Joe Dumars is high on Space-Jam doppelgangers, and I wrap up the Pistons Draft.

After a night of prolonged kisses (and subsequent creeping to the max), impossibly pronounceable 2nd rounders (I'm looking at you Chukwudiebere Maduabum), and a fantastic steak dinner (thank you Grillmaster Dan Swanson), the NBA Draft has come and gone. It's too bad too; with a lockout looming and the Summer League cancelled, we don't really know when these young'uns can take their talents to the hardwood.

Anyway, to recap last Thursday, the Cavs took Tristan Thompson at #4 (shocker at the time), Brian Colangelo continued is European fetish by taking Jonas Valanciunas at the five spot, Washington took Jan Vesely at 6, then Charlotte took my preferred pick and Congolese Ben Wallace clone, Bismack Biyombo...leading to Brandon Knight falling into Joe Dumars' lap.
The second round saw Detroit taking Kyle Singler with the 33rd pick (I cringed when Stern called his name due to my innate disliking for MonStar look-a-likes), then Vernon Macklin with the 52nd pick. Here's a little summary of all three picks:

#8 Brandon Knight, PG, Kentucky:
The most promising thing when it comes to Knight: he played under John Calipari, following the likes of Derrick Rose, Tyreke Evans, and John Wall to come out of his system. So there's some optimism for you. Another, not so optimistic outlook that worries a lot of Detroit fans: he looked sorta like a combo guard in college and he's drawn some comparisons to, you guessed it, Rodney Stuckey. Knight is 6'3". He's strong(-ish), quick, athletic, and most importantly likes to shoot the basketball if it means driving to the hoop. That sounds a bit Stuckey-like to me, except that Knight is a much better shooter than Rodney was coming out of Eastern Washington.
Let me ease any of your concerns, because I really think that Knight's career arc will be a lot different than Stuckey's. Here's some reasons why:

1. Knight is smart. Like, really smart. He had a 4.3 GPA in high school and visited Yale, according to this interview with Art Van spokesman, Eli Zaret. (I recommend watching the whole thing if you want to get a good sense of Knight's personality). His intelligence bodes well in his development.
2. His Calipari pedigree. What I said above. Plus, Rodney Stuckey did not have this type of mentor at E. Washington.
3. He's a quick learner. Yes, Knight had some turnover issues throughout his season at Kentucky (3 games of 6 TOs and 1 of 8, albeit all against quality opponents) but for the most part those numbers dropped after the first seven games of the season.
Something else that could be of issue, however, is the fact that Knight never reached a double-digit assists in a game this past season, but considering Calipari had him play off the ball often, this isn't as disconcerting as it appears to be. If Dumars and the new coaching staff want Knight to be a true point, then it seems Knight will devote himself to his new role. Hopefully, his numbers will reflect that in the future; growing pains are expected much like Greg Monroe.
4. Speaking of the new coaching staff, Brandon Knight will have more coaching stability than Stuckey has had during his Pistons tenure. If Gores/Dumars/Checketts decides to go with either Lawrence Frank, Kelvin Sampson (which doesn't seem likely seeing as Joe D. is on a "Good Guy" crusade, and those sketchy NCAA violations are the exact opposite), or Mike Woodson, then I'm expecting that coach to stay for at least 2 seasons or more *knock on wood*.
5. He's got a chip on his shoulder. This kid thought he was gonna be a top 5 pick, with good reason. Then he dropped to number 8, and it looked like the Indian food he ate before going to the green room was starting to wreak havoc when he finally got called by Stern. If you don't believe he's got a beef, he chose to wear #7 (BG is switching to 8) because 7 teams (well, technically 6 b/c of Cleveland) passed on him.

So, basically, he's smart as hell, has the necessary physical tools, and he's motivated. I like his chances as the Pistons starting point guard moving forward.

#33 Kyle Singler, SF, Duke:
I know he looks like a doofus, and rabble rabble all of his highlights are trick shots rabble rabble, but I'm excited to see what Singler's role will be in Detroit.
Here's Zaret again. Singler is a team player, who says he will do whatever the coaching staff needs him to do, so that's good. Joe Dumars has made it clear that he thought Singler would be a first-rounder, and thought it was a steal for him to drop into the 2nd. Also, Joe likes high character guys, as mentioned above, and Singler is another one of these guys.
Singler's minutes next season will depend on the status of Prince and T-Mac (both likely gone to FA) and positioning of Jerebko and Daye (I'm guessing Jerebko plays a lot of 4, sometimes 3, and Daye will primarily be a 3, sometimes 2, sometimes 4). My hope is that Singler becomes a rebounder/banger/energy player off the bench, and someone who can reliably defend NBA 3s.
And also, c'mon guys say it with Coach K, Kyle...Gets...Buckets. Ummm, did I mention he looks like a doofus?

