Maurice Cheeks wants Rex Kalamian as Pistons’ No. 1 assistant
By Dan Feldman
"new Pistons coach Mo Cheeks covets former OKC colleague Rex Kalamian as his top assistant"
The most important aspect of Maurice Cheeks building his staff will be complementing strengths and weaknesses, and it appears Kalamian does that. Cheeks’ coaching seems more impactful on defense, and Kalamian focused on the Thunder’s offense, a very good one at that (though Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook certainly help).
Kalamian has been around in the league for a while, breaking into the Clippers’ scouting department in 1995. He’s also worked with the Kings, Timberwolves, Nuggets and 76ers, so that’s a positive indicator if teams keep hiring him.
Cheeks deserves the freedom to hire his own staff and sink or swim with that group, so if he wants Kalamian, I hope he gets him. But it seems possible Kalamian could slide up into the No. 1 assistant spot in Oklahoma City, and for most, I bet that position would be more appealing with the Thunder than the Pistons.