The Detroit Pistons lost to the Brooklyn Nets last night, their 11th straight defeat as they close out what has been another disappointing season.
But the real news was after the game when head coach Dwane Casey was asked about his future and dropped a big hint that there might not be one with Detroit.
Casey met with owner Tom Gores after the game to discuss his future, but after posting what could be the worst record in franchise history, the writing may be on the wall for the veteran coach.
The Pistons’ job will be a coveted one, as they already have the core trio of Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren to build around, another high draft pick coming and tons of cap space to make moves.
Now would be a great time for a new coach to jump in and try to change the culture of losing that has hung over the team. Dwane Casey certainly doesn’t deserve all of the blame for that, but if he really is fired, there will be plenty of worthy candidates lined up for the job.
Detroit Pistons: 12 coaching candidates if Dwane Casey is fired
Jerome Allen
If the Detroit Pistons wanted to go with an in-house option then Jerome Allen will get some consideration, as he is currently one of Casey’s assistants and reportedly well liked by the young team.
This would probably be the least satisfying choice for fans who want to see a clean break from Dwane Casey, even though there is no guarantee that Allen would be anything like him as a head coach.
Kenny Atkinson
Another boring choice, as Atkinson has been through the coaching carousel before and comes up every time there is an opening. He’s an assistant under Steve Kerr in Golden State, so he has been in a winning culture, and also has some head coaching experience as the former head coach of the Nets.
Atkinson did have success developing young players and winning with a young team with the Nets, so I expect that experience will get him consideration.
Detroit Pistons: 12 coaching candidates if Dwane Casey is fired
Jerry Stackhouse
I’ve written plenty about the possibility of bringing Jerry Stackhouse in as the next head coach, so I won’t belabor the point too much.
He was coach of the year in the SEC this season, and has experience developing young players in the G-League for the Toronto Raptors. He also spent time as an assistant in Memphis, so many think Stackhouse has paid his dues and is ready for a head NBA job.
He’s obviously familiar with the Detroit Pistons from his time there as a player and I am sure fans would be excited to see him back.
Sam Cassell
It’s actually shocking that three-time NBA champion Sam Cassell has not gotten a head coaching gig yet, as he has had several successful assistant coaching jobs and has been interviewed several times.
He’s been an assistant under Doc Rivers in LA with the Clippers and now in Philly with the 76ers, so many feel he’ll just take over for Rivers if and when he finally retires.
Cassell was always a smart and tenacious player and it’s only a matter of time before he gets a head coaching job with someone. If he is ready to leave Philly, he could end up being a top candidate for any openings this offseason.
Detroit Pistons: 12 coaching candidates if Dwane Casey is fired
Scott Brooks
Brooks may have the most connections to the Detroit Pistons and Troy Weaver, as he was the head coach at OKC when Weaver was there and is now an assistant under Chauncey Billups in Portland.
He’s got pedigree as a coach that took his team to the NBA Finals and won Coach of the Year. He has experience working with MVP-caliber players as well as young guys, so if the Pistons wanted to go with a known commodity, Brooks could be their guy.
Becky Hammon
Hammon, who is currently the head coach of the Las Vegas Aces of the WNBA, had a decorated career as a player before being the assistant head coach of the Spurs under Gregg Popovich.
Many thought she would be in line for the Spurs’ job if Pop ever retires, but she obviously jumped at an opportunity to take the reins of her own team with the Aces. There is no indication that she wants to leave that job, but her stated desire has always been to be the head coach of an NBA team, and she’d be the first woman to ever hold that title.
But Hammon would be far more than some gimmick hire, as she has a sharp basketball mind, has put in her time and has the respect of players. Here’s what Pau Gasol had to say about Hammon in a letter he wrote in the Players Tribune:
"“I’ve played with some of the best players of this generation … and I’ve played under two of the sharpest minds in the history of sports, in Phil Jackson and Gregg Popovich. And I’m telling you: Becky Hammon can coach. I’m not saying she can coach pretty well. I’m not saying she can coach enough to get by. I’m not saying she can coach almost at the level of the NBA’s male coaches. I’m saying: Becky Hammon can coach NBA basketball. Period.”"
