For Detroit Pistons fans who are yearning for a new direction for the team led by a new GM, they may have to wait for a bit.
Despite an earlier report from Marc Stein indicating mutual interest between the Detroit Pistons and former All-Star Chauncey Billups, Pistons owner Tom Gores has put the kibosh on that potential reunion for now.
Mark Barnhill, spokesman for the Pistons and Platinum Equity (owned by Gores) responded with a simple “False.”
Detroit has expressed interest in hiring the former Pistons star Chauncey Billups to work in tandem with Arn Tellem in a totally revamped front office, according to league sources
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) March 20, 2018
Billups, who played eight of his 17-year career in a Pistons' uniform, has garnered interest from multiple teams over the past couple years, most notably the Cleveland Cavaliers showed interest in the former NBA Champion for their then-open General Manager position in 2016. Billups withdrew his name from the ring for that position.
http://gty.im/831492946
The combo of former team star (Billups) and former Super-Agent (Tellum) combining to revamp an organization would not be the first of its kind, as Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka are currently doing the same thing in Los Angeles for the Lakers. But if their early success is an indicator of how things could be (Los Angeles has already surpassed their win totals from the previous three seasons), there's hope for the Motor City to turn things around.
Chauncey apparently has heard the rumblings and has made his own statement regarding the Pistons position.
“I’m very happy with the on-air opportunities ESPN has given me to talk about the NBA in the studio & at games. Of course, I love my Pistons & Detroit. But I would never push for a job with any NBA franchise that is not open. That’s not part of my character,” – Chauncey Billups.
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) March 20, 2018
This is all very early in the process, so as more information is gathered, more will be revealed.
The Pistons have disappointed this season, currently sitting at 31-39 and having all but fallen out of the Eastern Conference playoff race.
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