Macklin is victim of salary cap

--F Vernon Macklin got caught in a numbers crunch and lost his roster spot. The Pistons declined to make a qualifying offer to the 6-10 Macklin, a 2011 second-rounder who played 23 games last season.

The Pistons thought Macklin could develop into a serviceable second-unit player, but when Jason Maxiell chose to stay rather than opt out of the final year of his contract, there was simply no room for him. Macklin played with Detroit's summer league team in Orlando, averaging 4.4 points and 5.6 rebounds, and hopes to hook on with another NBA team rather than play overseas.

"I'm disappointed because obviously it would have been great for me and my family, but it's just another obstacle for me," he said. "I've just got to work harder and see it from there. I'm thankful for everything they did for me."

--The Pistons are in the midst of their longest stretch of futility in three decades. They have endured four consecutive losing seasons, going 70 games under .500 during that span (121-191). That's their longest drought without a winning season since they had six consecutive losing seasons from 1977-78 through 1982-83. That stretch included the worst season in franchise history, when they went 16-66 in 1979-80.

The franchise record for consecutive losing seasons is 13. After moving from Fort Wayne, Ind., in 1957, the Pistons didn't have a winning record until they went 45-37 in 1970-71.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"We're making an impact. We've only been here just over a year but we're making a small impact. Our job is not done. We have a lot to do." -- Owner Tom Gores on bringing the franchise back to prominence

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