The Pistons are "trying to create a player-friendly atmosphere," and they "hope word gets out and players view the Pistons as a viable destination," according to Vince Ellis of the DETROIT FREE PRESS. All of the NBA Draft prospects who visit the Palace of Auburn Hills are "treated as members of the Pistons." They are "served freshly prepared lunches in the same dining lounge where team members and staff congregate during the season." Pistons coach and President of Basketball Operations Stan Van Gundy said, "We heard of places -- I'm not going to name any names -- bring the guys in for workouts and literally hand them a sack lunch and say thanks on the way to the airport. We don't want that to be us." He added, "These guys come back around, and you've got to build a substantive reputation that people know this is a good place. We're trying to follow [team Owner Tom Gores'] model on that and I think it will produce people over time. People are going to want to play here." Ellis noted Gores lives in California, so he "takes some local criticism because he is seldom seated courtside at the Palace." But Gores "is available to Van Gundy and the players, and has developed a close relationship" with C Andre Drummond. They "text regularly and attend each other's significant celebrations." Near the end of the regular season, Pistons G Reggie Jackson "learned that his father, Saul, had been hospitalized with a diabetic seizure." He "needed to get to Colorado to be with his father but didn't know how long he would be away from the team." Van Gundy "eased Jackson's concerns" and "even told Jackson to take the team plane to Colorado Springs." Jackson said that he was "already sold on the Pistons' organization, but how he was treated while undergoing a personal crisis solidified his thought process" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 7/26).
