AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — In the morning, the Detroit Pistons fired Flip Saunders. By the afternoon, the players were put on notice.
“I’m not going to sit here and make Flip the scapegoat,” president of basketball operations Joe Dumars said Tuesday. “Everybody is in play.”
Dumars publicly put his entire lineup on the trading block, less than a week after the Pistons lost in the Eastern Conference final for the third straight year.
Among those available: four players (Chauncey Billups, Rasheed Wallace, Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince) who have been together since winning the 2004 NBA title, plus another starter (Antonio McDyess) who just finished his fourth season with the team.
“There are no sacred cows here,” Dumars said. “You lose that sacred-cow status when you lose three straight years.”
Michael Curry is the leading candidate to be Detroit’s fifth coach in nine seasons. He was on Saunders’ staff and is a former Piston.
Other candidates include former Mavericks coach Avery Johnson, and Terry Porter, another assistant last season in Detroit and a former Bucks coach.
Person, Bulls to talk again
CHICAGO — Kings assistant coach Chuck Person is set to have a second interview with the Bulls for their vacant head coaching job.
Person likely is a long shot for a job numerous reports have going to Doug Collins. The Bulls have had a vacancy since interim coach Jim Boylan was fired at the end of a 33-49 season.
Allen back at practice
WALTHAM, Mass. — Guard Tony Allen (Achilles tendon) is back on the practice court as the Celtics prepare for the NBA Finals against the Lakers.
The Associated Press
