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Why a fresh start benefits Tony Mitchell Mitchell played only 79 minutes last season. Just four players who were on an NBA contract all season (excluding those who missed the entire year due to injury) played less: Ricky Ledo Robert Covington Carrick Felix Keith Bogans The last Pistons rookie to play so little? Walter Sharpe. There was just no trust with Mitchell. Mitchell was drafted as a project, and his minimal playing time though perhaps not to that degree was no surprise. Now, he has a chance to impress a staff that has few preconceived notions about him. Did he work hard enough last year? Was he focused enough? Read more: http://pistonpowered.com/2014/10/09/fresh-start-tony-mitchell/

This might be the most important competition of camp. The Pistons already have 15 players with guaranteed contracts, and Monroe would bring it to 16. The regular-season limit is 15, meaning that Detroit would have to trade or waive someone. A trade is always possible, but its most likely someone gets cut. That player would still get paid this year, but hell lose a chance to prove that he deserves another NBA contract. The dropped player could come from beyond my Bynum-Datome-Mitchell list, but those three not being handpicked by the new regime works against them. Read more: http://www.freep.com/article/20140905/SPORTS03/309050138/detroit-pistons-pistonpowered

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Tony Mitchell has heard two Detroit Pistons head coaches wonder aloud and publicly about whether he grasps the work load necessary to succeed as a borderline NBA player. His only guarantee is contractual. In that sense, he is safe next year. But to crack a crowded front line, the second-year forward has to shed the low-motor label that dogged him in college and continued through last season, when then-interim coach John Loyer openly said Mitchell needs to work harder. Already this offseason, Stan Van Gundy, the new president of basketball operations and head coach, has called Mitchell's workouts "a little inconsistent" and said the player "works hard when he's here." Read more: http://www.mlive.com/pistons/index.ssf/2014/07/detroit_pistons_tony_mitchell.html

"Funny story from yesterday: Former North Texas star and current Detroit Pistons forward Tony Mitchell made an athletic play at the rim, but couldn't finish. One scout went to write down something in his note pad and another grabbed him on the shoulder and said, "Don't waste your ink." Take that as you will." Read more: http://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/2014/7/7/5878709/nba-summer-league-2014-orlando-magic-analysis-elfrid-payton-aaron-gordon

Read more: http://pistonspalace.com/2014/06/18/peyton-siva-tony-mitchell-pistons-summer-league-roster/

Mitchell said he didn't go to the D-League with any specific goal but appreciated "playing and working on my game, working through mistakes, just stuff like that." "I wanted to dunk on somebody but I didn't accomplish that," Mitchell said. "But other than that, it was cool. I was just trying to play and learn from those guys down there, and just listen to some of the guys, what they see, and how can I improve on it." Mitchell played six games with five starts for Fort Wayne, and Siva five games with four starts. Siva averaged 12 points, 2.8 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 2.6 steals for the Mad Ants. Mitchell averaged 6.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocked shots. Both players suffered injuries. Early in their stay there, Siva fell and sprained both wrists, and Mitchell fell on his back while trying to block a shot. Mitchell also sprained an ankle last week in Reno. Read more: http://www.mlive.com/pistons/index.ssf/2014/01/detroit_pistons_rookies_peyton.html

In six games (five starts) with the Mad Ants, Mitchell averaged 6.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.5 blocks in 22.1 minutes per game. Mitchell turned in his best performance of the stint vs. the Iowa Energy (1/3) when he recorded 14 points, nine rebounds, one assist and four blocks. The 37th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft from North Texas University, Mitchell has appeared in 10 games this season with the Pistons averaging 1.1 points and 1.1 rebounds in 4.0 minutes per game. Read more: http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2014/01/13/detroit-pistons-recall-peyton-siva-and-tony-mitchell-from-fort-wayne-mad-ants/

