Ben Wallace became the second undrafted player in NBA history to play 1,000 games at Toronto (12/22/10). Avery Johnson holds the all-time record for most games played by an undrafted player since the 1976-77 ABA/NBA merger with 1,054 games. Moses Malone was selected in the 1974 American Basketball Association Draft and by the Portland Trail Blazers of the NBA in the ABA Dispersal Draft in 1976. He played 1,329 career NBA games. – Detroit Pistons

Ben Gordon has told me over and over he is just fine being a bench player. Sorry, pal. For the money he’s making — he’s in year two of a five-year, $55 million deal — he’s a starter. Richard Hamilton is a starter, too; he just can’t be one in Detroit anymore. Instead, he can help a team in a playoff chase. My guess is if Hamilton gets traded, and with a bigger prize to play for, we will see a new and revived Rip Hamilton. During the Pistons’ glory days, I always viewed them as playing for a unified purpose. And I looked at Hamilton as an elite player, who viewed every shot as important. Now the Pistons are just another basketball team and Hamilton is just another basketball player. But that can all be changed with the right deal. — Detroit News

Guard Richard Hamilton, a mainstay during the Pistons’ run of six consecutive conference finals appearances, is upset with his role on the team and has become a distraction, team sources said. Hamilton’s non-participation in Saturday’s practice, along with his upset stomach that caused him to miss Sunday’s game and complaints about his diminished role have led some in the organization to wonder if Hamilton has quit on the Pistons. “He quit on us,” one team source said. Another team source said Hamilton is acting out of emotion and should adjust. Hamilton’s been on the trading block for two years, and he would like a change of scenery. — Detroit News

Since last season’s struggle, Rip Hamilton has been the subject of countless trade rumors, linked at various times to Chicago, Utah, Oklahoma City and Cleveland, teams that could use a veteran shooting guard like the one they saw in that game against Washington. If the Pistons are going to trade Hamilton, though, it won’t be anytime soon, according to Joe Dumars, president of basketball operations. “We don’t have anything whatsoever on the table in terms of a trade, or anything even remotely close to a trade, for Rip Hamilton,” Dumars told FanHouse Tuesday. “Nothing.” — Fanhouse

Pistons star Rip Hamilton says he doesn’t pay attention to the trade rumors surrounding himself or anybody else but all he has to do is look around the locker room and see different faces, some young, some old. “I don’t pay attention to that,” Hamilton said. “We’re still reading each other and trying to find out what’s best for the team.”Most importantly, Hamilton has to be mentally engaged, which has been in question so far this season. The better he plays, the better the situation Hamilton will find himself in, should the Pistons decide to move him. — Detroit News

Here’s another name to consider: Clippers center Chris Kaman. Folks are watching what the Clippers are going to do after their 0-4 start, and the Pistons likely would let Tayshaun Prince go for one of the best centers in the league. Kaman also has a 15% trade kicker — with a maximum value of $7.5 million — in his contract. — Detroit Free Press

Today is the deadline for Rodney Stuckey to receive a contract extension, but it won’t happen. Of the 2007 draft class, only Chicago’s Joakim Noah and Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant have gotten deals done. Stuckey’s agent, Steve Banks, reiterated his client’s statement in regards to not worrying about it. Banks disputed reports that Stuckey was unhappy about not receiving an extension. “All Rodney’s worried about is the 2010-11 season,” Banks said. “He’ll be a restricted free agent and we’ll go from there.” Banks said Stuckey understands the position the Pistons are in, with the potential ownership change, along with the collective bargaining agreement expiring after the season. –Detroit News

Rodney Stuckey, who will be a restricted free agent next summer, is entering his fourth season — and the first in which he has not had to adjust to a new coach. If he gets a better handle on what coach John Kuester wants him to do, distributes the ball better, finishes at the rim and continues to develop as a strong defensive guard, the Pistons will be rewarded in the win column, and Stuckey will be rewarded with a big contract next summer.  If he does not continue to grow, the Pistons will struggle. And they will have a decision to make next summer. — Booth Newspapers

