The Joe Dumars era is set to come to a halt in Detroit, as ESPN reports that after missing the playoffs every year since 2009, the Pistons are not expected to renew the contract of the team’s longtime president of basketball operations.
A career-long Piston, Dumars was named executive of the year in 2003 and led the team to an NBA title the next season, adding to the two he won with the franchise as a “Bad Boy” era player more than two decades ago.
Following Sunday night’s loss to Toronto, and in a year where coach Maurice Cheeks was fired just 50 games into the season, the Pistons fell to 29-52, despite having signed veteran forward Josh Smith and trading for guard Brandon Jennings during the offseason. In recent times, the Pistons have also fared just as miserably at the gate, ranking ahead of just Minnesota, Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Milwaukee in gate receipts this season after attendance figures fell by more than 30 percent in 2012.
The 46-year-old Dumars is rumored to be considering remaining with the organization as an executive adviser outside of basketball operations, though next season is expected to mark the first time over the last 25 years a charter member of the “Bad Boys” won’t be playing a major role within the organization.
The Pistons tabbed the 6-3, 190-pound Dumars with the 18th pick of the 1985 draft, and he and Isiah Thomas instantly teamed to form one of the league’s top backcourts en route to both being elected to the NBA Hall of Fame.
Able to skillfully play either guard spot, the versatile Dumars was also widely considered one of the league’s best defenders and was a key figure in the so-called “Jordan Rules” incorporated by then coach Chuck Daly. Over 14 NBA seasons, he averaged 16 points and five assists. A six-time All-Star, the Pistons retired his No. 4 jersey in March of 2000.