Brady (Bowling Green, Ky.): I’m concerned about the futures of rookies Tony Mitchell and Peyton Siva. When can rookies be traded? If a rookie is waived, does the rookie continue to be paid the amount remaining on his contract? How are rookies supposed to improve when they spend so much time on the bench or dressed in suits during games? Do player development staff have the opportunity to work with them or are they expected to hire their own shooting or other coaches? Langlois: No one should have had any reasonable expectations that Mitchell or Siva were due to crack the rotation as rookies, Brady. They were both second-rounders, for one thing, and they came to the Pistons at the deepest positions on their roster, for another. Rookies can be traded now. You might be thinking about the Dec. 15 date that opens the door for free agents to be traded, but it doesn’t apply to rookies. As for pay, it all depends on the contract and how much of it was guaranteed. It was widely reported that Mitchell, as a high second-round pick, got two fully guaranteed seasons and Siva got one such guaranteed year. There is no expectation that either will be waived at any time before their contracts are up. Read more: http://www.nba.com/pistons/chat/mailbag_131218_1.html

Averaging 1.8 minutes of playing time in those four games when the outcomes had been long decided. Only 21 years old and learning to navigate being a professional basketball player as a rookie. Such a player would seemingly be a candidate for the NBA Development League. But thats not the case with Pistons rookie Tony Mitchell. Barring a rash of injuries, the athletic power forward from North Texas will likely spend his rookie season learning the game with the Pistons. So a stint with the teams D-League affiliate Ft. Wayne probably wont happen. Read more: http://www.freep.com/article/20131208/SPORTS03/312080086/

A few months ago when Tony Mitchell declared for the draft, he had more than a few people question his ability to make it in the league or even make the opening day roster. At first it seemed like the decision to leave UNT after two years might backfire when he fell to the second round of the NBA draft. Well, the Pistons are set to open against the Washington Wizards tonight and guess whos on the roster? Yep, Tony Mitchell. Read more: http://meangreenblog.dentonrc.com/2013/10/looks-like-mitchell-has-proven-the-doubters-wrong.html/

Auburn Hills Sometimes a complex game like basketball can be so simple if the instructions are concise and clear. Pistons second-round pick Tony Mitchell is living proof of that, with his quick feet, long strides and wide eyes making it hard for the coaching staff to ignore his attempt at cracking the rotation. He was the first big man off the bench Tuesday night and in tandem with fellow reserve Jonas Jerebko, can add a dimension of activity if Maurice Cheeks so chooses to go that route. He played 16 minutes against the Wizards and made all four of his shot attempts with one rebound, one steal and two blocks. He brushed off the observation he could be making headway ahead of Jerebko or Charlie Villanueva. Right now Im not worried about it, Im just taking whatever minutes I have, Mitchell said. Whatever Coach Cheeks wants me to do, Ill do it. Read More: From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20131023/SPORTS0102/310230114#ixzz2ie31ovVI

Mitchell's contributions primarily came much earlier in the game, while the Pistons were assisting 22 of their 26 first-half field goals, including all 10 they scored in the second quarter. Mitchell was the first Piston off the bench. He finished with eight points on 4-of-4 shooting, plus a rebound, two assists and two blocked shots in 16 minutes. The second-round draft pick from North Texas plays at the Pistons' most crowded position, power forward. Greg Monroe starts there, while Josh Smith, who was healthy but didn't play Tuesday as a rest measure, also figures to play there regularly when not at small forward. Jonas Jerebko and Charlie Villanueva also play power forward. But with Villanueva seemingly slipping in the pecking order, and Jerebko pressed into more small-forward minutes because of Gigi Datome's injury forcing Singler to play more at guard, Mitchell remains in the mix. "I'm a rookie, you know what I'm saying? Whatever comes up to me, I just take it as it is," Mitchell said. "There's still a learning curve for myself and my fellow rookies, as well. I'm just trying to learn how to play the game under coach Cheeks. It's gone well, for the most part. "Whoever plays, that's coach's decision at the end of the day. Right now, everybody's just working, trying to play together, learning each other a little bit." The Pistons (3-4) continue to work through through preseason with several key injuries. Read more: http://www.mlive.com/pistons/index.ssf/2013/10/mr_big_shot_still_rules_detroi.html