Coach Hammon is eventually going to get her shot, but we’ll have to wait and see if she is a candidate for the Detroit Pistons.
Detroit Pistons: 12 coaching candidates if Dwane Casey is fired
Adrian Griffin
Griffin is another NBA assistant head coach whose name has been mentioned as a possibility for top jobs.
He’s also another guy who Weaver is very familiar with, as Griffin was an assistant coach at OKC under Billy Donovan.
He has been an assistant with some very good coaches including Scott Skiles, Tom Thibodeau and Nick Nurse, all defensive-minded coaches.
The Detroit Pistons need to improve their woeful defense and Griffin has been on the staff of some very good defensive teams, so he might be a possibility.
Charles Lee
Charles Lee is currently the Associate Head Coach of the Milwaukee Bucks under Mike Budenholzer. The Bucks have the best record in the NBA and have long been one of the best defensive teams in the NBA.
Lee was an assistant at Bucknell, with the Atlanta Hawks and has spent the last five years with the Bucks.
Lee would be one of the youngest head coaches in the league, but he already has a reputation as an up and coming basketball mind who is destined to be a head coach.
Lee would be in a position to really mesh with this young team and has been around a winning organization that has won a recent title.
Detroit Pistons: 12 coaching candidates if Dwane Casey is fired
Ryan Bowen
Bowen is another guy who has been a big part of a winning organization as the assistant coach of the Denver Nuggets under Mike Malone since 2015.
He put in his time as a film guy for Iowa and worked in player development and as an assistant for the Nuggets, Kings and then back to the Nuggets, where he has been ever since.
If the Detroit Pistons want to go with a guy who has been around winning and a team that manages to be in the playoffs every season without attracting free agents, then Bowen might get a look.
Chris Quinn
Chris Quinn is only 39-years-old, but already has already put in the time as an assistant under Erick Spoelstra, who many believe to be one of the best head coaches in the NBA.
Quinn has been an assistant with the Miami Heat since 2014 and some think Spoelstra has him tagged to continue his legacy of sustained success once he decides to call it quits. Quinn has the respect of players and the advantage of having long been a part of one of the NBA’s most successful franchises.
Here is what Heat legend Udonis Haslem had to say about Quinn:
"“When you listen to Quinny, you’re hearing Spo. It’s the same message.” Haslem added, “He has the knowledge, the experience, the relationship with the players. He has every base covered when you talk about checking the boxes to have the ability to be a successful head coach.”"
Quinn has stepped in for Spoelstra a few tines when he had to be absent and many believe he is the next coaching star in the NBA.
Detroit Pistons: 12 coaching candidates if Dwane Casey is fired
Ime Udoka
I wrote quite a lot about the pros and cons of hiring Ukoka, as he is clearly one of the top candidates who took his team to the NBA Finals and had the league’s number one defense.
But he was then fired for conduct that went against the rules of the Celtics’ organization. I am not the moral police, but some of the stuff Udoka was accused of was contrary to behavior most modern organizations are going to accept.
He’s going to be an interesting case, as teams will have to do their due diligence on some of his past behavior, but his coaching resume speaks for itself.
Greg Buckner
Buckner is currently the Associate Head Coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers, who currently have the NBA’s top defense.
He’s been in the NBA as a coach since 2011, where he worked in player development, so he has experience working with young players.
He was an assistant with the Memphis Grizzlies (another of the league’s top defenses) before joining the Cavs. If the Detroit Pistons are serious about this two-bigs stuff, then Buckner might be the choice, as he has helped make it work successfully in Cleveland and would undoubtedly bring some new ideas and approaches to the defensive end.