Detroit Pistons Uncertain On Corey Maggette's Injury Status

It appears the Detroit Pistons might be opening the season without newly acquired forward Corey Maggette.

Maggette has been idle in recent days from a strained calf muscle, and the Pistons have been taking it day-to-day with the former Charlotte Bobcats swingman who came to the team in an off-season deal for Ben Gordon.

The Pistons aren’t saying much although coach Lawrence Frank alluded to Maggette’s situation after the team’s final preseason game Friday night with the Atlanta Hawks.

“Everyone is healthy, minus Corey (Maggette), so that’s always a win. What I’m pleased about is that I like our spirit, and I like our group,” Frank said.

Maggette hasn’t been taking part in basketball practices in recent days, although he has been working out with his strength and conditioning coach.

The Pistons need to get Maggette back in the lineup as soon as possible. After the first NBA regular season game at home against the Houston Rockets, the Pistons are on the road for six straight games. They haven’t played well on the road and need a veteran like Maggette to be a better team away from home.

Maggette is the team’s oldest player at 32 and has the most experience at 13 seasons.

“We obviously have a lot of work to be done,” Frank said. “I think there were some good things on both ends, and obviously some things that we continually need to work on. But it’s always good to play good basketball going into it, yet you always have to be real, you can’t get a false sense of what it is and we have a lot of work to do.”