Villanueva: New coach must communicate well

ROYAL OAK, Mich. -- Charlie Villanueva and Ben Wallace agree on the most important task for the next coach of the Detroit Pistons.

"Communication," Villanueva said. "Have somebody who can communicate with their players."

Villanueva

Villanueva teamed up with Detroit Lions wide receiver Derrick Williams to host a celebrity softball game Saturday, with the proceeds benefiting foundations the two have worked with. It's been about a week since the Pistons fired John Kuester, and as the team searches for a replacement, both Villanueva and Wallace took brief breaks from softball to offer thoughts on the next coach.

"Just somebody who can relate and communicate with the guys -- can make his point and stick to it," Wallace said.

The 36-year-old Wallace, who has been considering retirement, said he might in fact keep playing.

"I'm leaning more towards coming back," Wallace said. "It's just a matter of getting myself healthy and getting ready to play."

Aside from the possibility of an NBA lockout, the Pistons face more uncertainty than most teams. New owner Tom Gores officially took over less than two weeks ago and left team president Joe Dumars in place to head the rebuilding effort. Detroit went 30-52 last season amid feuding between coaches and players.

Villanueva was asked about a few potential candidates to replace Kuester, such as Milwaukee Bucks assistant Kelvin Sampson, former Atlanta Hawks coach Mike Woodson, Boston Celtics assistant Lawrence Frank and Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Bill Laimbeer, the former Detroit player.

"Those are all good guys, good candidates," Villanueva said. "I think Joe and Gores are going to make a good decision. We leave it up to them."

The low point last season was probably Feb. 25 in Philadelphia. Seven players missed at least part of a team shootaround, and Kuester played only the remaining six that night in a blowout loss to the 76ers. Villanueva -- one of the six who played that night -- said Saturday there was plenty of blame to go around last season.

"It's all of our faults. A lot of things went wrong," Villanueva said. "It's over now. That's behind us. I want to wish Kuester well, and now we're looking forward."

Sampson has been an assistant to Bucks coach Scott Skiles since May 2008. Sampson joined Skiles' staff after his tenure as the head coach at Indiana University ended in scandal. Sampson resigned as the Hoosiers' coach in February 2008 after an NCAA report accused him of major rules violations.

Woodson was an assistant for Larry Brown when the Pistons won the 2004 NBA title -- on a staff that also included Kuester. Wallace played for that team.

"I think Mike would do a great job. I think he did a great job with Atlanta," Wallace said. "I think he took those guys as far as they were ready to go. I think he'd be a great fit for us."

Frank has also been a head coach in the NBA before, with the New Jersey Nets. Laimbeer, who won NBA titles as a player in 1989 and 1990 with the Pistons, coached the WNBA's Detroit Shock to three championships before joining the Timberwolves.

Former Piston Rick Mahorn, who played with Laimbeer and was an assistant for him with the Shock, was at the softball game. He didn't want to discuss the Pistons' search specifically, but he had nothing but good things to say about his former teammate.

"I think Bill is an excellent coach. I had the pleasure of working with him," Mahorn said. "He's one of those guys that will prepare you and get the best out of the players."

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

 

Stewart Out As West Virginia Head Coach

Dana Holgorsen will take over at West Virginia

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Lakers captain Fisher dines with coach Brown

Updated: June 10, 2011, 12:13 AM ETBy Ramona Shelburne
ESPNLosAngeles.com
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Derek Fisher may not have made much headway in resolving the NBA's impending labor crisis as head of the NBA Players Association during several days of intense collective bargaining talks in Dallas, but his week is ending on a high note.

The Lakers co-captain returned to Los Angeles late Wednesday night, and the first item on his agenda Thursday was to confirm dinner plans with new coach Mike Brown, according to a Lakers source.

For more news, notes and analysis of the Lakers, check out the Land O' Lakers blog from the Kamenetzky Brothers. Blog

Both Fisher and Brown felt it was important to meet in-person to discuss the issues that thwarted the team's quest for a third straight championship last month and to confer on the best way for Brown to roll out his new offensive and defensive schemes.

Fisher was one of only a few players to publicly express support for Brown after he was hired on May 25.

"A lot of really great coaches were being considered for the job. B Shaw [Brian Shaw] was at the top of the list!" Fisher said via his Twitter account. "He'll be amazing and wherever he goes is lucky to have him. Will miss Phil but excited to start a new chapter under Mike Brown. Looking forward to a different style and energy!!"

Since then, Fisher has spoken to Brown several times on the phone, but has been spending most of his time in talks and meetings for the Players Association as it attempts to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement with the owners by July 1.

Fisher's fellow co-captain Kobe Bryant has yet to publicly comment on Brown's hiring, saying on Tuesday that "now is not the time" as he unveiled a new initiative to help combat childhood homelessness at an event in Hollywood.

Fisher, 36, averaged 6.8 points and 2.7 assists but shot just 38.9 percent in the first year of a three-year contract he signed last July.

