DETROIT _ The Detroit Pistons want to make a few things clear.
The move from the Palace of Auburn Hills to Little Caesars Arena has been a success, according to franchise representatives.
Ticket sales are up.
Revenue is up.
But with the organization deep in the process of selling season tickets for next season, the addition of Blake Griffin will boost those efforts tremendously.
And it's created a buzz that has not been seen here since a 2004 blockbuster trade that helped propel the Pistons to an NBA title.
"We haven't seen this kind of buzz from a trade since Rasheed Wallace and we're feeling it from our fans and from a retail perspective," Pistons chief revenue and marketing officer Charlie Metzger said before Griffin's debut Thursday night at Little Caesars Arena against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Griffin delivered on the buzz Thursday, scoring 24 points and adding 10 rebounds, five assists and two blocks in a 104-102 victory.
The Pistons acquired Griffin on Monday in a trade that sent Tobias Harris, Avery Bradley, Boban Marjanovic and future draft picks to the Los Angeles Clippers.
Griffin, a five-time All-Star, brings star power.
That power was evident when 100 jerseys bearing Griffin's No. 23 were snatched up before halftime of Tuesday night's victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Another 200 jerseys were available for Thursday's game against the Grizzlies.
The Pistons entered Thursday 19th in the NBA in tickets sold per game after six straight seasons of being ranked 25th or lower.
But their 83.2 percent of available tickets sold ranks 29th of 30 teams.
The Pistons haven't won a playoff game since 2008, so winning is needed for Griffin's presence to have a long-term impact.
"A winning product is what we're all looking for," Metzger said. "We've got great fans here and they're excited to see what Blake's going to be able to do with a team that everybody feels good about."
