I hope this means that Lawrence Frank will pick up where Eminem and Ndamukong Suh left off in those Imported from Detroit Chrysler commercials. I can personally say that I’d be a whole lot closer to purchasing one of those whips if I turned on the television one day and saw Frank rolling around Detroit’s playgrounds looking for the next Manny Harris in future installments.
Whether that ends up happening or not though, it does appear that Lawrence Frank will be the guy selected by Joe Dumars and company to replace John Kuester as the next head man for the Pistons. This from Woj late Thursday:
“Lawrence Frank has emerged as the choice to become the Detroit Pistons’ next head coach and a formal contract offer is expected within the next day, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. Frank, an assistant with the Boston Celtics, separated his candidacy in his first meetings with management and ownership, distancing himself from contenders Mike Woodson and Kelvin Sampson, sources said. The Pistons organization has been deliberate in the process, talking to several candidates. But barring unforeseen snags in contract talks, Frank figures to replace John Kuester, who was fired as coach on June 5.”
For a team that’s made a series of bad moves lately, I tend to think the hiring of Frank is a good one by the Pistons. He was solid enough as a Head Coach a few years back for New Jersey, and spending a year under a guy like Doc Rivers has got to be just about the best type of coaching clinic an NBA coach can experience as far as I can tell.
Frank previously took over for Byron Scott in New Jersey during the 2003-04 season, and coached the Nets for six seasons after winning his first thirteen games in a row that year (an NBA record for Head Coaching starts). His teams made the playoffs in four of those six years, and they got as far as the Eastern Conference Semis in three of those four appearances.
No statement from the Pistons has been released at this point, but it appears Frank has edged out Mike Woodson, Kelvin Sampson, Bill Laimbeer and Patrick Ewing to earn the gig. Hopefully, for his sake, Frank is also able to avoid the wedgie that is expected from Laimbeer upon the announcement.
Photo: Getty Images