Those are two of Tony Mitchell's eight points against the Wizards on Tuesday, coming at the end of the first quarter. He finished the game shooting a perfect 4-for-4 from the field -- but that's just part of the story. He also blocked a couple of shots, dished two assists, notched a steal and a rebound. His steal was pretty fun: he picked off an errant John Wall pass in the first quarter and led a fast break before assisting to a trailing Jonas Jerebko. Simply put, the dude's just fun to watch -- I'm really, really hoping we see a whole lot of him all season long. Fortunately, it sounds like Mo Cheeks is willing to consider it. Read more: http://www.detroitbadboys.com/2013/10/23/4946580/tony-mitchell-highlight-pistons-vs-wizards-2013-nba-preseason This post has been promoted to an article

With the roster appearing to be set, Vince Ellis looks at individual Pistons players and assesses expectations for the coming season. Todays player Power forward Tony Mitchell Power forward Tony Mitchell How obtained: Second-round pick in the June draft the 37th overall selection. Looking back: Considered a potential lottery pick before an uneven sophomore season caused his stock to drop at North Texas. Even casual observers can notice his effort in getting back to help on defense wasnt up to standards, but the Pistons are intrigued by his athleticism and size. His salary: $500,000 (Year 1 of three-year deal). Looking ahead: A lot isnt expected this season, so there probably will be a D-League stint. Read more: http://www.freep.com/article/20131001/SPORTS03/310010025/detroit-pistons-tony-mitchell

Read more at http://www.rantsports.com/nba/2013/09/20/tony-mitchell-will-have-least-impact-of-all-detroit-pistons-rookies/?dQc2rdqq60shTa1w.99

There were a whole lot of questions about Tony Mitchell heading into the NBA summer pro league season: None were bigger than if Mitchell would have the right attitude and play with 100 percent effort. I never really had much of a doubt. He played lights out in his short time at UNT as a freshman. One can argue he checked out a bit in a disaster of a season last year, a time in which he admitted he coasted, but he has a lot to play for now. The reviews coming in on Mitchell since the end of the Orlando pro league have been nothing but positive. The latest example came in a story in USA Today about the value of players selected later in the draft who come cheap, relatively speaking. Many of them are on display in the summer pro leagues. Read more: http://meangreenblog.dentonrc.com/2013/07/positive-comments-on-tony-mitchell-from-pistons-assistant.html/

t isn't like that's a terrible thing, choosing between a three-time All-Star and a first-round draft pick who can shoot and defend on the perimeter. But Billups as the starting point guard certainly wouldn't do much to alter the diminishing perception of Knight at that position, with the alternative being to start the less-accomplished Knight at point with the rookie Caldwell-Pope. That brings us to the third reality, that some individual veterans inevitably will come to camp in October questioning their roles, such as Jonas Jerebko, Khris Middleton, Kyle Singler and Stuckey. Stuckey seems squeezed out of the starting lineup because of the need for perimeter shooting, which he won't mind. He also may be squeezed out of much point-guard play at all, which he would mind greatly. Jerebko becomes redundant with Villanueva as the floor-stretching power forward, Monroe and Smith gobbling up most of the minutes in front of them, and tough-guy rookie Tony Mitchell also at the position. Read more: http://www.mlive.com/pistons/index.ssf/2013/07/column_detroit_pistons_have_th.html

After reading comments on their websites and some of their fans it doesn't seem to be an impossibility. This story could have a very happy ending because Detroit is a team that could use his talent now.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it: Decide which of these two game-winning plays from Thursday's Orlando Summer League action was better, cooler, fitter, happier and more productive. First up, this game-sealing putback slam by Detroit Pistons second-round pick Tony Mitchell, which gave Detroit a 78-77 win over the Miami Heat: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/better-summer-league-game-winner-tony-mitchell-putback-154634511.html

