Detroit Pistons: Isiah Thomas in as Next Head Coach?

Today I had the day off. For me, that includes a pretty standard routine: walk the dogs, knock out a killer P90X workout, and then sit down in front of the newspaper with a cup of coffee. I like my days off. I need a day to relax without any type of external stress or excitement.

Things were going along great until I came across Terry Foster's article in the Detroit News asking Detroit Pistons team president Joe Dumars to consider Isiah Thomas as the next head coach of the team.

So there went my day of relaxation. In one fell swoop, I felt my heart sink to my gut and I immediately went into alternate nostril breathing to bring my pulse rate back to normal (quick note, people with anxiety issues should look into this technique, it works wonders!).

Next, I set out to work out this stress in as cathartic a way as possible: writing.

Are we really asking Dumars to consider Isiah Lord Thomas III?

Okay, quick note from me here. I love Isiah Thomas as a player. He was and continues to be my favorite basketball player of all time. Check out my profile, he is my idol...as a player.

As a player, he brought countless hours of joy to my life. As a player, he engineered the single most courageous one-man performance I have ever seen (43 points against the Lakers on a severely sprained ankle; it seriously brought tears to my eyes).

As a player, he brought two championships to Detroit through his hard work, determination and pure cult of personality.

As a player, he is a god amongst men.

But since he hung up this jersey, everything has been terrible that has associated with the one we called "Zeke."

He ran the CBA into the ground. He washed out in Toronto as general manager. He was solid as coach of Indiana, but Larry Bird took his same players to the Finals.

He torpedoed the New York Knicks almost beyond repair. He even allegedly threw his own daughter under the bus during an incident at his home in which the police were needed and paramedics were called. He has even been a disappointment as a coach in the college ranks.

As my friend Erik DeLong has stated, "Isiah is a great basketball player, but a terrible human being."

While I might not be willing to go so far as Erik, I will agree that nothing on his resume suggests that he will be a successful coach for Detroit.

Personally, I hope he doesn't even get a call from new owner Tom Gores. Thomas is an engaging personality and will suck you in with his smile.

He even now still has an almost Rasputin-like hold over Knicks owner James Dolan, and I fear that given the chance, he may do the same with Gores.

Opinions abound through the blogoshere and the newspapers about what type of coach Dumars will and should focus on.

Nearly all believe that the Pistons need an experienced coach who can step in and demand accountability.

Mike Woodson, Rick Adelman and even Jeff Van Gundy have been mentioned as options. All have experience (Woodson less so than the others), all have coached in the post season, and all have their strengths and weaknesses.

But these folks need to take a minute and look at the Pistons situation. Dumars is firmly in as team president. Gores said flatly that he will lean heavily on Dumars.

What seems more likely of the following scenarios: Dumars brings in an experienced coach with an ego, a desire to weigh in on personnel decisions, and a resume that suggests that they can have success doing things their own way, or a younger, inexperienced coach that will leave Dumars alone on personnel decisions, will be open to be molded into Dumars image, and is just happy to have the opportunity?

Dumars tried the first way with Larry Brown. He had great success, but he also had his biggest headaches. Brown was a prima donna who needed constant attention.

He also has tried it with inexperienced coaches who wilted in the face of an experienced team.

This situation will be different. Dumars no doubt will be getting rid of the older players on this team, especially the malcontents like Rip Hamilton and Tracy McGrady. This will be a young team that is eager to learn.

In this situation, you can bring along a relatively inexperienced coach as long as he has a strong personality that engages the players and commands respect.

Dumars does not want to bring back another Larry Brown type of coach, and that is exactly what Van Gundy will be.

Adelman is not a diva, but he will want some input on personnel. Woodson probably lacks the strong personality that will command respect but he will get interviewed.

I think when all is said and done, Dumars will come to the logical conclusion of bringing in Bill Laimbeer. He fits all of the bills that will make Dumars' life easier, and he will make the fans happy.

Regardless, we have got to put an end to the idea that Isiah Thomas should be considered for this job. It is too important of a job to be given to someone that has proven he cannot do it.

Seriously, would you trust Isiah Thomas with your livelihood?