Ben Wallace thinks the Pistons can surprise this year, win games, be a factor come playoff time. “As long as we stay healthy, good things are going to happen for this team,” he said. “I expect some big things from the young guys. I like their games.” Wallace is a positive person, always looking at the winning side of things. He has lost some of the intimidation factor of his younger days, but he’s still not a guy to mess with in the lane. He’s still Big Ben, even if his big hair isn’t what it used to be and the team isn’t what it used to be. “This team can win,” he insisted. — Grand Rapids Press

The Pistons announced Wednesday afternoon that Jonas Jerebko will undergo surgery Friday and will be out of action for five to six months after suffering a partially torn right Achilles tendon Tuesday night during a 105-89 preseason loss to the Miami Heat. It is a devastating loss for a team that fed off the energy Jerebko provided as a rookie last season. “Jonas has worked hard,” Pistons coach John Kuester said by phone Wednesday afternoon. “He’s had a great summer and a great camp. We’ll miss him sorely.” The Pistons are short on rebounders, so Jerebko’s loss could be costly. The injury could lead to an increase in playing time for a handful of players, including Charlie Villaneuva, Greg Monroe, Jason Maxiell and Chris Wilcox. — Booth Newspapers

The National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame announced today that its annual Special Recognition Award will be named in honor of former Detroit Piston’s executive Matt Dobek. The award, presented each year at the NPASHF Induction Banquet, will now be known as the “Matt Dobek Special Recognition Award.” — National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame

Pistons coach John Kuester greeted the media Thursday with a hoarse voice. Since his team had just completed the third day of training camp he was asked if it came from yelling. Kuester just smiled and kept saying it was the “voice of encouragement.” While the second-year coach wouldn’t say specifically what strained his voice, he did give a hint later when asked if he was going emphasize defense more this season. “We’ve made some adjustments,” he said. “That was the one area where I didn’t like how we performed today. We talked so much about how we’re going to close out, how we’re trying to guard the ball … on a consistent basis. That’s everybody’s motto when you go into camp, but I think that’s something our guys have to be conscious to work at all the time.” — Detroit News

Tracy McGrady said the first practice of Detroit Pistons training camp did not provide much of a test for his left knee. He knows tougher tests are coming, and he’s looking forward to them. “Right now, I feel fine,” McGrady said Tuesday afternoon after the first of two practices. “The rigors of an NBA season, it tears the body up. Through training camp, we’ll see how it responds day after day after practice. And hopefully, everything is good.” McGrady and his knee will be the center of attention throughout training camp and the upcoming season. McGrady had microfracture surgery in February 2009 and played just 30 games last season for the Houston Rockets and New York Knicks. He signed a one-year deal for the veteran’s minimum in the offseason. McGrady said if his knee does flare up, he will fight the urge to battle through it. – Booth Newspapers

Pistons president Joe Dumars has assets other teams don’t appear to want. Guard Richard Hamilton and forward Tayshaun Prince have been named in trade talks for years, yet they remain. Dumars wouldn’t say if anybody was on the trade block, saying: “I want a big man. Let’s put it that way.” Prince is in the final year of a contract that will pay him $11.1 million this season. Hamilton is difficult to move because he will be paid $12.65 million in each of the next three seasons. Unless a team becomes desperate, it’s unlikely Dumars will get his wish. — Detroit News

Pistons guard Rodney Stuckey, asked what he’s working om to improve his game this offseason. “This summer I’ve been mainly putting up a lot of shots, trying to make my mid-range and my jumpshot more consistent. I’m also gonna be coming in to training camp in better shape.” — Slam Online