#52 Vernon Macklin, PF, Florida:
To finish off the "only pick guys from a college powerhouse" draft, the Pistons selected the Florida/Georgetown big man late in the second round. Patrick Hayes of PistonPowered profiled him on draft night:

Skill-wise, Macklin is athletic, strong, runs the floor and he’s a good finisher. He’s not completely devoid of post moves, but he’s also not projected to be a threat the Pistons are going to dump the ball into. He should, however, be a nice target for Greg Monroe, since he’s always active and around the basket. He didn’t block a lot of shots, but his 7-foot-3 wingspan and athleticism suggests he should at least be able to bother some.

Macklin can probably step into the line-up at some point next season, depending on if the Pistons want to resign Chris Wilcox. Macklin, at best, will be a 7th or 8th guy on an NBA roster. He definitely fills a need with his size, but I also expect Dumars and Co. to sign someone during the offseason (or whenever there is an offseason) or possibly doing a sign and trade with Prince, something that's been discussed for a while.

As I previously noted, Dumars wants high character guys on his roster, and he succeeded with the three picks that he made in this draft. I'm excited about Knight's potential, but also aware of his inevitable growing pains. If he's given the time and patience necessary by the coaching staff, then I expect him to blossom into a true-ish point guard and bona fide starter.

Former Jazz & Knicks President hired as basketball consultant; is Patrick Ewing in the Pistons' future?

Dave Checketts, former President of the Knicks, has reportedly been hired by the Pistons as a "basketball consultant." Apparently this means that Tom Gores doesn't fully trust Joe D. as a full-on basketball decision maker. Could there already be a power struggle in the Pistons front office?

Also, let me stir up some rampant (and hopefully false) speculation that Patrick Ewing is now the front-runner for the head coaching gig. Checketts has ties to Ewing from his New York days. However, Checketts wasn't the operating GM for very long. He was only their for two stints in 1991 and 1999, both no longer than 5 months. However, he was with the team during there NBA finals run in '94 and '99. He eventually became the President and CEO of Madison Square Garden. He Utah's GM for 2 years in the late eighties. Soooo, hopefully Ewing won't be the front-runner, but Checketts probably persuaded Dumars to give him an interview. That seems like the likeliest scenario.

Opera Guy forewarns Joe Dumars, and I give you my mock draft.

Just go with me on this one. Erase all of your predispositions and opinions from your mind on this draft class and let me give you a scenario:

You're an NBA General Manager. Your team has a mid-lottery pick in this year's upcoming draft. You've conceded the fact that this draft class is relatively weak and that you will not draft a superstar with your pick. Through experience, you know that to build a championship contending team, you must first accumulate pieces, pieces that not only are competent talent-wise on an NBA level, but are conscientious enough to know their roles as players if they want their team to succeed. They must compliment the rest of your roster. One of the ways to attain these pieces is through the draft (the others through free agency and trades). Also, your team is coming off the heels of two dismal seasons, where statistically, they've finished fifth-worst and second-worst in the league in Team Defensive Rating (points per 100 possessions) respectively, for a franchise that has prided itself on tough, hard-nosed defense.

Now here's this: An athletic freak of nature, whose wingspan is about 9 inches longer than his height; has the hands of Bird that are basketball-seeking machines to pester ball-handlers and deflect passes; has the low-post defensive presence of Mutombo, swatting feeble lay-in attempts when guarding off the ball (and on the ball) with ease; and has a naturally high basketball IQ, even though he's only played basketball for a few years.
He says things like this:

"I want to (play) defense as a team. I want to help everybody on my team and I want to win the game ... That's what I heard from my first coach, that the good offense is defense. If I block a lot of shots then it's good offense. If I get a lot of rebounds, then it's good offense."

This:

 "...I play with a lot of smart guys, I play with a lot of strong guys, and when I step on the court I just want to kill them.'' 

And engages in conversations like this:

So, do you believe you will lead the NBA in blocks?
"I do."
Will you lead the NBA in blocks?
"Yes."
Can you lead the NBA in rebounding?
"Yes, I will."
You will lead the NBA in rebounding?
"Yes. Of course. Hundred percent.

Now tell me this. Does this player know his role? Does he know his strengths? His weaknesses? Does he seem smart enough to know that he should exploit opponents using his strengths and smart enough still to hide his flaws? Is he unselfish? Will he bring intangibles?
And what if I told you he recorded the only triple-double ever at the Nike Hoop Summit (points/rebounds/blocks), an annual event showcasing the world's best non-collegiate/non-NBA basketball players?

You already have a quality big man who brings energy, cleans up errant shots with put-back layups, runs the floor well, and can also defend the opponent's best big. But he lacks enough athleticism to block shots consistently and isn't quick enough to defend the pick and roll effectively.
This player seemingly fills some of those gaps in your front-court. He's quick enough to stay with low-post attackers and guard the pick and roll, agile enough to block shots that don't have any business being blocked, and brings the energy and toughness that NBA front offices (and their fans) crave. Yes, the other big man brings hustle and energy already, but hey, why not have two guys who dive for loose balls?

Now answer this question: Do you take him if he's still on the board?

This is the scenario that Joe Dumars will likely find himself in come Thursday night with Bismack Biyombo. And the answer to that final question should be an overwhelming yes.

Here's Jonathan Givony from Draft Express on Biyombo:

What makes Biyombo unique to talent evaluators is his outstanding combination of physical attributes, toughness and intangibles.

He has the size, length and mobility to guard both power forwards and centers in today's NBA, particularly as he adds weight. He can step out and hedge screens effectively on the pick-and-roll and is tough and aggressive enough to hold his own in the paint against most back-to-the-basket players.

What makes Biyombo so interesting, though, is his willingness to utilize his physical tools. He plays the game with incredible emotion (think Joakim Noah or Kevin Garnett), often putting opposing players and teammates in harm's way with his desire to make his presence felt. He competes on every possession, often to the point of physical exhaustion, something that will need to be honed. Still, it's an extremely desirable trait in a prospect.

Biyombo brings a specific talent to this league: rebounding (he's referenced Kevin Love as the guy who we watches in the league), defense, blocking, and intangibles. And while witnessing a Pistons team that has lacked three of those four assets, it would be a mistake to pass on this one-of-a-kind talent.
Dubrako Zemljic, Jermaine O'Neal, Dirk Nowitzki, Casey Jacobsen, Zach Randolph, Josh Smith, Tyler Hansbrough, Wayne Ellington, O.J. Mayo, DeMar Derozan, Xavier Henry, John Wall, Enes Kanter, Bismack Biyombo. These are the names that have highlighted the Nike Hoop Summit. With the exception of Zemljic, Jacobsen, Ellington, and Henry (Kanter is yet to be seen), all of these guys are household names in the NBA. Just think about that.

So without further ado, here's my 2011 NBA Mock Draft, Lottery Edition:
1. Cleveland Cavaliers--Kyrie Irving, PG, Duke
This seems like a know-brainer, and the Cavs are reportedly going to take him. I like Irving's intelligence and leadership skills even more than his talent.

2. Minnesota Timberwolves--Derrick Williams, SF/PF, Arizona
Minny's been trying to trade this pick, but if they don't, they'll go with Williams despite him being a bit of a tweener.

3. Utah Jazz--Brandon Knight, PG, Kentucky
Considered as the second-best point guard in this draft, the Jazz aren't certain that Devin Harris will be their PG of the future.

4. Cleveland Cavaliers--Jonas Valanciunas, PF/C, Lithuania
Cleveland's looking for a young big to run the pick and roll with Irving. They've been high on Valanciunas.

5. Toronto Raptors--Kemba Walker, PG, Connecticut
Toronto is looking for a point guard, and Kemba fits the bill.

6. Washington Wizards--Enes Kanter, C, Turkey
They already have Andray Blatche and JaVale McGee, but Washington can't pass on Kanter.

7. Sacramento Kings--Kawhi Leonard, SF, San Diego St.
Sacramento needs to revitalize their franchise, amidst relocation talks, and it seems to me that Jan Vesely just isn't going to cut it. They need to go with a forward here.

8. Detroit Pistons--Bismack Biyombo, PF/C, Congo
See above. Joe D. will have his pick of Biyombo, Vesely, Tristan Thompson, and Marcus Morris. Hopefully, he'll wise up. If not, imagine Dumars as J.D. and the chick as...uh...not Bismack Biyombo. Also, I've been dreaming about Marv Albert screaming out Biyombo's name after a monster block ever since March. (Sidenote: I admittedly have one of the worst Marv Albert impressions ever, but my friend Skyler says I make up for it with my Swedish Chef impression.)

9. Charlotte Bobcats--Jimmer Fredette, PG/SG, Brigham Young
Charlotte, like Sacramento, also needs to bring a little energy to their team. However, they're not going to get much defense from Fredette. I think Jimmer will be a lot like J.J. Redick, a shooting specialist. Everyone in Salt Lake City will be shaking their heads.

10. Milwaukee Bucks--Jan Vesely, SF/PF, Czech Republic
Talented young player, who is 6-11(!). The Bucks need some help at the small forward position, so Vesely seems like a nice fit.

11. Golden State Warriors--Klay Thompson, SG, Washington St.
There's been talks of trading Monta Ellis, and if that happens, Thompson, who has wowed teams in his workouts, can fill that void in Oakland.

12. Utah Jazz--Marcus Morris, SF/PF, Kansas
Without Jimmer on the board, the Jazz will go with Morris, who is a physical presence down low.

13. Phoenix Suns--Chris Singleton, SF, Florida St.
The Suns will go with the defensive-minded Singleton to help out their team's defensive woes.

14. Houston Rockets--Kenneth Faried, PF, Morehead St.
Houston was hoping Biyombo would drop this far, but will settle with Faried, who leads the NCAA in all-time rebounding.

Edit:
Here's my wish list for the two second rounders that Detroit has:

33rd pick--Darius Morris, PG, Michigan
The latest mock from Draft Express has Morris going two spots after 33. Before that, however, he's been slated to go mid to late first round. So I'm a bit dubious about him dropping that far. If he's available at 33, there's no way I wouldn't take him, but that's probably cuz I saw him up close several times this year at Crisler where he did this. (Check out the three ridiculous passes after the 2:20 mark). He lead the BigTen in assists with 6.7 per game in his sophomore season, so that'd help a Detroit team that was below the league average in assists in 2011.
If the Pistons were to have D-Mo (or the Butterfly, as dubbed by Big Ten Network, but that's kinda stupid) fall in their laps, then *future-head-coach should have a pecking order of Bynum, Morris at the point. (Stuckey moved to 2). I'm not saying he's an all-star type talent, but he's a smart, sizeable PG, who still has a lot to develop (i.e. shooting percentage, on the ball defense). I would love this pick.

Other, more realistic choice: Jeremy Tyler, C, USA/Japan League
Tyler impressed me at the NBA Draft Combine with his athleticism and maturity in the interviews. Even though he made a questionable decision foregoing his senior season in high school to play in Israel and apparently made poor decisions (see 4:00 mark of the Chicago workout), he's an underrated talent and I'd take the risk.

52nd pick--Andrew Goudelock, PG/SG, College of Charleston
Goudelock is said to be one of the best shooters in the draft, and although we got a lot of those, it wouldn't hurt to take a flyer at him, especially with Ben Gordon not being Ben Gordon the last 2 seasons.

Other, more realistic choice: Isaiah Thomas, PG, Washington
It's risky to bring in a kid who has the same name as your most famous player; living up to the namesake is a bit overwhelming. He's short, he's explosive, he's raw, but he brings a lot of energy. Wait, don't we already have him? Now I'm second-guessing myself. I actually don't like this pick. Then why did I write this last paragraph? Oh wait...because the universe would implode if there was a guy named Isaiah Thomas playing for the Memphis Grizzlies.

Isiah Thomas almost ends my no-puke streak, and I count down my list of head coaching candidates.

After the Pistons were finally sold to Tom Gores, the first order of business was to fire John Kuester. Cuz, you know...duh. So now the second order of business is to find Mr. Kooster's replacement. A list of narrowed-down candidates that have already been interviewed or are reportedly being looked at by Dumars and his staff are right myeh:
Dwane Casey (Mavs asst.),  Lawrence Frank (Celtics asst., former Nets head coach), Bill Laimbeer (Minny asst., former Shock head coach), Kelvin Sampson (Bucks asst.), Mike Woodson (former Hawks head coach)

Others: Rick Adelman, Jeff Van Gundy, Isiah Thomas, and Maurice Cheeks
I don't really understand why Dumars and his staff wouldn't pursue Adelman or Van Gundy. Adelman in particular has a fantastic pedigree, including stops in Portland, Golden State, Sacramento, and Houston and boasts a .605 winning percentage in his career as a head coach. Van Gundy would be another guy I'd love for the Pistons to interview or even hire. He's candid, essentially easing any doubts about player-coach miscommunication. JVG has also had success with the Knicks and Rockets, leading New York to the '99 Finals (granted it was the lockout year, plus the league was sans MJ). I've also been salivating at the thought of a Van Gundy post-game presser with Detroit, seeing as he's probably the most entertaining color announcer on national TV right now. I suspect both Adelman and JVG might be a little too pricey for Detroit, that's probably the reason why Dumars isn't interested.

As for Maurice Cheeks, I threw him in there just because he did the most awesome thing any NBA head coach has ever done ever. And also cuz he's been sitting on OKC's bench as an assistant and did an adequate job in Portland and Philly as top dog.
And as for Isiah, I have to be honest, I puked in my mouth a little when I saw this. But then I breathed a sigh of relief as soon as I read that Joe was just doing him a favor, because they teamed up to create the most dominant backcourt of all time. Listen, I love Isiah. I love going on YouTube and watching him masterfully facilitate the Bad Boys, knowing when to pick his spots, and being a total badass. But you'd be lying to yourself if you said he's been successful in his post-playing career. He single-handedly doomed the Knicks as GM by giving several massive contracts to Eddy Curry, Jared Jeffries, Zach Randolph, and Stephon Marbury. In October of '05 Thomas and the Knicks traded Jermaine Jackson, Mike Sweetney, Tim Thomas, a 2006 1st round draft pick (LaMarcus Aldridge), a 2007 1st round draft pick (Joakim Noah), a 2007 2nd round draft pick (Kyrylo Fesenko) and a 2009 2nd round draft pick (Jon Brockman) to the Chicago Bulls for Eddy Curry, Antonio Davis and a 2007 1st round draft pick (Wilson Chandler). You know that perfect frontcourt that Isiah claimed would be Curry and Zach Randolph and backed up those comments by paying them a butt-load? Yeah, he could've had one with Joakim Noah and Lamarcus Aldridge. Oops. (Zeke also faced embarrassing sexual harassment charges whilst in New York). Now I know that these blunders were all while he was a general manager and that his coaching credentials are slightly more acceptable. But the fact of the matter is that you don't want someone like Isiah, who potentially brings a negative aura with him, to coach your team. You just don't. And I hope all of you cringed when you saw that Chris Broussard report as well.

