Cleaves Signs With Detroit

The Detroit Pistons and first-round draft pick Mateen Cleaves have agreed to a three-year, $4.1 million contract, his agent said Wednesday.

Cleaves, a guard who helped Michigan State to the NCAA title last spring, was expected to sign the contract at an afternoon news conference, said Cleaves' agent Charles Tucker.

Detroit selected Cleaves with the 14th overall pick of the draft.

The Pistons lost Grant Hill to the Orlando Magic in the off-season and are counting on Cleaves, as a local hero from Flint, for a box-office and marketing boost.

Cleaves holds the career assists records for Michigan State and the Big Ten.

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