Posted at 9:23 a.m., Monday, June 11, 2007
Pistons Dumars: Coach Flip Saunders' job is safe
Advertiser Staff
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — The Detroit Pistons have no plans to fire coach Flip Saunders despite disappointing endings the past two seasons."Just because we haven't gotten to the finals, it doesn't mean Flip has done a bad job," Joe Dumars, president of basketball operations Dumars said today.
He added that the team doesn't plan drastic changes this offseason.
"We don't have a fire sale going on," Dumars said.
With four of the same starters, the Pistons have lost in the Eastern Conference finals as the top-seeded team the past two seasons after winning a title in 2004 and falling just short of repeating the following year.
Dumars said his No. 1 priority is re-signing point guard Chauncey Billups when he becomes a free agent next month. He plans to bring back most of his key players.
Rasheed Wallace has been the subject of trade rumors in the week since the Cleveland Cavaliers eliminated Detroit.
"You're talking about the guy that was our best and most consistent player in the playoffs," Dumars said. "He's probably also the guy that is the most volatile and crosses the line at times, but I have to balance that."