Anyway, the last two Pistons head coaches--Kuester and Michael Curry--have had trouble fully communicating with their players, and so communication skills are obviously going to be a talking point between Joe D and the prospective coaches.
However, in an NBA locker room, it's almost inevitable that there'll be communication issues at some point during the season. Every franchise must manage egos; a lot of NBA players have been coddled throughout their lives by agents, entourage, family, etc. so there can always be a sense of entitlement and a low tolerance for authority. It's how a coach deals with these personalities that directly influences the team's success. Look how Doc Rivers has handled Kevin Garnett these past four seasons. And Phil Jackson in Chicago & L.A. dealing (somewhat) successfully with ego-centric guys like MJ and Pippen (remember in the 1994 East Semis when Phil drew up the game-winning play for Toni Kukoc and not Pippen then Pippen refused to go into the game considering it a slap in the face? For the record, I don't remember, considering I was three and probably more concerned with building houses out of Duplos, watching Thomas the Tank VHSs, or covering my face while getting irrationally angry at my mom when she took opportunities to film me playing our piano to put into home movies. Yes, these are the things I did as a three year old). Jackson also dealt with the uber-personalities of Shaq, Kobe, and Ron Artest. Rivers is open and honest with his players; criticizing when he needs to, encouraging when he wants to, and also making sure his teams have fun even if it means creating some incentive. Phil made personal connections with his players, often giving them books as Christmas presents. In the press room, he'd sometimes criticize them publicly before talking to them first, but would make amends with his players behind the scenes when necessary. He, like Doc, was always honest with his players, never afraid to tell them the hard truths. Ultimately, what defines both Doc, the Zen Master, and other great coaches is consistency. Consistent demeanor, consistent ways of communication, consistent coaching techniques. That and simply being honest with your players and expecting respect from both sides. If a coach can immediately incorporate that honesty and respect with his players from day one, their roller-coaster NBA season will run a bit smoother.

Kuester obviously did not gain the respect of his veteran players, possibly because of his inexperience as a head coach, his inabilities to successfully give his players constructive criticism, his pathetic attempts at standing up for his team, or a combination of the three. Also it didn't help when he made indefensible substitutions either. Setting the foundation of open honesty and communication would've gone a long way for Kuester, so one of the criterion for the new h.c. should be the ability to be (and do) those things.

So without further ado, here's my wish list--in countdown form-- for the Pistons' new head gig using the above listed candidates (I'm only including the guys Dumars and his staff are considerably looking at).

5. Bill Laimbeer
As previously noted, Laimbeer is currently an assistant in Minneapolis, where he's molded the likes of Kevin Love and (gasp!) Darko Milicic into a formidable frontcourt. (Darko was fifth in the league this year in blocks per game, while Love led the league in rebounding and averaged 20 ppg.) Bill also coached the WNBA's Detroit Shock for eight seasons leading them to three championships.
A lot of Pistons fans have called for Dumars to give Laimbeer his first shot at a head coaching gig in the NBA, but I'm not as high on him as some people are. Let's get this straight: the WNBA is not the NBA. I won't take away any of his accomplishments in the women's game, but Bill is facing a whole different monster. The Association is much, much more fast-paced not only in gameplay, but in media gratification. Coaching scrutiny is magnified ten-fold in the NBA.

Laimbeer's playing days shed light on his attitudes towards coaching. He's equally as vocal, intense, and passionate about coaching as he was when playing for Detroit. However, this vision of physicality and tenacity we saw in Bill as a Bad Boy cannot impede our expectations of him as a coach. I like what Dan Feldman of PistonPowered has to say about Pistons fans' attachment to Laimbeer potentially disillusioning them:

If Laimbeer had spent his career with the Celtics rather than the Pistons, should Detroit hire him? If the answer is no, the Pistons have no business hiring him. Once someone becomes a head coach, the team he played for won’t matter. He’ll have to sink or swim on his own coaching ability, not some sentimentality.

Agreed. Laimbeer might make a good NBA coach, he may not. But to blindly give him a coaching opportunity based solely on fond memories and two years as an assistant on one of the worst teams in the NBA shouldn't persuade Dumars to give him a shot.

