The 1996–97 NBA season was the Pistons' 49th season in the National Basketball Association, and 40th season in the city of Detroit. During the off-season, the Pistons acquired Stacey Augmon and Grant Long from the Atlanta Hawks, and re-signed free agent and former "Bad Boy" Rick Mahorn, who was a member of the 1989 championship team that defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in the Finals. The team also signed three-point specialist Kenny Smith, who won two championships with the Houston Rockets, but was released to free agency in November after nine games. The Pistons got off to a fast start winning ten of their first eleven games on their way to a 20–4 start, and later holding a 34–12 record at the All-Star break. At mid-season, the team traded Augmon to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange