Detroit Pistons Names Jeff Bower New GM
Jeff Bower gets a second chance to run an NBA front office, this time with the revamped Detroit Pistons.
After putting front and center Stan Van Gundy as the new team president and head coach of the 2004 world champions Pistons, the Pistons solidified their front office by hiring former New Orleans Hornets/Pelicans General Manager Jeff Bower who held the position from 2009 until 2010.
''I'm excited to join the Pistons organization and play a role in helping this franchise build on its great basketball tradition,'' Bower said in a statement. ''I look forward to working with Stan, his staff and everyone in the Pistons organization to put together a team that the community can support and be proud of. I'm also excited about ownership's commitment to winning and their demonstrated commitment to the community.''
Bower was also the coach at Marist College last season but he left the post Monday to accept the job with the Pistons. Marist College had a record 12-19 this past season under Bower.
''Jeff brings great basketball knowledge and NBA experience to our organization and he's enjoyed success in building teams,'' Van Gundy said to Yahoo Sports. ''He's a great evaluator of talent and Jeff will bring solid leadership to our front office.''
The Pistons had a disappointing last season which ended with a record of 29-53, despite signing key free agents such as Brandon Jennings and Josh Smith to lucrative deals. These signings and the current roster is the challenge for Van Gundy and Bower as the Pistons try to re-enter the playoffs after multiple years of futility. There is also the decision on restricted free agent big man Greg Monroe and the monitoring of the continuous development of Andre Drummond, one of the league's top rebounder.
The front management changes with the Pistons have been generally approved by league insiders and ample expectations should be faced by the new tandem of Van Gundy and Bower in reshaping the 2004 world champions.