Detroit Pistons president of basketball operations search gaining steam: What we know
It has been nearly three weeks since the Detroit Pistons formalized their search for a new head of basketball operations on April 15. It has been quiet since, save some stray rumors of potential candidates for the job.
It may appear from the outside their search is lagging. But sometimes, no news simply means there has been no news. That will change soon, however.
Here’s where the Pistons’ search currently stands.
What is taking the Pistons so long?
NBA teams are required to request permission to interview front office executives and coaches who are under contract with opposing teams. Several candidates the Pistons wish to interview are or have been in the midst of playoff runs with their teams, so they’re waiting for those postseason runs to end before requesting permission.
We should see the Pistons' interviewee pool grow over the next two weeks, as the second round of the playoffs resolves and more candidates become available.
READ MORE: NBA playoffs highlight the Detroit Pistons' inability to win on the margins
Who is leading the Pistons' search?
The Pistons have tapped TurnkeyZRG, a noted search firm that works regularly with professional and college sports teams (including the Pistons in the past) to find qualified candidates for positions both front-facing and behind-the-scenes, including head coach, athletic director and front office jobs.
According to a profile on the company published by The Athletic in 2020, it typically takes around six weeks for TurnkeyZRG to complete a search for a pro team executive.
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Who are the Pistons' candidates?
Reports have connected numerous names to the Pistons’ head of basketball operations candidacy in the last few weeks. NBA insider Marc Stein and The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor have both tabbed current Milwaukee Bucks general manager Jon Horst, a Michigan native and former Pistons front office member from 2007-08.
Stein has also mentioned Dallas Mavericks consultant and former Utah Jazz executive Dennis Lindsey, current Minnesota Timberwolves president Tim Connelly and former NBA guard JJ Redick (a former client of Pistons vice chairman Arn Tellem). SNY TV reporter Ian Begley listed Detroit native Scott Perry, a former Pistons front office executive from 2000-07 who most recently was the New York Knicks’ GM.
Of the group, it appears at least Lindsey and Perry rank highly on the Pistons' wish list. Redick is a longshot to land a prominent position with the Pistons, due to his lack of front office experience.
What will the head of basketball operations job entail?
The head of basketball operations will be the new lead decision-maker in the organization, reporting directly to owner Tom Gores. They will be the top person in the hierarchy, with the power to hire and fire basketball personnel as they see fit.
It’s a front office refresh — Troy Weaver is still the GM, but this is no longer his rebuild. It’s unclear if the new head of basketball ops will clean house, but they'll have the autonomy to do so following a franchise-worst 14-68 season. That also opens the door for a new coaching staff to take over, just a year after the organization signed Monty Williams to a historic contract of six years and $78.5 million guaranteed.
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“I am committed to doing whatever it takes to build a winning team,” Gores said in the team’s press release announcing the search. “Nothing is off the table. As tough as this season has been, a bright future is available to us. It’s in our power to get this right, and we will. This is a pivotal summer for the Pistons.”
Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him @omarisankofa.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons president of basketball search update: What we know
