donations from those bins and it’s just a real shame,” Beddow said.
WXYZ
Meanwhile, Dehem said he hopes those responsible will consider who is truly harmed by the destruction.
“We have a mission and it’s for the veterans,” Dehem said. “It’s not for profit, we’re just trying to make things work and help people.”
Anyone with information about who is vandalizing the bins, or surveillance video, is asked to contact Detroit police.
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This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
A 17-year-old has been charged in a nonfatal ‘teen takeover’ shooting.
The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office charged 17‑year‑old Ramon Javon Perez Smith of Detroit in connection with the non‑fatal shooting of a 14‑year‑old Detroit male. Prosecutor Kym Worthy confirmed that Smith will be tried as an adult.
Smith is charged with assault with intent to murder, assault with intent to do great bodily harm, felonious assault, carrying a concealed weapon, and three counts of felony firearm.
He was arraigned Saturday and given a $500,000 cash bond, along with a GPS tether, house arrest, and an order barring contact with the victim or any witnesses. A bond re‑determination hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, May 27, 2026, before Judge McConico.
Another teen was also charged in the shooting that happened in downtown Detroit during the “teen takeover” event.
The preliminary hearing for a 16-year old from Detroit was held Tuesday on charges of carrying a concealed weapon. He received a $4,000 bond with house arrest.
He was also ordered not to possess any firearms or illegal substances. A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for July 2.
Detroit police were called to the 1300 block of Farmer Street around 9:37 p.m. on May 17, after reports of a shooting. Officers arrived to find the teenage victim with a gunshot wound to the chest. Medics transported him to a nearby hospital where he received emergency treatment and is expected to survive.
According to investigators, Smith was involved in a physical altercation with a group that included the victim. Prosecutors allege that Smith pulled out a handgun and fired multiple shots into the group, hitting the 14‑year‑old before fleeing the scene. Detroit police arrested Smith shortly afterward.
“We are thankful that the 14‑year‑old victim received immediate medical care and will survive this traumatic event,” Prosecutor Worthy said in the release.
mjohnson@detroitnews.com
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