Report: Pistons interested in Chauncey Billups for front office role

News broke Tuesday afternoon that the Detroit Pistons are interested in hiring Chauncey Billups as part of a “totally revamped front office.”  Billups, who spent eight seasons with the franchise, is currently a television analyst for ESPN.

The Detroit Pistons have expressed interest in hiring Chauncey Billups as part of a new front office, according to Marc Stein of the New York Times.

Billups, 41, has no prior front office experience.  Last June, the Cleveland Cavaliers offered him a chance to be their president of basketball operations.  Billups opted to turn them down.

The former point guard played eight seasons in a Pistons’ uniform.  Throughout his tenure, Billups was named a three-time All-Star, two-time All-NBA selection, and the 2004 Finals Most Valuable Player.  His No. 1 was retired to the rafters in 2016.

The news comes just weeks after Pistons’ owner Tom Gores was asked about Stan Van Gundy’s future with the team.  Gores was noncommittal, and wouldn’t give a definitive answer.  But he did say that both he and Van Gundy would evaluate the situation at the end of the season.

Van Gundy is in his fourth year as president and head coach of the Pistons.  To date, he’s compiled a 144-172 record since taking over prior to the 2014-15 season.  Detroit has made the playoffs only once in that span.  They were swept by the Cavaliers in the first round back in 2016.

With the team currently standing at 31-39, it’s unlikely that they’ll make a return to the postseason.  Detroit is six games behind the Milwaukee Bucks for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Van Gundy has one year remaining on the contract he signed in May 2014.  No matter what happens, Gores has been very clear: no decision will be made until the conclusion of the regular season.

Billups has since responded to the report.