4. Mike Woodson
Woodson was an assistant coach for Detroit's championship team in '04. He successfully brought Atlanta back into relevancy, starting with a 13-win season in his inaugural ('05) and steadily rose the win total to 53 in '10. The Hawks never took a step back in the win column during Woodson's 6-year tenure. However, he never brought them past the East Semis, including a royal beat-down from Orlando in 2010, when the Magic thumped 'em in four straight games. 
Bringing in a guy who's familiar with the Pistons organization as Woodson is is a plus.
Apparently he's known as a defensive specialist, but you wouldn't have known it if you watched any Hawks games from 2005 to 2010. (However, Atlanta's defensive rating (points allowed per 100 possessions) did steadily climb much like their win total during Woodson's tenure). In 2008, Woodson unfortunately suffered from a nasty case of bench-your-best-big-man-after-two-fouls-during-the-first-quarter-then-put-em-back-in-after-halftime-itis, an ailment that has been known to ravage the Atlanta Hawk bench from time to time. Its innocent victims include Al Horford, and that's it. That doesn't look promising, considering Greg Monroe is someone who is very prone to fouling.
I guess I'd be okay with this hire, but I think Joe D. could do better. Which brings us to...

3. Kelvin Sampson
Sampson is famous for being successful at the collegiate level at Oklahoma, and is infamous for engaging in serious NCAA recruiting violations both at Oklahoma and Indiana. He led the Sooners (1994-2006) to the '02 Final Four and also won Coach of the Year in '95.

The good news: We don't have to worry about NCAA violations, so "Mr. Blue Shirt" can make all the phone calls he pleases.

The bad news: The fact that he broke some unwritten ethical code amongst college coaches by stealing Eric Gordon from Bruce Weber sheds a poor light on his moral standing.

The other good news: I don't really care about the bad news.

Sampson has been a Milwaukee assistant since the '08-'09 season and is known for playing a key role in player development, fine-tuning young players such as Brandon Jennings and Andrew Bogut (when he's not injured). This speaks to his experience at the college level, and is a huge positive if he were to take over this young Pistons team. As a head coach, he emphasized defensive effort (!) (wait, what is this defensive effort you speak of?) and enforced slow, half-court offensive sets.
I like the fact that he has over two decades of head coaching experience and encourages hard-nosed defensive effort, cuz like, that's what Pistons teams are about. I'd be okay with Sampson running the show, as long as he checks out with Dumars and his staff.

2. Lawrence Frank:
In roughly six seasons as head coach of the Nets (2003-09), he posted a sub-par winning percentage of .483, and did not succeed in taking them back to the NBA Finals or even the Eastern Conference Finals, as Byron Scott did twice. Despite a so-so resume with New Jersey, Frank is considered one of the brightest young minds in the league, and at 40 years old, he could potentially stay a while in Detroit (although he won't because no one stays more than 3 seasons unless your name is Chuck Daly). He's paid his dues, being an assistant in Vancouver and New Jersey before taking over the Nets job. He's currently a Celtics assistant.
Here's Feldman again on Frank:

Imagine the Pistons could hire a young lead assistant from one of the best teams in basketball. His reputation says he’s one of the hardest-working and brightest coaches in the NBA.
Sounds pretty good, right?
Now consider, between stints as a hard-working, under-the-radar assistant coach and lead assistant for a division champion, the candidate spent five full seasons and two partial seasons as a head coach.
That’s Frank.

I feel as if this would be a safe hire. He keeps his players accountable and since he's established himself in the league, it's safe to say he'd gain the respect of his team. Also, it looks like Joe D. has already interviewed him, so we'll see what happens in the next few days. Dwane Casey is reportedly the number one candidate for the Raptors job, so Dumars may have to settle for either Frank, Sampson, or Woodson anyway. My vote is for Frank among those three.
And for what it's worth, while attending Indiana he worked as a team manager under Bob Knight.

1. Dwane Casey
Casey was the head coach at Minnesota for a season and a half and did a damn good job considering the C-list supporting cast that surrounded Kevin Garnett. Known as a defensive guru (ooh, I like the sound of that), Casey has been an assistant in Dallas since '08. He also served as assistant for the Supersonics from '94 to '05.
As I said above, he's slated to become Toronto's head coach by next week, so I'm not going to keep my hopes up.
After the disastrous tenures of Curry and Kuester, the name of the game is experience, and Casey has a lot of it. He coached in Japan for 5 years before coming to Seattle, also coaching the national team with Pete Newell, instructional guru (hey there's that word again!) and former Lakers GM (yeah, I didn't know who he was either. Here's his Wikipedia page.)
He's learned a lot working under Newell, Nate McMillan, and Rick Carlisle. He's 54, and now is the time to give him another shot at an NBA head coaching job. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like it'll be in Detroit. Feldman has also reported that he has a connection with Ben Wallace, again for what it's worth.

Prediction: Dumars misses out on Casey after Casey signs with Toronto, then offers Frank the job after coming away impressed from the interview on Wednesday.

Dirk Nowitzki has the blood of a pit-bull, LeBron blames the Almighty for his shrinkage, and I introduce myself.

Wow. Just, wow. I can't think of a better time to write this first post than after such a fantastic/riveting/masterful/enjoyable/superlative-filled-able and satisfying NBA Finals. I want to touch on several things regarding the Detroit Pistons organization--i.e. the new coaching search, new ownership, draft prospects, effect of looming lockout--but I'll get to that later this week. Right now I'd like to comment on this incredible NBA Finals that we all just noWITzkNESSED.

