police, Lavrov said.French police demanded that they get off the

DETROIT - The Detroit Pistons have decided to invest in Jodie Meeks future, banking on his best basketball being ahead of him. Meeks has agreed to a $19.5 million, three-year deal with Detroit, a person familiar with the situation said Tuesday night. The person, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because free agents cant sign contracts until the leagues moratorium ends July 10, also said Cartier Martin had agreed to a one-year contract with the rebuilding franchise. The 6-foot-4 Meeks averaged a career-high 15.7 points and scored a team-high 1,209 points last season for the Los Angeles Lakers. The shooting guard has averaged 9.7 points over his five-year career. Milwaukee drafted Meeks in the second round in 2009 and traded him during his rookie season to Philadelphia. The Lakers signed him as a free agent in 2012 and exercised a team option last year to keep him on the roster for a second season. Martin, a 6-7 small forward, has averaged 5.4 points over his six-year career. Earlier on Tuesday, when NBA free agency began, the Pistons announced assistant general manager George David was stepping down. David was a part of the previous front office that was led by president of basketball operations Joe Dumars. The Pistons hired Stan Van Gundy in May to replace Dumars and to also lead them as their coach. Van Gundys first major move appears to be adding Meeks. The Pistons, who havent earned a spot in the playoffs since 2009, are trying to reshape their roster to make the most of 20-year-old centre Andre Drummond. They probably will be relegated to keeping forward Josh Smith, who signed a $54 million, four-year deal last summer, and point guard Brandon Jennings, entering the second year of his $24 million, three-year contract. Detroit does not know if it restricted free agent Greg Monroe will be back. ___ Connect with Larry Lage at www.Twitter.com/larrylage Mario Lemieux Penguins Jersey . Coverage on TSN is underway now while action resumes on TSN2 at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt. TSN GO also offers TSN subscribers bonus online coverage, with live streams of all four venues. Chad Ruhwedel Jersey . LOUIS -- To stay a step ahead of goaltenders, T. http://www.penguinsauthenticofficial.com/jack-johnson-jersey/ .Y. - Phil Varone was the lone scorer in the shootout as the Rochester Americans edged the Toronto Marlies 3-2 on Sunday in American Hockey League action. Sidney Crosby Jersey . According to a police report, Douglas is accused of grabbing his girlfriend by the neck and slamming her against the wall several times while he carried her from the elevator to their Hartford hotel room early Sunday morning. Dominik Simon Penguins Jersey . -- Challenged for the first time under Major League Baseballs expanded replay system, umpires got it right.Russian government officials have defended the behaviour of Russian fans at Euro 2016 by claiming they have been provoked into violence. UEFA has said Russia will be thrown out of the tournament if there is a repeat of the violence by Russia fans which marred the end of last Saturdays match against England in Marseille, where there was also trouble ahead of the game.Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov conceded it was unacceptable to behave like some of our citizens in Marseille but criticised the provocative behaviour of England fans. Sky Sports News HQ investigates UEFAs decision to give Russia a suspended disqualification from Euro 2016 We cannot turn a blind eye to the fact that (the French) are trying to ignore the absolutely provocative actions of fans from other countries, Lavrov said.You probably saw the outrageous scenes on television of them trampling on the Russian flag and screaming insults directed at the Russian leadership and leading Russian athletes. Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko also claims Russian fans are being provoked Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko has also claimed Russian fans are being provoked and said he could not rule out more violence as a result.I do not have any certainty that disorder involving Russian fans will not be repeated, he said. Our fans are constantly being provoked. And whatever happens it is immediately said that the Russians are guilty.There are now 15-20,000 Russians in different towns (in France). Most of them want to watch good football.Meanwhile, the Russian foreign ministry has summoned Frances ambassador in Moscow to protest over the detention of Russian supporters on Tuesday, warning that further stoking of anti-Russian sentiments... could significaantly aggravate the atmosphere in Russian-French relations.dddddddddddd.French police swooped on a group of 43 Russian supporters near Marseille and took them into custody, but Lavrov has criticised their actions. French police have stopped a bus carrying Russian fans as they being a crackdown on potential troublemakers at Euro 2016 It was an absolutely unacceptable incident when a bus with more than 40 Russian fans was stopped by police, Lavrov said.French police demanded that they get off the bus for document and identification checks, Lavrov said in parliament. Police in Lille are preparing for Russias match against Slovakia The minister said the French authorities had not informed the Russian embassy or the consulate in Marseille before intercepting the bus transporting Russian fans, who included far-right sympathiser Alexander Shprygin, who heads the Russian football supporters association.Lavrov said Russian diplomatic missions in France only learned of the incident from social media after Shprygin and other fans published pictures and updates about their detention.Eleven of the 43 were released on Wednesday, but French officials said the others could be charged or expelled from the country.Marseille prosecutors believe they have enough proof to charge some of the detained Russian fans with involvement in Saturdays violence.We have sufficiently accurate information that at least some of them took part in the unacceptable violence, top local official Adolphe Colrat said. Also See: Two Russian fans arrested UEFA: Russias last chance French police out in force Marseille trouble 50-50 ' ' '