Detroit Pistons Now Hiring: Handicapping the Five Coaching Candidates
The Detroit Pistons are finally starting to put together a list of candidates that will be interviewing for their vacant head coaching job.
And while team president Joe Dumars has pared down the list that began with the absurd (Isiah Thomas), and stretched through the long shots (Jeff Van Gundy), the real candidates are beginning to take shape.
There are definitely some familiar names and there are some surprises as well. Regardless, it seems as though one of the following five names will be hired to coach the Detroit Pistons.
So let's get to know them.
Mike Woodson
1 of 5
Background
The least sexy of the potential coaching names is also the most obvious. Mike Woodson was a long-time assistant coach under Larry Brown, culminating in the Pistons championship in 2004.
After that season, he was hired to coach the very young Atlanta Hawks.
His career with Atlanta was marked by improvement. In fact, in each year as coach, the team won more games than the previous season, culminating in a 53-29 record in 2010.
However, while his team grew considerably over his tenure, he was dogged by a disappointing run in the playoffs, specifically in 2010 when the Hawks were stretched to seven games against the Milwaukee Bucks and then swept in the next round by Orlando.
Woodson is the classic disciple of Brown, preaching for his players to play the right way and give the extra effort on defense. As a result, his Hawks teams in 2009 and 2010 each were in the top ten in defensive points per game.
Good Fit?
Woodson has a commanding presence and will immediately require accountability. However, you have to be worried that his Hawks seemed to quit on him in the playoffs, giving completely lackluster performances and getting blown out.
Odds
I would say Woodson is probably close to being the favorite. I would put the odds at 3 to 1.
Kelvin Sampson
2 of 5
Background
Kelvin Sampson represents an odd mix when it comes to experience. He is the most experienced coach, but he has the least professional basketball experience.
Sampson was one of the elite basketball coaches in the college ranks during the 2000's. He began his career as a head coach of Montana Tech which led to a better gig at Washington State, leading them to the NCAA tournament in 1994.
He then moved on to Oklahoma, where he led the Sooners to the tourney in 11 of his 12 seasons there.
Finally, he ended up at Indiana where he had a fantastic record of 43-15. However, he was embroiled in controversy and was forced out.
Since then, he had a brief stint as an adviser for San Antonio, and has been an assistant coach under Scott Skiles since 2008.
Good Fit?
It is hard to say what you would be getting with Sampson. He certainly has a commanding presence, with a steely gaze and fiery temper.
He also has a very high basketball I.Q., although it is hard to tell what type of pro coach he would be. Sure, his approach worked in college, but the pros are a different animal altogether.
I will say though, that he is definitely an intriguing possibility.
Odds
Sampson probably will get a head coaching gig, but he is probably the longest shot of the bunch. I would set the odds at 20 to 1.
Lawrence Frank
3 of 5
Background
Lawrence Frank is easily the odd man in this mix from a physical sense. He is the smallest, least imposing and youngest of the potential coaches.
Ironically, the youngest candidate also has the most head coaching experience at the pro level.
Frank took over the New Jersey Nets at the age of 33 in 2003.
He led them to a .500 record or better in each of his first four years, highlighted by a very good playoff record of 18-20.
But the wheels eventually came off, with his Nets finishing with a disappointing 34 wins in consecutive years, and then started out 2009 with 16 straight losses.
Frank was fired, and then caught on as an assistant coach with Boston.
Good Fit?
One of the biggest problems that the Pistons have faced over the last few years has been a total lack of accountability. They have played like lazy, pampered brats and that has been exacerbated by the mounting losses.
Frank did a good job of getting veterans like Jason Kidd to buy into his program, but then struggled with his younger players in the subsequent years once Kidd was dealt.
Personally, I don't think Frank is what we are looking for.
Odds
His prior experience helps him, but with no connection to this franchise, it seems like he is a tough sell. I will put the odds at about 15 to 1.
Dwane Casey
4 of 5
Background
Casey appears to be the flavor of the month right now for a couple of reasons.
First, he is the lead assistant coach of the newly crowned champion Dallas Mavericks.
Second, it is perceived that he got a raw deal of sorts during his last head coaching gig in Minnesota.
In his first season, he took over a team that had one of the best players in the game in Kevin Garnett. However, Garnett was dealt in a huge blockbuster deal and the Wolves limped to a 33-49 record.
In his second year, the Wolves alternated between surprising and disappointing, leading to Casey being dismissed 40 games into the season despite a 20-20 record.
Good Fit?
It's kind of a tough sell for me. Casey is a soft-spoken, almost quiet guy. He seemed to have good rapport with his players, but Kevin McHale saw something he didn't like in Casey, considering how surprising his firing seemed at the time.
Detroit needs a commanding presence, and Casey just doesn't project that.
Odds
His star is rising, but I don't think he is what we need right now. I will set the odds at 10-1.
Bill Laimbeer
5 of 5
Background
If you don't know this guy's background, you probably are reading the wrong article about the wrong team.
Laimbeer of course was an iconic figure in Detroit. While both he and Woodson were former players, Woodson was a role player and Laimbeer was an All-Star on two championship teams.
Laimbeer was a fierce competitor, leading the league in rebounds once and finishing near the top in several other seasons. He made four All Star teams and was instrumental in helping Detroit win it all.
Laimbeer was known as a no-nonsense player that refused to back down from anyone. This led to on-court confrontations with stars such as Larry Bird, Charles Barkley, Kevin McHale, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
He was a color commentator for the Pistons during the 90's and early part of last decade, and went on to coach the Detroit Shock to three WNBA championships.
Since then, he has served the last season as an assistant coach in Minnesota for the Timberwolves where he has had a profound effect on star forward Kevin Love.
Good Fit?
Given that Detroit wants an effective communicator that commands respect and can relate to today's players, yes, I would say he would be a good fit.
Laimbeer not only has the cachet of being a former player, but he was a star with a mean reputation. He also is a commanding presence from a physical standpoint, standing 6'11 and weighing close to 300 pounds. Not to mention, he has a booming baritone voice.
The only questions about Laimbeer center on whether he has the type of relationship with Dumars that he can shift from teammate to employee, and whether his lack of NBA coaching experience will hurt him.
We all know what happened the last time Dumars hired a former teammate.
Odds
I will temper my enthusiasm a little bit because I really think Laimbeer is the best fit out there. However, his lack of experience and the dynamic between him and Dumars are major question marks.
It is all going to come down to how well he interviews. I will set the odds at a conservative 5 to 1.