Ramona Shelburne is a reporter and columnist for ESPNLosAngeles.com.

Follow Ramona Shelburne on Twitter: @ramonashelburne

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Sources: Pistons eye Isiah, Laimbeer for coach

While Knicks fans fret about the possibility of Isiah Thomas returning to New York, the Detroit Pistons are considering Thomas for their vacant head coaching position, according to league sources.

Thomas is not the leading candidate, sources say, but he is on Detroit's short list along with Mike Woodson, Kelvin Sampson and his former Pistons teammate Bill Laimbeer.

Thomas Laimbeer

Thomas, currently the head coach at Florida International University, made headlines this past weekend after the Knicks announced on Friday that Donnie Walsh would not return as the club's president and general manager. Because of Thomas' close relationship with Knicks owner James Dolan, there was speculation that Thomas could regain control of the Knicks.

Sources close to the Knicks' situation insist that Thomas will not be re-hired as the team's president or general manager and Thomas told ESPNNewYork.com's Ian O'Connor on Friday that he has "no desire to return" to the Knicks as president or as Walsh's replacement.

Thomas served as the New York's president in a controversial reign from 2003-2008 that left him among the most hated sports figures in recent New York history.

That is not the case, however, in Detroit, where Thomas led the Pistons to back-to-back championships in 1989 and 1990. Widely regarded as the greatest player in franchise history, the Hall of Famer could return to a club that has suffered through three straight losing seasons.

While Thomas' performance in the Knicks' front office left much to be desired, he has enjoyed success as a coach. He led the Indiana Pacers to three consecutive playoff appearances from 2000-2003 and helped develop Jermaine O'Neal, Jalen Rose and Ron Artest into stars. It's that success with young players that has the Pistons intrigued, according to sources.

In 2002, Thomas led the Pacers to a 34-15 start and was the coach of the Eastern Conference in the All-Star Game. However, the Pacers finished poorly and were eliminated in the first round for the third straight year, leading to Thomas' firing.

After joining the Knicks as team president, Thomas took over the club's coaching duties at the start of the 2006-2007 season. Over the next two years, his Knicks finished a disappointing 56-108.

Thomas, sources say, has been longing to return to the NBA. A return to Detroit would serve as a reunion with his close friend and former Hall of Fame backcourt mate, Joe Dumars, the Pistons' president.

Chris Broussard covers the NBA for ESPN The Magazine.

Follow Chris Broussard on Twitter: @chris_broussard

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Pacers players want Vogel back as head coach

INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana Pacers players want interim coach Frank Vogel to get the full-time gig.

Now, it's up to team president Larry Bird to make a decision.

[+] Enlarge Rob Grabowski/US PresswireIndiana Pacers players said Thursday they want Frank Vogel to return as coach next season.

It's been more than a month since the team's season ended and the waiting game continues.

"I'll be happy if Frank gets picked," said center Roy Hibbert before playing in a charity softball game for the Indiana Children's Wish Fund. "I've been with him since I was a rookie, so I hope he gets it. I understand that Larry's taking his time now, but I'm pulling for (Vogel)."

Bird has called Vogel the favorite from the beginning of the search, and the team has had several conversations with him. He took over for Jim O'Brien at midseason, went 20-18 to close the regular season and led the team to its first playoff berth since 2006.

"I think Frank did an excellent job, stepping in without the experience of a head coaching job," Bird said after the season ended. "The way he conducted himself, he brought positive energy to this team. We won more games than we lost. We did it with a young team, a team that's trying to grow."

Early in his tenure, Vogel claimed that Eastern Conference powers Boston, Miami and Orlando wouldn't want to play the Pacers when -- not if -- they made the playoffs. He introduced "smashmouth" basketball, an approach that focused on attacking the basket instead of O'Brien's perimeter-oriented game. He moved Tyler Hansbrough, a second-year player, and Paul George, a rookie, into the starting lineup and helped restore Hibbert's confidence.

It all helped them get into the playoffs and compete well before losing 4-1 to the top-seeded Chicago Bulls.

"I really feel strong about having Vogel around," George said. "I love him as a coach, as a person. But I have no control over it. I have to just go with whatever Mr. Bird goes with."

Vogel said as the season ended that he wanted the job and said with confidence that he feels he proved himself. He didn't expect a decision to be made quickly.

"It's really up to Larry and the front office," Vogel said. "Anytime you're making a decision as important as this, you never want to rush into it. Whatever timetable they decide is fine with me."

Indiana was interested in Mike Brown, but the former Pacers assistant and Cleveland head coach took the job as Los Angeles Lakers head coach. But the players have favored Vogel since he took over.

"I would like to see Frank get it," guard Lance Stephenson said. "He helped us out this year. He made us come in more as a group. I hope Larry Bird sees what happened and we can move forward."

George would like to see a decision made soon.

"It's still up in the air for me," he said. "It's something that I want to know, but it's something I have no control over."

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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