Brendan Quinn on Beilein/Pistons: It could actually happen

Submitted by LS And Play on

Quinn is pretty connected to the Beilein camp and seems to think there is genuine interest from both sides. He goes into further detail in a piece for the Athletic.

 

1) This ain't about John Beilein leveraging for more money.
2) The Pistons are quite serious about Beilein
3) This could actually happen.

That and much more, here:https://t.co/m60AIgeBfU

— Brendan F. Quinn (@BFQuinn) June 3, 2018

Leaders And Best

June 3rd, 2018 at 7:53 PM ^

Except they don't. Of the 4 major professional sports leagues, NBA franchises are the hardest to turn around. It is much easier to turnover a roster in the NFL with nonguaranteed contracts, a hard salary cap, and a bigger emphasis on team building vs individual stars.

The NBA has guaranteed contracts and heavier emphasis on star players. And a small market team like the Pistons is not going to be able to sign a star free agent without the pieces in place to win. You can't win big in the NBA today without an All-NBA player which the Pistons don't have. The Pistons are several years from even starting a rebuild with Blake Griffin under contract until 2022, Reggie Jackson until 2020, no draft pick in 2018, and recent draft picks that show little promise to become playoff caliber NBA starters. They need to trade Griffin (and possibly Drummond) to bottom out and win some lottery top-5 picks.

I doubt Beilein would be around to see the fruits of his labors if he left, but the challenge may interest him. I have my doubts a veteran roster like the Pistons is going to be very open to Beilein-style coaching, and it will take Beilein until his 70s to see his own roster.

ijohnb

June 3rd, 2018 at 6:35 PM ^

agree it is not an ideal fit, but he would have a stretch 4 who can shoot reasonably well from deep and a point. He would need them healthy. It would be addition by subtraction first. They have to part with Drummond. Trade him for literally a bag of basketballs and eat half of his contract or seriously bench him. I’m serious about that. It isn’t really his fault but he is an active deterrent to winning in this league.

ijohnb

June 3rd, 2018 at 6:58 PM ^

think it is remotely possible. I think Houston would consider it, I think they could clear enough space and he could be a defensive anchor and gobble up the boards. He would be a tough cover on the block for GS also as currently constructed.

In reply to by ijohnb

Whole Milk

June 4th, 2018 at 9:22 AM ^

Why would Hoston do this? They already have essentially the same thing in Capela, who is younger and more mobile, and even though they would have to match the big offer he gets this off season, it's not like Drummond is a cheap guy to have on the books. 

WorldwideTJRob

June 3rd, 2018 at 7:34 PM ^

As someone mentioned earlier this would be Coach B’s choice. How with a straight face can you not pull for a guy that has been a class act on and off the floor. He has brought this program to new heights and possibly leaving it in great condition. Why would any fan be angry at Coach B? Because rooting against the Pistons would be rooting against him too!

HAIL-YEA

June 3rd, 2018 at 9:43 PM ^

I am sorry but my loyalty is to Michigan first, as much as I love Beilein. If he were to leave now with no warning I would accept that as his choice and I would even undersand it. At the same time he would be going to work for a douche Sparty owner in a no win situation Pistons team that I would root against, plain and simple. I am a fan, if I can accept Chelios as a Red Wing and cheer him on, I can hate Beilein as a Piston and boo him every chance I get... and I would.

WorldwideTJRob

June 3rd, 2018 at 11:47 PM ^

That’s the equivalent to rooting against Mo Wagner because he left early. Beilein has done wonders here and if he left to coach the Pistons or the Sixers, I still would wish him well. No one ever said you had to sacrifice your loyalty for the program, move on and support the new coach. It’s not like he would be leaving the program in bad shape or for another big time college program.

American Hotel

June 3rd, 2018 at 6:30 PM ^

The Pistons need a coach who can actually develop talent in the worst way. Beilein will be retired either way by 70 and may want a shot at the brass ring for his finale. He wouldn't even have to move. NBA players are independent, but they also recognize and respect coaching ability. Honestly, I can't think of a reason for this not to happen (assuming Michigan can find a competent successor).

ijohnb

June 3rd, 2018 at 7:27 PM ^

would be a stretch for sure, unless he really sees something that nobody else does. That isn’t impossible. The Pistons are not completely devoid of talent. They don’t have a bunch, but from strictly a personnel perspective, they should be able to make the playoffs at a minimum. They just gave up on Van Gundy and Jackson going down did not help at all.

HireWayne

June 3rd, 2018 at 6:24 PM ^

Sounds to me like Brendan Quinn is trying to sell subscriptions to The Athletic. I can't see Beilein leaving his assistants and players behind for an NBA team that has no chance to compete. No way.

HireWayne

June 3rd, 2018 at 6:36 PM ^

It doesn't make sense on many levels for both Beilein and the Pistons. Brendan Quinn is an incredible sports writer but he knows it's a business and he wrote what he knows will sell.

Bambi

June 3rd, 2018 at 6:47 PM ^

It also does make sense. For Beilein: be a head coach at the highest level, which is the pinnacle of success in his profession. For the Pistons: Get a perimeter oriented head coach (the trend for success in recent years) with local ties to raise team support. He's had an interview with the Pistons and a reputable reporter is saying it's more than leverage. Acting like there's no chance at this point is willful ignorance.

