Detroit Pistons president search: Grizzlies' Ed Stefanski earns praise

CHICAGO — Franchises can be undermined by finger pointing.

When things go awry and lack of accountability is rampant, front offices can turn on the head coach.

A team president, who typically has the owner’s ear, can blame the coach for underperformance.

The coach will leak to the media there is no way to win with this awful roster.

Of the reported possibilities for the Detroit Pistons’ vacant president of basketball operations post, there is one veteran front office executive that drew a hearty endorsement this week when it comes to coach-front office relations.

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Former Pistons coach Michael Curry said current Memphis Grizzlies vice president of player personnel Ed Stefanski gets it.

Curry saw it firsthand when he was associate head coach under another former Pistons coach, Doug Collins, when both were with the Philadelphia 76ers (2010-13).

Collins was the head coach; Stefanski was the general manager.

“He had a way of communicating and when he chose to communicate with us, it was just one of those things where he allowed you to do your job,” Curry told the Free Press this week at the NBA draft combine. “He had input, but at the same time, he picked times to give input at your most receptive times.

“Finding that balance is tough, but I just think he’s a great guy.”

Pistons owner Tom Gores saw firsthand the perils of a divided franchise.

After purchasing the team for $325 million in June 2011, he oversaw the final years of the Joe Dumars coaching carousel.

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Dumars, who was demoted from team president in April 2014, went through eight coaches in 14 seasons. Gores was around for the final two — the firings of Lawrence Frank (2011-13) and Maurice Cheeks (2014).

The coaching turnover wasn’t all Dumars’ fault, but the situation was the butt of jokes from media and rival league front office executives.

Extolling the importance of synergy between the front office and coaching staff, Gores proudly introduced Stan Van Gundy as team president and head coach in May 2014.

In hindsight, the ownership group grew to see one man holding both roles as a weakness.

Gores hinted days before the end of last season that Van Gundy’s focus on coaching during the season wasn’t an ideal situation since it didn’t allow for discussions on the future while the team was playing games.

And with issues of cap mismanagement and coaching, Gores fired Van Gundy earlier this month with one year remaining on his contract.

The Pistons immediately announced they were initiating searches for a president of basketball operations and a head coach, although a source told the Free Press this week that team president is the primary focus at present.

ESPN.com’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported this week the Pistons have expressed interest in Stefanski, NBA executive vice president Kiki Vandeweghe, Houston Rockets front office official Gersson Rosas and Brooklyn Nets assistant general manager Trajan Langdon to run basketball operations.

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Several NBA officials expressed favorable opinions of Stefanski, 64, this week in Chicago.

“Very qualified, well respected,” a rival front office executive said.

Stefanski has held general manager posts with the 76ers (2007-11) and New Jersey Nets (2004-07).

Curry, who was fired recently as head coach at Florida Atlantic, said that getting buy-in from the coaching staff is important to an executive’s success.

“It’s very important for the success of an organization,” Curry said. “It’s a difficult dynamic because of the competitiveness of the game and the competitiveness of both jobs. I think communication is key. The better you communicate, the more often you communicate and picking the right times to communicate is key.”

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After a game, when emotions are running high, probably isn’t the proper time.

“Sometimes those areas cross together, but the better you can stay in your lane, it’s good,” Curry said. "When you do cross, communication is key.”

Dumars fired Curry following the 2008-09 season after a playoff appearance, one of two postseason appearances for the franchise in the last decade. It was Curry’s only season as a head coach in the NBA.

Another possibility

Sacramento Kings assistant general manager Ken Catanella checks many boxes that would make an ideal president of basketball operations.

He has experience in the league office where he was the resident expert on the salary cap and analytics. He was part of the league’s team that negotiated — along with the players — the 2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement.

He has worked for multiple front offices (the New Jersey Nets, Pistons and Kings).

He joined the Pistons front office in 2011 under Dumars and he was promoted to assistant general manager shortly after Van Gundy was hired in 2014.

Catanella and former Pistons assistant general manager George David ran the draft process in the 2014 that led to selection of point guard Spencer Dinwiddie, who flourished this past season with the Brooklyn Nets.

And he has a good relationship with the Pistons ownership group, who recommended Catanella remain under Van Gundy.

Catanella, 42, also has a basketball background, having played professionally overseas.

No Billups?

League officials were surprised former Piston Chauncey Billups hasn’t surfaced regarding the Pistons’ team president opening.

Billups, currently an analyst for ESPN, makes no secret of his front office ambition.

He turned down a chance to run the Cleveland Cavaliers last offseason.

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Billups, 41, probably faces an uphill battle with the Pistons since they would prefer an experienced hand. He lacks front office experience.

But if Billups ever gets a shot, don’t be surprised if his front office takes on a Pistons tint with former teammates Tayshaun Prince, Rip Hamilton and Ben Wallace emerging.

Prince just completed his first season with the Grizzlies front office and Wallace made news this week when it was announced he has become a part owner of the Grand Rapids Drive, the Pistons’ Gatorade League affiliate.

Tidbit

Current Pistons general manager Jeff Bower has been told by Gores he would be considered for the team president opening, a source confirmed to the Free Press.

Wojnarowski was first to report the news.

Bower is currently running predraft operations.

Follow Vince Ellis on Twitter @vincent_ellis56.

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