First and foremost, congratulations to Rick Carlisle. He's obviously proven himself a formidable coach, something we Pistons onlookers noticed during his Detroit days (100-64 record, won coach of the year in '02, led the 'Stones to '03 ECF). He managed an up and coming Pistons team well in his two seasons at the helm, then got fired, then led the Pacers to the '04 ECF (I know what you're thinking and I'm thinking it too) and was probably one of the biggest victims of the Malice at the Palace because he could have led that Pacers team to an NBA Finals berth in a watered-down league. Indiana hasn't fully recovered yet from the brawl and ditto for Jermaine O'Neal--except for the fact that he'll never recover from the brawl...yeah he still put up 20-9 in the next two seasons and made the All-Star game in '05(!), '06, and '07 but he was emotionally scarred for the rest of his career and never returned to his '04 form where he finished 3rd in MVP voting behind KG and Timmay (Did you know Peja finished 4th in voting that year? Jeez, you know the league has a lack of star power when Peja Stojakovic is considered a top 4 player in the NBA. Let's be thankful our beloved 'Stones team of '04 peaked when a) LeBron/DWade/Melo's class was too young, b) the Kobe/Shaq Lakers were feuding behind closed doors, c) the rest of the league consisted of superstars that weren't surrounded by solid role players, think Garnett's T-Wolves, Kidd's Nets, etc. and d) Derek Fisher made a 1/100000 shot against San Antonio in game 5 of the Western Semis. But in actuality, Detroit would've beat whoever they faced in the Finals that year because of their chemistry, charisma, heart, defensive superiority and overall momentum, and I'm not just saying that so that I won't get a fatwa placed on my head by my fellow Detroit fans). If not for the brawl, O'Neal, Artest, Cap'n Jack, and Company led by Carlisle would've probably had Detroit's number in the '05 playoffs. (No Youtube video of brawl cuz Stern and Co. act like it never happened. But really, it...never...happened *waves wristwatch in front of your face.) He's been Dallas' head coach ever since 08-09 and has led them to a 50-win season or better in his first 3 seasons. 
I already felt bad for the guy considering the stuff he's been through and to see him win one against the evil Miami triumvirate was especially special.

Also, Dirk. Can you say, redemption? In '06, Dallas had a 2-0 series lead on Miami and a 12 point lead in the 4th quarter of game 3. Then, Miami came back and won thanks to some questionable calls from the refs that gave Wade lots and lots of free throws, clutch shooting from Gary Payton, and a vital missed free throw from Dirk in the waning seconds that would've tied the game. Then the Mavs collapsed in games 4-6 under the weight of it all which led Wade and Shaq to hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy at AAC. Also let's not forget the complete collapse a year later this time to the benefit of Amish Baron Davis and the Warriors--if that's not a potential band name I don't know what is--after winning a league MVP and clinching the West's top seed. Thereafter, people questioned his toughness, his clutchness, and his all-around winning touch...ness. THEN, to cap it all off, everyone, including me, considered them first-round upset fodder to the Blazers, because to be honest, he hadn't shown us any signs that pit-bull blood coursed through his veins when all the chips were on the table (I'm using the whole 'dogs playing poker' picture for the basis of that last sentence). So basically, it was like Dirk Nowitzki vs The World.

This time around, however, Dirk circa 2011 had a grittier and more battle-tested crew than in years past. Tyson Chandler (instead of Erick Dampier) acquired in a trade with Charlotte over the off-season (and would've been traded to Oklahoma City if not for a failed physical) brought the much needed skill-set of rebounder/banger/emotional leader to the team. Mark Cuban even called him their "Kevin Garnett" last night--not like the '04 Garnett but more like the '08 & '10 Garnett. Then you had Jason Kidd (instead of Devin Harris), a veteran ball handler/decision maker, who had already gone through his fair share of disappointment losing in two NBA Finals ('02,'03). Shawn Marion brought another scorer/rebounder who could create his own offense (ugly as it may be) and be trusted to guard the opposing team's best player. Ditto for DeShawn Stevenson minus the rebounding thing and the create-your-own offense thing. He only makes open three-pointers. Then there's Jose Juan Berea. Listed at 6-0, but really he's like 5-9. He couldn't even get past AAC security at times during the season without telling them, "Hey, I like play for the team, yo." He played the role of energy bench guy (a lot like Jason Terry), but is quicker, can penetrate the paint without blinking, and can irritate the sh*t out of opposing offenses with his on-the-ball theatrics (Andre Miller and LeBron James can attest to that last statement). Throw in the frontcourt trifecta of Brendon Haywood, The Custodian, and Ian Mahinmi and you got yourselves the 2011 Dallas Mavericks--alongside Dirk himself and the Jet, sans Caron Butler.

