Vincent Ellis of Detroit Free Press looks at the background of the interim team currently running the Pistons front office, led by assistant GM George David and director of basketball operations Ken Catanella. Ellis believes ownership would be comfortable progressing through the draft without making a GM hire, based on the current personnel’s experience. Here’s more out of Detroit:
- Ellis says that David and Catanella will be considered for the permanent GM role, and that interim coach John Loyer will likewise be a candidate for the permanent head coaching job.
- Loyer told David Mayo of MLive.com that he is proud of his time at the helm this season, working with a team under-performing and fractured by the firing of Maurice Cheeks. “I felt very confident going in that I’d earn their trust. And I feel very confident, going into the last game of the season, that I’ve got their trust,” said Loyer. “I’ll let what I’ve done and what I’ve brought to the table every day speak for itself.”
- In a separate mailbag post, Mayo opines that Greg Monroe‘s tendency not to make strong statements concerning the team could be influenced by Detroit’s decision to bring in Josh Smith rather than trust Monroe to lead a young frontcourt.
- Mayo thinks Detroit’s plans for the offseason are a crapshoot at this point, citing the front office turmoil.
- Mayo doesn’t believe the uncertainty surrounding Detroit’s first round pick in the draft is as significant as the myriad of other issues and decisions the team needs to work through.
as a laker fan i’d swap monroe for our lottery pick right now.. and try to build our team this summer with the cap space and forget all about the kevin love sweepstakes next yr.
I think the pistons would certainly have to consider that, given the fact it would free up the power forward spot for Josh Smith who has proved he isn’t a small forward and he’s practically untradeable.
if your the pistons gm and you swap monroe out for the 6th pick(lakers projected pick) who do you take?
I think it depends if the Pistons keep their own pick or not. It currently is a projected 8th pick but if it drops it goes to the Bobcats. I’d have to say a wing player but after Wiggins and Parker, which will certainly be gone by the 6th pick, there really are no wing players worth drafting that high. Saric, Smart, or Exum are all names that come to mind though.