The Detroit Pistons are in a bit of an offseason upheaval as they try to move on from Stan Van Gundy as coach and team president. The search for both continues, and on Friday, the team let general manager Jeff Bower go as well.
Filling out the front office hasn’t been easy, and there’s also a head coaching job to fill with Van Gundy out of the picture. Former Raptors coach and NBA Coaches Association Coach of the Year Dwane Casey has gotten a look from the franchise. And even Michigan head coach John Beilein has gotten an interview with the Pistons, who are exploring a lot of different avenues with the vacancy.
The latest word is that former Milwaukee Bucks head coach Jason Kidd will get a look as well. Multiple outlets reported on Saturday that the Nets legend might get another shot on the bench in another midwestern city.
ESPN’s report lacks a byline but notes that Ramona Shelburne contributed to it, and she’s as reliable as it gets in basketball reporting these days. It also notes the abrupt end to his last coaching job with the playoff-bound Bucks.
Kidd was fired by the Bucks 45 games into the 2017-18 season. He spent three-plus seasons in Milwaukee, with a 139-152 record and two playoff appearances. The 10-time All-Star point guard also coached one season for the Brooklyn Nets in 2013-14.
Yahoo! Sports first reported Kidd’s interview with the Pistons.
Getting a head coach and front office in place would help the Pistons take the next step in figuring out what kind of team it wants to be next season. A trade for Blake Griffin couldn’t push the team into the postseason, either, leaving a lot of questions about what to do with a roster that has some huge contracts lingering for years to come.
What’s clear is that no matter who the Pistons hire, more change will follow. Kidd couldn’t make it work in Brooklyn and his tenure in Milwaukee was generally viewed as a disappointment, but maybe he can figure out what the Pistons need if he’s given another chance.
