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hes doing.Melancon learned the smarts at
DETROIT -- The Detroit Pistons have addressed their biggest need with one the best free agents available. Calgary Flames Pro Shop . Josh Smith and the Pistons have agreed to a $54 million, four-year contract, according to a person familiar with the deal. The person spoke to The Associated Press on Saturday on condition of anonymity because the agreement has not been announced. NBA rules prevent confirmation of moves until July 10, when Smith is expected to sign his deal. The 6-foot-9, 225-pound small forward scored a team-high 17.5 points last season for Atlanta and also averaged 8.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.8 blocks and 1.2 steals. Smith has only played for his hometown Hawks, who drafted him No. 17 overall out of high school in 2004 -- soon after the Pistons won their third championship. He has averaged 15.3 points, eight rebounds and more than three assists, two blocks and a steal during his career, which has not included an All-Star appearance. Smith had his best season -- averaging career highs in points (18.8) and rebounds (9.6) -- during the 2011-12 season. In 52 playoff games over the last six postseasons, he averaged slightly more points and rebounds for the Hawks. The Pistons fired coach Lawrence Frank in April, a day after they finished 29-53, and hired Maurice Cheeks in the hopes that he could help end the franchises four-year post-season drought. Better players, of course, will help Detroit win more than any coach can from the sideline. At a steep cost, Smith seems to upgrade the teams collection of talent immediately. Detroit will likely start the 27-year-old Smith it its frontcourt with 23-year-old power forward Greg Monroe and centre Andre Drummond, who turns 20 next month. Barring another major move this off-season, the backcourt will include point guard Brandon Knight and perhaps shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, the No. 8 overall pick in last months draft. The Pistons went into the off-season with $20-plus million in cap space, and desperately need to take advantage of the financial flexibility unlike the last time they had a lot of money to spend in the summer. Detroit signed Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva to a $55 million, five-year contract and $35 million, five-year deal, respectively, in 2009 and both failed to provide a positive return. The Pistons ended up trading Gordon last summer to Charlotte for a first-round pick and Corey Maggette to cut about $15 million in salary. Detroit could still deal Villanueva, who is entering the last year of his deal, to a team that might want to take on his expiring contract. Flames Jerseys 2021 . PAUL, Minn. Flames Jerseys China . -- There were so many positives from the Orlando Magics first victory of the season that it was hard for coach Jacque Vaughn to stop praising his players. https://www.cheapflames.com/ . Newcastle dominated in the early stages but City weathered the storm and then raised its game in extra time. Negredo broke the deadlock from close range after a simple move in the 99th minute before Dzeko took the ball round goalkeeper Tim Krul to seal the victory in the 105th. WASHINGTON -- When Dusty Baker first played in the minor leagues at age 18, he had only seen curveballs and never a slider.When I went to swing at it, it would like move right at the right time and I thought it was like an anti-bat repellant-type pitch, Baker said.Almost 40 years later, thats what the Washington Nationals manager sees in new closer Mark Melancons cutter. Melancon has continued to use that Mariano Rivera-inspired cutter, his curveball and fastball to near perfection since the Nationals acquired him from the Pittsburgh Pirates at the trade deadline.In his first five appearances for Washington, Melancon retired 15 of the 16 batters he faced, striking out seven and walking none. He has come precisely as advertised and looks to be the consistent solution to the Nationals closer problem.Hes not doing anything different than he was before we got him, Baker said. He doesnt give up a lot of hits. He gives up very few walks.Melancon is Mr. Steady and Dependable, having converted 30 of 33 save opportunities for the Pirates this season and now 2 of 2 for the Nationals. Thats a stark contrast to usurped Washington closer and 2015 trade deadline pickup Jonathan Papelbon, who allowed eight runs on seven hits in his final three outings before the trade and has three blown saves and a 4.37 ERA.In 50 games, Melancon has a 1.35 ERA, and hes spotless so far with the Nationals. He credits the seamless transition to catchers Wilson Ramos and Pedro Severino being on the same page with him.Im just attacking guys and trying to get ahead, Melancon said Wednesday. Its been smooth and great attitudes back there and willingness to learn on both ends of that. I think when you have those things, things usually click pretty well.Melancon knows a thing or two about adjusting to new catchers and new teams. The trade from Pittsburgh to Washington for left-handed reliever Felipe Rivero and pitching prospect Taylor Hearn was the fourth of his career.He was traded from the New York Yankees to Houston at the 2010 deadline, from the Astros to the Red Sox in the winter of 2011 and from Boston to Pittsburghh in the winter of 2012. Stitched Flames Jerseys. As a pending free agent, the 31-year-old righty wasnt shocked he got traded.Pirates general manager Neal Huntington knew he was giving up a stable back-of-the-bullpen piece, saying, While we anticipate he will be very productive for the Nationals over the next two months, the reality is hes staring free agency in the face. Melancon is making $9.65 million and will almost certainly get a substantial raise this offseason.With Papelbons contract up after the season, the Nationals could be among the top suitors for Melancon. But for now, theyre in first place in the NL East and trail only the Chicago Cubs for the best record in baseball, so the 2016 World Series is their focus.Melancons stability is a big piece of the road there for a team with a history of playoff failures, but hes still in the process of tinkering and trying to improve his arsenal. He has a strong rapport with Washington pitching coach Mike Maddux stemming from a 2014 trip to Japan that featured a series of exhibition games, and the two are working on adding a change-up and discussing mental aspects of closing.Hes extremely knowledgeable and fun to listen to, Melancon said. Everybody has a different twist on things, but he brings things to light that you never even knew were out there. Its really cool to learn from him. His experience is as good as anybodys.Melancon, who led the majors with 51 saves last season, has plenty of experience himself and is arguably at his peak as a professional pitcher. Baker has seen plenty of closers in his decades in baseball and comes away impressed.He mixes it up: fastball, cutter, curveball, Baker said. Before he had a super curveball, which was his main pitch, but now you cant sit on any one of those pitches. And hes pretty smart about what hes doing.Melancon learned the smarts at from Rivera during his time with the Yankees. Melancon has carried on the tradition of the dominant cutter that Rivera made nearly unhittable. ' ' '
- Created: Feb 20 '20
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