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Dumars gets promotion Retaining free agent Hill first task for ex-Piston star
Posted: Wednesday June 07, 2000 01:48 PM
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) -- If the Detroit Pistons never recapture their glory days, it won't be for lack of effort. Not with Joe Dumars running the show. In one of a series of moves Tuesday, the Pistons named Dumars president of basketball operations. "I can make a difference here," Dumars said at a news conference on the court at The Palace. "I'm only here for one reason: to bring us back a championship." In other moves to strengthen their front office, the Pistons brought back Brendan Suhr to be director of player personnel and signed George Irvine to coach the team. "I'm excited about the direction we're going," said Irvine, who four months ago had said he wasn't interested in the job. If they can sign star forward Grant Hill, the Pistons' chances of becoming one of the NBA's elite teams would be even better. Dumars said he was confident Hill would stay in Detroit. The moves break down like this:
After winning the NBA championship in 1989 and 1990, the Pistons somehow lost their competitive edge. Some of the blame for the slide fell on the front office, which has hired six coaches in the past nine years. These latest moves are expected to make the franchise better both on and off the court. "Starting today, there should be no doubt that the future of this franchise lies on the shoulders of Joe Dumars," Wilson said. "Joe will be the one demanding results, and getting results. He will turn this thing around." But so much hinges on being able to sign Hill. The All-Star forward is expected to opt out of his contract on July 1 and test the free-agent market. The promotion of Dumars, however, gives the Pistons hope that they can sign Hill to a one-year contract on Aug. 1, allowing them time to surround him with players with enough talent to make a strong playoff run. "He hasn't given me any reason to believe that he isn't coming back," Dumars said. Detroit has qualified for the playoffs four of the last five years, never advancing past the first round. "I want guys who are tough-minded, who want to be Detroit Pistons, who get it done without a lot of hype," Dumars said. "That's kind of the way I was." Dumars, who answers only to team owner Bill Davidson, played with Hill until his retirement at the end of the 1999 season. The two remain close.
"We've talked a lot in the past few weeks," Dumars said. "My personal relationship with Grant is what I base my confidence on."
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