The Nba

Detroit's Wheel
The Pistons are leaning toward hiring Bill Laimbeer as their coach

For one glorious evening last Friday, the Pistons' championship teams of 1988-89 and '89-90 were reunited to celebrate the 14-year career of retired guard Joe Dumars, to applaud the league's decision to rename its sportsmanship trophy after him and to watch Dumars's number 4 be raised to the rafters of The Palace at Auburn Hills.

But make no mistake: This was not a cue for Dumars to gracefully exit Detroit. In fact it might as well have been his coming-out party with the franchise. The six-time All-Star has held the title of Pistons vice president of personnel for nearly a year, but the position was largely ceremonial, and Dumars exerted little influence in the front office. That, say team sources, is about to change. Dumars has assumed a larger role in recent weeks—okaying the March 6 firing of coach Alvin Gentry, for example—and he has told friends he's ready to take more control over the team's personnel.

In fact, Pistons sources confirm, Dumars met last week with a surprising candidate to replace Gentry: Bad Boys center Bill Laimbeer. Although nothing will be announced until the end of the season, those sources say the job is Laimbeer's to lose. Forget about the false reports that his hiring would signal the departure of Grant Hill, a free-agent-to-be. Do you really think the Pistons would not consult Hill before ramming an outsized personality like Laimbeer's down their superstar's throat?

Hill, who has refused to comment on Laimbeer for fear of undermining interim coach George Irvine—even though Irvine has made it clear that he doesn't want the job permanently—told SI last Friday, "Definitely, Bill Laimbeer would be a strong possibility. He knows the game and, more important, knows Detroit and the Pistons' situation. He also has a strong relationship with [owner] Mr. [Bill] Davidson."

Laimbeer, a Pistons season-ticket holder since he retired in 1994, expressed interest in the position two years ago before Gentry's interim status was upgraded. Team sources said then that Laimbeer, 42, who has never coached at any level, was disappointed when he didn't receive so much as a courtesy call from Davidson. Reached by SI last Friday, Laimbeer was brief: "I have absolutely nothing to say."

Laimbeer and Hill are not close—though they did collaborate on a hilarious commercial for Fila shoes three years ago—and Laimbeer has not hesitated to critique Hill's play. "I've talked to him a fair amount over the years, although not a whole lot this season," says Hill. "He clearly knows this league, and he's someone who is smart enough and competitive enough that if he didn't know something, he'd surround himself with the right people, whether it's a veteran coach, a defensive coach, whoever."

Hill says he's "amused" by reports that his mother, Janet, is telling NBA people her son will not return to Detroit next season. "My mom and dad are very private people," he says. "They are also very smart people. Even if I had made up my mind about what I'm going to do—which I haven't—they'd never reveal my intentions. Besides, when the time comes, I'll make up my own mind, just like when I was choosing colleges. My mom wanted me to go to Georgetown, and my father wanted me to go to North Carolina." Hill, as everyone knows, chose Duke.

The Spurs' Struggles
New Problems, Same Old Point

San Antonio point guard Avery Johnson trained himself to conceal disappointment, contain anger, defuse controversy. Three seasons ago, when Raptors guard Damon Stoudamire asked to be traded, he rhapsodized about playing in San Antonio, saying the Spurs "need help at point guard." The 5'11" Johnson merely smiled at the obvious slight, then answered cheerfully, "Tell Damon I wish him the best of luck—wherever he ends up."