2018 NBA Draft: 3 prospects with close ties to the Detroit Pistons

Marvin Bagley III, PF — Duke

Bagley is universally projected to go in the top-five of this year’s draft. If he goes No. 2 overall, the Duke freshman would be following in familial footsteps: His grandfather, Joe Caldwell, was picked No. 2 by the Detroit Pistons in the 1964 NBA Draft.

After the New York Knicks grabbed UTEP big man Jim Barnes with the No. 1 selection, the Pistons took Caldwell, a 6’5″ small forward out of Arizona State who helped the U.S. win a gold medal at the 1964 Olympics. (Caldwell played alongside Larry Brown on the Olympic team.)

Caldwell averaged 10.7 points and 6.7 rebounds as a rookie on a Pistons team that had seven players average double-figure scoring. Terry Dischinger led that squad at 18.2 points per game; the other double-digit scorers were Dave DeBusschere, Ray Scott, Eddie Miles, Reggie Harding and Rod Thorn. Caldwell was voted to the league’s All-Rookie Team.

Caldwell was putting up similar numbers for the Pistons midway through his second pro season when he was traded to the St. Louis Hawks for point guard John Barnhill. After that season, the Pistons made Barnhill available in the expansion draft, where he was chosen by the Chicago Bulls.

Caldwell (No. 27 in the photo) went on to make the NBA All-Star Game twice with the Hawks after the franchise relocated to Atlanta. He then went to the ABA and made the All-Star Game twice with the Carolina Cougars.

At his peak, Caldwell (No. 27) averaged 23.3 points and 6.8 rebounds during the 1970-71 ABA season. He was voted All-ABA Second Team. He was also a two-time All-Defensive Team pick — once in the NBA, once in the ABA. Hall-of-Famers such as Dave Bing and Walt Frazier said Caldwell was one of the toughest defenders they ever faced.

In 1973, Caldwell finished fourth in the ABA’s league MVP voting. He played a total of 11 pro seasons between the two leagues. However, his career ended abruptly and amid controversy.

Caldwell was playing for the Spirits of St. Louis during the 1974-75 season when their star, Marvin Barnes — picture Rasheed Wallace‘s talent and temper mixed with Dennis Rodman‘s antics and off-court partying — left the team without notice. Caldwell was blamed for influencing Barnes’ decision and he was suspended. Even after Barnes came back, Caldwell was not allowed back. He never played another pro basketball game.

Next: 2018 NBA Mock Draft - Final edition

Caldwell fought his case in court for decades, claiming he was blackballed by the ABA and the NBA. Now 76 years old, he still contends that the real reason the Spirits got rid of him and no other team would sign him is that they didn’t want to pay him the pension agreement he had worked into his contract.