The Detroit Pistons recently announced that they will be searching for a new GM to work alongside Ed Stefanski.
In what I would consider strange timing the announcement came while we still have no concrete date on when or even if the NBA will return. Given everything else going on in the world at the moment, it also seems the least of our worries. The Detroit Pistons continue working.
It was originally reported by Adrian Wojnarowski here:
The Detroit Pistons are opening a search to hire a general manager to work with senior advisor Ed Stefanski, sources tell ESPN. Stefanski and Palace Sports Vice Chairman Arn Tellem will be leading the process, which will be underway soon. Story: https://t.co/xO2CDorIXg
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 26, 2020
The Pistons definitely have one of the more unusual front office set ups, with no formal GM or President of Basketball Operations, with Ed Stefanski doing that work. They also only have two Assistant GM’s in Malik Rose and Pat Garrity.
As of yesterday the Detroit Pistons will also now be looking for an Assistant GM, as it emerged that Malik Rose will be leaving the Pistons for a job with the NBA. You can see it was originally reported here:
Detroit assistant GM Malik Rose is leaving the organization to take a job with the NBA, according to multiple sources. The Pistons are searching for a new GM to work with Ed Stefanski.
— Stefan Bondy (@SBondyNYDN) June 1, 2020
It looks like the new GM will slot in between the Assistant and still report to Ed Stefanski. This would shift Stefanski’s role to more of a team president type.
As always with any front office hire, there will be names thrown out there, with a lot of those being former Detroit Pistons. I’ve already seen names rumoured like fan favorite Chauncey Billups a lot, Tayshaun Prince and Shane Battier to name a few.
Chauncey Billups is a Detroit Pistons legend, and one of my favorite players. He played over 1000 games in the NBA, and has more recently been a studio analyst with Sports Center. In 2019 he announced he would be joining the Los Angeles Clippers broadcast team. He knew the game of basketball on the court, the question would be does he have the ability to build and cultivate a team?
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Prince is also a Detroit Pistons legend, with him completing probably one of the best plays ever made by a Pistons player with ‘the block’.
Tayshaun also played over 1000 NBA games, and then post playing he has been a Special Assistant to the GM, and has more recently been promoted to Vice President of Basketball Affairs both for the Memphis Grizzlies.
He definitely has some experience in the Front Office. Would he want to come back to the team where he won a championship and spent most of his career?
Battier also played over 1,000 NBA games, and is a two time champion! After retiring he worked as an ESPN commentator and once he left there he has been with the Miami Heat as a Director of Basketball Development and Analytics.
He definitely has front office experience, but would he want to leave the place he won his championships? Is his experience relevant enough to being an Assistant GM?
Personally I don’t mind who they hire, as long as they take their time, consider all the candidates and hire who they think will be best. I trust this front office, they haven’t given me a reason to not trust them… yet.
What do you guys think? Let us know in the comments or find us on twitter!