Game 4 of the Portland series brought back memories of '06 and '07, where inept Mavs teams went to die and couldn't figure out how to win games. But somehow, someway, this squad fought in games 5 and 6 of that series and then put a beat-down on the Lakers, complete with Laker meltdown in game 4. Remember when everyone doubted them? Well now I didn't. They took care of OKC and cleared a path for a rematch from five years ago. My brother-in-law who's a huge Bulls fan told me after game 6 of the ECF that he wouldn't watch the Finals, then I proceeded to laugh and tell him he NEEDS to watch this series. I think he's happy he wised up. Otherwise he wouldn't have seen the Custodian shoot 66% from the 3-point line (my buddy Matt and I went absolute apesh*t after Cardinal hit both threes and if you didn't then you're not a true NBA fan), clean up the mess that was Mario Chalmers hunting down Stevenson like a fool in response to Stevenson stupidly shoving Udonis Haslem after a Dallas timeout in game 6, then take a momentous charge on Dwyane Wade later on in game 6 which led DWade to get a tech (there were two or three other charges he took earlier in the series that were called blocking fouls on him but should've gone the other way IMO). Let me just say this was the most excited I've ever been for a non-Piston team. Ever. I think Miami had a lot to do with that too.

Re: Edit: Breaking News: Disney just bought the rights to the 2011 Dallas Mavericks. Okay, just kidding. But sirsly, no author could've written this narrative any better unless Al-Qaida owned the Miami Heat and Dirk recovered from a broken neck after Eddie House clotheslined him in Game 3 or something ridirkulous like that.

The indelible images for me from this series in chronological order: 1) Dirk's game-winning lefty lay-up in game 2 (it would have been sweeter if he had given the middle finger to all of the Miami fans with his broken-tendoned one), 2) Jason Terry's three at the end of game 5 that sealed the win, 3) Bill Russell handing the Finals MVP trophy to Dirk then Dirk hoisting it, and 4) LeBron walking down the hallway to the Heat locker room at American Airlines Arena alone after the game 6 defeat, inspiring quotes draped above him calling upon character and charisma in the face of adversity or something like that, all the while nonchalantly fiddling with his wristbands when in reality his stomach has imploded and the immediacy of an NBA Championship that once seemed within his grasp a week ago, now is ungraspable.

He then proceeded to launch a big eff-you to not only the media, but everybody who is relishing his loss...which is like everybody.

"At the end of the day, all of the people that were rooting for me to fail, tomorrow they'll have to wake up and have the same life that [they had] before they woke up today. They got the same personal problems they had today and I'm going to continue to live the way I want to live and continue to do the things I want to do."

Now I'm not one to normally praise the analytical prowess of Magic Johnson (this doesn't really constitute as such, but whatever), but he put it best when he said on ESPN's post-game coverage last night that LeBron should('ve) say(said) that he takes responsibility for his team's loss and is going to put a ton of time into getting better over the summer. But, it doesn't seem like any of that type-substance will spew from LBJ's mouth in the coming months because he seems too narcissistic and self-entitled to not give a crap about things like self-image or what he looks like to an impressionable 12-year old. Plus the whole thing about everybody around him (World Wide Wes crew) telling him he's a demigod all the time probably doesn't help either (I used 'demigod' here because even LeBron should know he's at least partially mortal, esp. after that stinkbomb).

Then later, through the use of the Twittersphere, he blamed Miami not winning the '11 title on God:












Listen, Bron Bron's shrinkage in crunch time doesn't have to do with swimming ("I was in the pool! I was in the pool!) or God ("I was in the pool of holy water! I was in the pool of holy water?"). It's because he deferred to his teammates on just about every single drive to the basket/offensive touch in the fourth quarters of the last six games. LeBron is probably the most freakish athlete I've ever seen in my life, and he has the ability to absolutely take over a game. Do I have to bring up the '07 ECF for you to agree with me? Case and point. But the '11 LeBron did not look quite as intimidating than the '07 LeBron. When '07 ECF LBJ drives to the basket and jumps in the air, he usually throws down a monstrous dunk. When '11 Finals LBJ drives to the basket and jumps in the air, he frantically looks for any open teammate, then miraculously gets a pass off that narrowly gets stolen. I think Dwyane Wade has something to do with this sudden hesitancy. The two inherent alpha-dogs cannot co-exist on the court together wearing the same unis in crunch time. One has to defer to the other. That's been the story all season with this Heat team, and I think that it's high time to copy/paste here. And even though it looks like they're buddy-buddy sitting next to each other at every post-game press conference, something's just not right.

Anyway, now that I've given you my take on the Finals, I s'pose it's time I introduce myself. My name is Pete Brown, I'm a student at the University of Michigan, and I'm an avid NBA fan (wait, you didn't know already?). I've had thoughts and aspirations of starting one of these things for quite some time now, so here it is. I hope to entertain all y'all and also learn a lot from the people who do read it. That means if you feel so compelled, I'd love to hear what you have to say down there below in the comments section. I'm excited about the future of this thing. So, yeah. Enjoy. Like I said, I'll start putting up some stuff specifically about them 'Stones this week.