Just as reports surfaced that Stan Van Gundy and the Golden State Warriors were nearing a deal to make him the team’s new head coach, the Detroit Pistons came out of nowhere with an even more lucrative offer.
Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski reported the Pistons are offering Van Gundy a job as the head coach but with the chance to control all basketball operations.
Via Wojnarowski:
The Detroit Pistons are pursuing Stan Van Gundy with a lucrative offer to assume complete control of basketball operations and coach, league sources told Yahoo Sports.
The Pistons are trying to compete with the Golden State Warriors, who are aggressively pursuing Van Gundy for their coaching position.
Van Gundy, 54, has not coached in the NBA since receiving the axe from the Orlando Magic following the 2011-12 season. And now he has two big-time offers to choose from.
The Warriors pushed the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round of the NBA playoffs, and feature a strong roster that includes perennial All-Stars in Steph Curry and Klay Thompson.
Van Gundy has expressed a “strong interest” in the position, and Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix reportedly that talks between the two sides were intensifying on Tuesday.
Over the weekend, Van Gundy moved to the forefront for the Warriors’ job after it appeared Steve Kerr was leaning toward accepting the same position with the New York Knicks. Van Gundy reportedly underwent a formal interview with management over the weekend.
He will not have the opportunity to control personnel moves with Golden State, though.
NBA source: Stan Van Gundy told the Warriors he wanted total control of basketball decisions. They declined. He could get that in DET.
— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) May 13, 2014
The Pistons’ roster isn’t as strong, and there are major roster changes that need to be made, including the potential dealing of Josh Smith. There are some pieces to work with, including Andre Drummond and Greg Monroe, but Van Gundy’s job would allow him the opportunity to bring in — and remove — any players he’d like to.
There is no indication of how interested Van Gundy is in this role, per the report.
Van Gundy was contacted about the Pistons’ vacancy, but talks reportedly didn’t get anywhere. The New York Daily News suggested talks stalled when Van Gundy requested power over personnel decisions.
It appears as if Detroit is now willing to meet Van Gundy’s demands.