Former Pistons vice president of public relations Matt Dobek killed himself last week. But I do know that when I talked to Matt shortly after he was fired, he seemed lost, and not just in ways you might expect. It wasn’t just that he needed a job. He sounded like he didn’t know what to do with himself. He had worked for the Pistons for 29 of his 51 years and suddenly he must have felt that it meant a lot more to him than it did to them. It was bad enough that I talked to a few people about organizing a dinner for him — just a night for media people to let him know we were thinking about him. But it was summer, vacations kept getting in the way and the dinner did not seem urgent. I found out Matt took his life before anything was really planned. His funeral was Saturday. Depression comes in many forms and sizes, but only one color, and I’m not so naive to think that one dinner could have led Matt out of his blackness. But I still wish we would have done it. I wish Matt could have sat in a room full of people who just wanted to thank him. — Detroit Free Press

Flint native Tom Gores has emerged as the “front-runner” to become the Pistons’ new owner, according to sources close to the situation. The sources requested anonymity due to a confidentiality agreement signed by all prospective buyers. The Pistons have been valued at $479 million by Forbes. Gores, 46, and his group have made two visits to The Palace the past two weeks, the only interested group to do so. Gores made another visit Wednesday, but has not yet made a bid. Gores, who owns Platinum Equity, went to Michigan State and sold computer software before moving to California to go into business with his older brother, Alec. He owns a home in Grosse Ile. According to Forbes, Gores is worth $2.2 billion, making him the 147th-richest American. — Detroit News

The bank hired to broker a sale of the Detroit Pistons and Palace Sports & Entertainment Inc. is seeking $500 million from potential buyers — a price industry insiders and likely bidders consider inflated by $100 million in this market, a source familiar with the situation said. Karen Davidson, who has owned the National Basketball Association franchise and the PS&E umbrella management organization since the March 2009 death of her husband, Guardian Industries Inc. Chairman Bill Davidson, has hired New York City-based Citi Private Bank’s sports finance and advisory team to broker a sale. Citi declined to comment, as has Davidson through her spokesman. — Crain’s Detroit Business

The source said that Tracy McGrady agreed without conditions to play behind starters Rip Hamilton and Tayshawn Prince next season, though it’s likely that Detroit will move either Hamilton or Prince before the start of next season. It’s more likely the Pistons will move Prince, who is entering the last year of his contract. A second source said Sunday that Detroit won’t move Prince unless he requests a trade. — NBA.com

A source with knowledge of the discussions told TNT’s David Aldridge Sunday night that the Detroit Pistons are not close to signing free agent forward Tracy McGrady, and are continuing to weigh the pluses and minuses of signing the forward. The Pistons “are not about to do anything” imminently with McGrady, the source said, disputing reports that the team had signed McGrady to a contract. Detroit is considering offering McGrady a one-year deal for the veteran’s minimum of $1.352 million, but the team continued internal discussions on Sunday between the front office and the coaching staff, trying to decide if the 31-year-old McGrady would be a good fit for the team. The Pistons will meet with McGrady’s representatives on Monday. — NBA.com

Karen Davidson would like to sell the Detroit Pistons by October, the start of the 2010-11 season. But if she wants the price to be anything close to the value of the franchise, built by her late husband, she may have to be considerably more patient. So will fans who hope the situation will be settled soon, to provide a secure foundation for rebuilding the flagging team. A number of trends in business and sport suggest it could well take more than a year to find new owners for the Pistons at anything but a fire-sale price. — Detroit News

It sure seems like things are going nowhere between the Pistons and Will Bynum, even though both sides say things are progressing. Mark Bartlestein, Bynum’s agent, said he’s in constant contact with Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars. “Joe and I are working at it,” Bartlestein said. “We’re putting a lot of time and energy into it.” The baseline for Bynum’s contract should fall in line with players in comparable situations. Luke Ridnour, Steve Blake and Jordan Farmar, all backup point guards, each signed deals worth $4 million per season, which makes the apparent impasse even more puzzling. None of those players have 25-point quarters or 20-assist games under their belts, which Bynum does. Other teams haven’t expressed serious interest in Bynum. No one expects he’ll play anywhere but Detroit next year, and as a restricted free agent, the Pistons can match any team’s offer. — Detroit News