Lawrence Frank emerges as the favourite for Detroit Pistons head coaching job – NBA Update
Lawrence Frank has emerged as the most likely candidate for the Detroit Pistons head coaching job, sources familiar with the situation have revealed. Pistons have been on the lookout for a new manager since the inevitable firing
of former coach John Kuester.
Kuester oversaw one of the longest playoff droughts at the franchise in his two turbulent years in charge. His reign as the Detroit Pistons head coach was marred not only by poor performances of a once great side on the court,
but also by several issue off it. Kuester had numerous run-ins with senior Detroit players and things went south with many, including Richard Hamilton and Tracy McGrady, even missing practice sessions.
Once new owner Tom Gores took over the franchise, he gave the green light to Joe Dumars, President of Basketball Operations at the Pistons, to ring in the changes. Dumars promptly fired Kuester, which brings us to the current situation
in the motor city.
There was speculation earlier, that Mike Woodson is the favourite for the job due to his ties with the organization. Woodson was an assistant to Larry Brown when the Detroit Pistons won the NBA World Championship back in 2004.
He spent several years as head coach of the Atlanta Hawks afterwards and became renowned as a good coach with an eye for developing young talent. He was relieved of his duties at the Hawks after the 2010 playoffs as the management believed Mike had taken the
team as far as he could.
However, Frank Lawrence is not firmly installed as the favourite to land the job after reportedly impressing owner Tom Gores. Woodson is already looking elsewhere and it was reported that he had an interview for the vacant head
coaching job at the Minnesota Timberwolves. Lawrence himself is also being courted by the Toronto Raptors but it is believed that the coach would like to stay this side of the border if given the opportunity.
Currently serving as an assistant to Doc Rivers of the Boston Celtics, Frank Lawrence has an impressive resume. Other than his various stints as assistant coach, Lawrence was an NBA head coach for 6 years. He held the position
with the New Jersey Nets whom he led to an overall regular season record of 225-241 from 2003 to 2009. He worked for sometime as a TV analyst before Doc Rivers hired him as his assistant in 2010.
If Lawrence Frank does get the job he would be the second Boston Celtics assistant to leave for a head coaching job in two years after Tom Thibodeau left them to coach the Chicago Bulls last year. Thibodeau won Coach of the Year
with the Bulls this year and led them to the best record in the league.
Detroit will be hoping Frank can do something similar in with the Pistons.
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