The Pistons currently sit at 29-32, which is good enough for the 9th spot in the East, yet still out of the playoffs. Which should leave every fan wondering, just what are the Pistons trying to do?
http://gty.im/864205318
So far, it’s been another disappointing year for Detroit, but who’s to blame? The players? The coaches? The front office? The owner? One thing is for certain, the current product the Pistons are putting on the floor is nowhere near as good as what they are paying for. They have the seventh-highest payroll in the league and are struggling to grab the 8 seed in the East. Recent news has come out that there may be changes coming for the Pistons if they can’t make the playoffs.
From SportingNews.com and Mitch Lawrence:
“Stan Van Gundy is expected to at least lose his role as team president in Detroit, if not also his coaching duties, with Pistons exec Arn Tellem waiting in the wings to take over the basketball operations. Tellem, one of pro sports’ top agents for the better part of 25 years, has been Pistons’ VP and owner Tom Gores’ right-hand man since 2015.”
“Speculation is that Van Gundy will need to make the playoffs to keep his coaching job. He’s completing the fourth year of a five-year deal worth $35 million.”
So, the Pistons have someone possibly waiting in the wings. Arn Tellem is that someone, but would it be a smart move for him to take that job? The direction they are heading in right now is not good. The recent moves the franchise has made will make it hard for anyone taking over. Detroit is now carrying another huge contract with Blake Griffin, and with the trading of draft picks to acquire Griffin, it really limits what the Pistons can do when it comes to roster moves. There is no financial flexibility right now. They made the Griffin move with the thought of him, Reggie Jackson, and Andre Drummond on the floor together, making a strong push for the playoffs. With Jackson on the sidelines hurt, who knows if we will see that trio at 100% this season.
Stan Van Gundy was asked recently by local CBS Radio station 97.1 The Ticket if he was feeling any pressure to make the playoffs:
“There could be. I just don’t think coaches ever worry about that stuff. You’re worried about winning the next game. What’s painful in this business, as a coach, is losing. I don’t think it’s job security or any of that. I think fans and media love that story and angle, but I’ve been around this my whole life with my dad coaching and I’ve never known a coach that even had that concern. Your concern is you want to win.”
I feel Van Gundy should be let go from at least one of his roles with the Pistons before next season starts. It seems to never really work out when you have someone as a head coach and in the front office at the same time.
When it comes to the city of Detroit, and it’s current situations sports-wise, the Pistons are in the worst spot. The Red Wings and Tigers are rebuilding for the future, while the Lions are in the playoff picture every year and are now respected more league-wide. The Pistons are a ship, floating around in the ocean of nothingness. They have no direction, and they seem to have no idea what they are doing. They continue to throw things against a wall, hoping that something sticks.
If Art Tellem is the next man up and takes on the job of President of Basketball Operations for the Pistons, I wish him the best of luck, and hopefully, he can find an identity for this franchise.
