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David Thorpe slams Stan Van Gundy for releasing Josh Smith

By Dan Feldman

Dec 21, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Detroit Pistons head coach Stan Van Gundy during the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 21, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Detroit Pistons head coach Stan Van Gundy during the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /
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David Thorpe of ESPN brings up a lot of the same points Tim did here about the Pistons releasing Josh Smith, but Thorpe attributes it to a single underlying problem:

The coach runs the front office.

This just reeks of Stan Van Gundy the coach being tired of Josh Smith and Van Gundy the president acting impulsively.

Why not banish Smith while keeping him on the roster? Why not try for a buyout? Why not hope the trade market changes?

Many coaches have grown impatient with difficult players and just wanted them gone. Van Gundy is lucky enough to have a team president wiling to appease that desire.

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