NBA / Jun 3, 2008 / 3:34 pm
Breaking News: Michael Curry to be Pistons Next Coach
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith is reporting that the Pistons will go in-house to replace Flip Saunders, and will name Detroit assistant Michael Curry as their next head coach.
We have no doubt that Curry will be a great coach in the League someday … but right now? Is he the right guy to coach a vet-laden team? It seems to make sense for the Pistons to re-shuffle a bit this offseason, but you have to think some combo of Chauncey, Rip, Rasheed, Tayshaun and McDyess will still be in place right?
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June 3rd, 2008 at 3:40 pm
for real says:
everybody needs their first shot
why not him?
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:41 pm
djKianoosh says:
damn dime! i finally get out of all day meetings and detroit does what?! they weren’t messing around. at least Dumars knows what HE wants. that’s respectable.
as for the royal thumbs up/down:
Chauncey: up
Rip: up
Tayshaun: up, still young
McDyess: down, trade him
Sheed: down, trade him
young guys: up, keep developing
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:42 pm
jay says:
Avery Johnson woulda been the perfect coach for them.
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Dime Magazine says:
yeah Jay, we’re actually kind of surprised that Avery might not even get a look here. He seems like a good fit.
- PC
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Prof. TX says:
Almost any coach will have trouble with Rasheed. He has definitely developed a reputation for doing his own thing even when the team wants/needs him to do something else.
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Scott says:
Man, Curry will probably be pretty good. He has the inside track on how all the players act, and respond to certain treatment.
That being said, I almost agree with DJ up there, Sheed gone, but I’d keep McDyess around, I believe he’s on a cheap contract, and dude just wants to win, at worst he’s a solid bench guy.
Their main problem is Sheed, he was so good that they were able to win a Chip with him. But this year he was so incredibly uninterested that it really hurt the Pistons not having any low-post presence.
They need a player on the level that Sheed used to be at. Trading Sheed for that player may be hard.
But when it comes to Dumars I think most of us respect the hell out of him, and trust that he’ll figure out a way.
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:46 pm
JOB33 says:
u gotta think, with how fast the firing/hiring took place.. the pistons must’ve been thinking about this for awhile. i think out of everyone they should drop sheed. the numbers may be down for prince but he still produces, to a point. and he plays good defense. he doesn’t make it all about him when he’s on the court. sheed seemed like he hindered, rather than helped them. with all the shooters they got there they didn’t need sheed jammin up the 3 pt line. he’s a character and an entertainer and all but when it comes down to it, i just don’t believe sheed knows how to win. he seems a bit selfish, too. that’s just all opinion, though.
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:49 pm
JOB33 says:
i agree w/ scott. i’d keep mcdyess. he’s only interested in the W. if anything u can keep him on the bench to play solid minutes and help with developing the young talent.
June 3rd, 2008 at 4:16 pm
subrock says:
highly doubt that they’ll change the core guys. I think they hired an insider because they’re not going to overhaul the current system they have in place. Maxiell is going to be better than ben wallace at his prime, stuckey will be one of the best bench option in the league next year.
Sheed should stay, it’s unlikely they’d find someone that can match his production at his position.
June 3rd, 2008 at 4:20 pm
Kermit the Washington says:
What the….Avery should get a look at this position. This Curry deal is going to just turn out to be an “interim” type-deal. They will get a veteran coach in there before the all-star break.
June 3rd, 2008 at 4:20 pm
doc says:
I hope he coach better than he plays.
June 3rd, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Sam I Am says:
OMG….
I CAN’T BELIEVE IT !
Starbucks is offering free Wi-Fi !
Oh yeah the bummy Pistons will still get the #4 seed next year and lose in the 2nd round to the Heat
June 3rd, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Sam I Am says:
or the HAWKS
June 3rd, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Myrie says:
Hmmm….
I was guessing Avery Johnson on this since about mid March.
Could Michael Curry be to the Pistons what Nate McMillan was to the Seattle Sonics?
June 3rd, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Tim says:
This is interesting…
I have a feeling Sheed will be gone…I would keep everyone else…The guy just wasn’t interested in the final game of the season…
and if you don’t want to be there…Joe D will gladly show you the door.
Who could the trade him for anyways?
Jermaine O’Neal is all I can think about…not sure if I want his injury riddled career though. Maybe they’ll just play Cheick Samb.
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:01 pm
dagwaller says:
Dime, why are you confused? I forget who (maybe Austin? Maybe the Smack writer?), but someone on your site suggested that they take a look at Mark Jackson…another rookie coach…BECAUASE it was such a veteran team. That made some sense to me.
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:27 pm
Diego says:
Kudos to Dumars on his decisiveness.
Wasn’t Curry the player union rep. for a few years prior to retiring? He got the players’ respect then; he should be able to get it now.
Boston/Detroit series basically was a losing coach gone match-up–with no disqualifications! Flip was on thin ice starting with Detroit’s failure not to repeat after the Larry Brown title.
I wish my Hawks would take Flip!
June 3rd, 2008 at 11:16 pm
Society Directory says:
We might even sympathize a touch with her concern for the farm animals were if not for her overt criticism of immigration and homosexuality
June 3rd, 2008 at 11:45 pm
Ding Dong We Got The 6th Pick says:
Realistically, it will be easier to move Rip than Sheed.
Flip came into a winning situation and lost them at “hello”. Btw, McDyess also shoots way too many jumpshots.
June 4th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Al Bowsprit says:
“I wish my Hawks would take Flip!” – Diego.
Tell you what, Diego, how ’bout a straight-up trade Flip for Mike Woodson, who would be by far the best choice for the Pistons. Experienced, number-one assistant under LB when they won the Ship – doing a hell of a job with the Hawks, who don’t appreciate him.
Avery Johnson would be a Pistons disaster – a control-freak and a task-master, like another good coach, Scott Skiles, but good for young developing teams not vets. Actually just like LB for the young Pistons in 04.
June 4th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
Al Bowsprit says:
Sheed – you gotta love him – you gotta hate him.
He’s the one who has to go. He’s got the magic “expiring” contract and he’s prime to re-join fellow Tarheel Larry Brown, who would love to have him. If we could get Okafor and a dispensable player (to match up the salaries), it would be a win-win for both teams. Sheed’s far more talented but older and will play for LB. Okafor is a steady big man, 10 and 10, exactly what the Pistons need.
Rip and Chauncey are warriors and will make the needed attitude adjustment if Joe D keeps them. 3-guard rotation with Stuckey could rival Bad Boys Isiah, Joe & Vinny.
June 4th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
nicky says:
word, #21, im feeling that…send sheed to NC! he’s got some good ball still left in him, and i bet Larry Brown can coax it out of him…and okafor wouldnt be a bad fit at all, come to think of it…but if sheed leaves Detroit i automatically cease being a Detroit fan…
June 5th, 2008 at 9:51 am
Al Bowsprit says:
#22 – I’ve been a Pistons fan since the days before Dave Bing and Bob Lanier almost 50 straight years, with the exception of the 18 months or so Dick Vitale was coach.
I love Sheed too, but he’s too much a part of the attitude that Dumars insists on changing, and rightfully so.
Chauncey, Rip and Tay are still coachable and will come around. They are also warriors. No new coach should have to deal with Sheed. Still love the guy, but he’s got to go.