Dunking Tony Second-round pick Tony Mitchell, a forward, is raw. But he is athletic and made an impact playing above the rim and on the offensive glass. It is hard to see him cracking the rotation next season, however. Read more: http://www.freep.com/article/20130714/SPORTS03/307140089/What-we-learned-about-Detroit-Pistons-in-Summer-League

Mitchell bright spot in blowout loss to Celtics ORLANDO — It’s only two summer-league games, but the Pistons might have found a player in Tony Mitchell. His energy and athleticism were one of the few bright spots in a 93-63 blowout loss to the Celtics on Monday in the second day of summer-league action at the Orlando Magic practice floor. Mitchell contributed six points and 10 rebounds. He also sparked a brief run in the second quarter when the Pistons trimmed a 21-point deficit to 11. It was another solid effort after seven points, six rebounds and two blocked shots in the opener Sunday. And he has competed, an encouraging sign for a player who was labeled as lazy coming out of North Texas. And he wants to get better. Read more: http://www.freep.com/article/20130708/SPORTS03/307080109/tony-mitchell-detroit-pistons-summer-league

ORLANDO, Fla. -- The Detroit Pistons, two days after giving away a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter, mounted their own rally from a 16-point deficit and Tony Mitchell's dunk with 1.7 seconds left gave them a 78-77 win over the Miami Heat today at the Orlando Pro Summer League. Ian Clark's forced 3-pointer at the buzzer came up short for Miami. The victory squared the Pistons at 2-2 through four games and likely guaranteed them one of the two early games, either 8 or 10 a.m., in Friday's playoff round. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope spurred the Pistons' rally in the third quarter before Kim English, who very well could be jobless by Friday because his contract for 2013-14 is not guaranteed, played a key role in the fourth. English had seven points during a 19-5 Pistons run to begin the fourth quarter, staking them to a 70-64 lead. Miami immediately responded with a 7-0 run to restore a 71-70 lead, after which Peyton Siva, who along with Caldwell-Pope helped change the game's tone with defensive pressure, suffered what appeared to be a sprained left ankle. The teams traded buckets the rest of the way, with a key third-chance putback by James Ennis giving Miami a 77-76 lead with 18.9 seconds left. Mitchell's game-winner came when he rebounded and slammed a short airball by Korie Lucious, who replaced the injured Siva Read more: http://www.mlive.com/pistons/index.ssf/2013/07/detroit_pistons_rally_from_16.html This post has been promoted to an article

Wallace welcome Dumars was excited about adding former Pistons forward Rasheed Wallace as an assistant on Maurice Cheeks’ staff, citing the expertise he brings and the positive impact he would have on the young players such as Drummond and Monroe. “(Wallace is) a bright, articulate, intelligent guy,” Dumars said. “That’s what we went out and hired him for — to bring that to the young bigs that we have.” Wallace already has distinguished himself during the Summer League with the passion and vocal motivation he brings. “He pushes them,” Dumars said. “He’s got the loudest voice in the gym and he pushes these guys. He’s nonstop talking to these guys, pushing Greg, Andre, Tony Mitchell and all the rest of our bigs.” Coaching from the bench will be a change for Wallace, who is best known for his rambunctious nature and outspoken criticism of referees. That’ll change — Dumars hopes. “When (Cheeks) and I sat down and talked about it, we looked at each other and said, ‘Yeah, I think he can do it, but we have to have some serious talks with him about some other stuff,’ ” Dumars said. From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130710/SPORTS0102/307100122#ixzz2Yi4LIu2k

Tony Mitchell will continue his run in the NBA summer league with Detroit at noon today when the Pistons face the Oklahoma City Thunder. Mitchell has played well so far, averaging 6.5 points and 8.0 rebounds a game. Here is a link to today’s game information. And in a side note, one of the top prospects with a UNT offer still on the board will announce his college destination today. What makes the announcement interesting his how McKinney wide receiver T.V. Williams is going about it. Williams is going to announce his five finalists on his Twitter account throughout the day and then announce where he is headed tonight. Read more: http://meangreenblog.dentonrc.com/2013/07/tuesday-morning-notes-mitchell-plays-at-noon-unt-target-to-announce.html/