Bambi

June 3rd, 2018 at 7:24 PM ^

I fail to see what the mental gymanstics are but I fail at a lot of things so that's no shock. I'm not saying it's going to happen or that there aren't a lot of very valid reasons why it shouldn't. I don't think it will. But to say there's no chance is just wrong.

Bambi

June 3rd, 2018 at 7:39 PM ^

Why? How does a basketball coach going to coach in the NBA not make sense? How does a team hire a local coach with a proven track record, success, and a style similar to the league wide trend not make sense? Yes there are reasons it doesn't make sense (Beilein's age, lack of NBA experience, Pistons being terrible, etc.), but clearly it makes sense enough that an interview has occured. Both Beilein and the Pistons feel like it makes sense...

HAIL-YEA

June 3rd, 2018 at 9:56 PM ^

An interview has occured by a team with no GM and an owner who is desperate to fill seats at little ceasars and has no clue how to do it. The only reason he brought Griffon here is he thought a "star" would get people interested. Now he thinks a local coach with some success might be worth a try, Gores is a clown who knows nothing about basketball. Beilein is 65 with zero NBA experience, he has had some success here but lets not act like he has been dominant. Many in this fanbase have wanted him fired on more than one occasion. I can understand why Beilein would take the job, but there is no logical reason the Pistons should offer it. No other NBA team would even consider interviewing him... theres a reason for that and it's not because Gores knows more about basketball than the rest of the league.

umbig11

June 3rd, 2018 at 6:35 PM ^

I still don't have confirmation that they have offered him as of today. A very good source continues to state that he will be back in AA next year. Let's get this thing over with Warde!

People with strong ties to the program are standing by their statements that he will be back.

Ty Butterfield

June 3rd, 2018 at 6:40 PM ^

Always appreciate your posts and hope your family is doing better. It is just starting to worry me that there has not been some sort of statement from Beilein confirming that he will be back.

DeepBlueC

June 4th, 2018 at 7:13 AM ^

and why are they sure?  Has Beilein talked to them personally and assured them that he's not going anywhere?  If so, that's not much of a negotiating position for him, and there's no need for Warde to do anything.  Or is this people in the athletic department assuring you and others that no matter what the Pistons offer Beilein, Michigan will offer him more, whatever it takes to keep him?

cobra14

June 3rd, 2018 at 7:02 PM ^

But I would lose some respect if JB bolted now. Leaves Michigan in a horrible position in June to try and find a coach for next year. Screws Matthews and incoming recruiting class who will or are on campus for the first time right now. Wilson just committed a couple days ago trusting in this staff and program. Would be very tough to hold onto a guy from Texas if JB left. Personally I think JB understands this and he isn’t going anywhere. In the end this has to be about assistant pay.

M_Born M_Believer

June 3rd, 2018 at 9:35 PM ^

I put this in yesterday's thread as well.  Warde needs to close the extension deal ASAP.  For the longer this drags out, the more there will be speculation Tweets / BR reports / Internet trolls looking to get site hits by throwing out information.

 

The art of negotiation is to determine what is the other person's selling point.  In this case, Warde needs to determine what is JB's selling point and close the deal.  This can not drag on.

 

As others have stated, MAYBE JB is interested, I dont know and I certainly dont believe anyone else knows on this site.  


I just have to believe that where JB is at right now in his career (and yes age), staying at Michigan is the best choice. Keep in mind, winning the NCAA would be a pretty cool thing too and if i had to put odds on which would most likely happen over the next 5 years (Mich winning the NCAA or the Pistons winning the NBA).  I belive it is too obvious that it is Michigan winning the NCAA......

 

 

uncle leo

June 3rd, 2018 at 6:49 PM ^

That was free without paying the subscription. DId not see anything in there other than what Beilein has done at Michigan.

Is there anything in the article that says detailed information about new sources?

RP

June 3rd, 2018 at 6:51 PM ^

if the day ever comes when the fucking Pistons steal Beilein away, I would root for the Pistons to crash and burn for the rest of eternity

Wolverine Devotee

June 3rd, 2018 at 7:10 PM ^

The Pistons are the least cared about team in Detroit.

Life would go on rather quickly because no one cares about them unless they are good. The LIONS have one playoff win in the modern era and are more relevant than the sorry Pistons.

I hope they relocate to Seattle. People who actually would support an NBA team. It would also get all that junk out of the rafters at the LCA so the Red Wings can hang all of their banners. 

I don't support teams owned by MSU affiliates.

cobra14

June 3rd, 2018 at 7:16 PM ^

Your youth is really showing how big of a fool you are right now about the Pistons. Just like any pro sports team when they are good people will come to the games. Red Wings sucked and guess what no one was at the games just like the Pistons. Lions play once a week not 82 games so don’t even lump them in. The Pistons in late 80s through the early 90s was fantastic. Then add in the early 00s. The state of Michigan is a basketball state. Pistons going to Seattle is laughable.

Wolverine Devotee

June 3rd, 2018 at 7:37 PM ^

Dan Gilbert is a clown. All he cares about is downtown and lining his pockets and at the same time touts the revitalization of Detroit when in reality, downtown is all he's contributing to. NOT the city of Detroit. Just to get money of the outsiders who come down to Detroit to spend money and go back up into the suburbs.   

Not the actual neighborhoods, not Detroit schools. Just in it for himself. 

I'm in Detroit 5 days a week. Girlfriend also lives in Midtown.