Mateen Cleaves’ Detroit Pistons’ career might not have lasted as many years as Detroit and Michigan State fans would have liked, but he still keeps tabs on the team that picked him No. 14 in the 2000 NBA draft following the Michigan State NCAA championship.
“I think they’re going to be good,” Cleaves said of Detroit. “I will be surprised if they didn’t make the playoffs, for sure. The moves they made over the summer were good. I love the draft pick, (Stanley) Johnson. I think he’s going to be really good, because of his competitive nature. I have watched him a lot covering college basketball.