One of East Lansing’s most beloved sports heroes will no longer be just a stone’s throw away from the MSU campus.
The Detroit Pistons traded point guard Mateen Cleaves, who guided MSU to a NCAA men’s basketball national championship in 2000, to the Sacramento Kings on Friday.
For Cleaves, Detroit acquired swingman Jon Barry, 32, and a first-round draft pick that cannot come before 2004.
Ironically, the deal consummated on Cleaves’ 24th birthday, a year and a day after he signed a 3-year, $4.1 million contract with Detroit.
Cleaves, a Flint native, played only one season for his childhood favorite Pistons, but his reputation as a local kid with a big heart and an incredible work ethic instantly made him one of the Pistons’ most popular players.
That’s why many in the area were shocked to hear the news that Cleaves was being shipped to the West Coast after only one year in Motown.
“It’s an obstacle for him,” said former Spartan cager and 11-year NBA veteran Steve Smith, who was traded to the San Antonio Spurs this summer. “(But) every time he has an obstacle, he overcomes it. He’s a warrior, he’ll come out ahead.”
MSU assistant basketball coach Brian Gregory said he was also confident Cleaves will be able to cope with the trade, but he wasn’t surprised to hear about the deal.
“Professional basketball is a business, so I’m never surprised by any trade,” Gregory said. “But things will work out for him because of the type of player he is.
“With his maturity level and professionalism, he’ll be ready for this challenge and will make the most of it.”
Cleaves averaged 5.4 points, 2.7. assists and 1.8 turnovers per game while sharing playing time with Chucky Atkins and Dana Barros in his rookie season.
Pistons President Joe Dumars said earlier in the off-season that he intended to make a change at the point guard position, so when the Pistons decided to keep Atkins and re-sign Barros, all signs pointed to Cleaves as the odd man out.
But even with Cleaves’ new scenery, it doesn’t look like much will change, at least right away, basketball-wise in California. The Kings already acquired Mike Bibby in a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies in June, and he’s projected to start at the point with Cleaves and Bobby Jackson battling for the back-up job.
Former MSU basketball coach Jud Heathcote said he keeps tabs on the NBA, and he understands the difficulties young players can have trying to crack the starting line-up.
“I always say, ‘When you’re down trying to work your way up, it depends on a number of players ahead of you,’” Heathcote said. “Is Mateen gonna be third guard or is he going to drop down to the fourth guard? Who knows?
“I see Mateen work so hard on his game to improve. Whether it will be enough remains to be seen.”
While Cleaves will no longer be an hour’s drive from his hometown and his alma mater, it’s unlikely he’ll be a stranger to Michigan. The Kings visit Detroit next season April 3, which will give Cleaves’ family and MSU fans a chance to see him play live once again.
Staff writer Justin Rice contributed to this report.
