The Detroit Pistons shook the rails of this past NBA trade deadline by acquiring former L.A. Clippers talisman Blake Griffin, following a five-year, $173 million deal inked over this past summer.
The move hasn't brought the results this team was expecting, going 9-14 since he took the floor and losing eight of their last 11 games down the stretch, making them a far cry for a playoff seed.
This campaign would mark the second straight in which the Pistons have failed to make the playoffs, with rumors of an imminent change in the front office surrounding the team in recent weeks.
Former All-Star point guard Chauncey Billups is reportedly one of the targets to take a position in the Motor City's front office alongside former-agent-turned-vice-chairman Arn Tellem — rumors that have been turned down by the Pistons, since Stan Van Gundy still wears the hats of head coach and president of basketball operations.
Owner Tom Gores is aware of the disappointment the fans have gotten upon moving to the brand new Little Caesars Arena and failing to make the postseason in what looked like a promising year.
“We just want to win, but honestly that’s what we discuss, how we’re going to get this team to win,” Gores said, according to Tim Bontemps of The Washington Post. “That’s been really important to us. We know we’ve disappointed the fans.
“We haven’t won enough, but I can tell you this team works really hard and Stan works really hard. He’s been here four years, dedicating his whole life. I’m not giving up on Stan; I’m not giving up on this team.”
Like many other double-hatters in the NBA, van Gundy could eventually lose his position as president to dedicate solely to coaching, opening a fresh perspective from whoever takes over that seat.
Gores has been loyal and committed to his hires in the past, but winning comes before anything and with Van Gundy soon to finish his fourth season as coach and president, it's only a matter of time before something changes in Detroit.
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