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Pistons Deny Interest In Adding Chauncey Billups To Front Office

Billups called the report flattering, but said he hasn't spoken with anyone at the PistonsGETTY IMAGES

The Pistons denied a report that the team has "expressed interest" in bringing in ESPN's Chauncey Billups to work with Palace Sports & Entertainment Vice Chair Arn Tellem in a "revamped front office," according to Ellis & Crawford of the DETROIT FREE PRESS. Platinum Equity Partner Mark Barnhill said in a text the N.Y. Times report was "false." The Undefeated's Marc Spears also "tweeted out Billups' denial of the report." The tweet read, "I'm very happy with the on-air opportunities ESPN has given me to talk about the NBA in the studio & at games. Of course, I love my Pistons & Detroit. But I would never push for a job with any NBA franchise that is not open. That's not part of my character." Billups last summer was a candidate for the Cavaliers' GM job before ultimately "turning down the offer." A source said that Tellem had "no interest in running basketball operations, although it's possible he could take on an advisory role with basketball operations" if Pistons Owner Tom Gores "decides to move on" from President of Basketball Operations and coach Stan Van Gundy following this season (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 3/21). Billups called the report "flattering," but said it is "100% false." Billups: "I haven't spoken with anybody with the organization about the possibility. ... You talk about ‘expressing interest.’ To who? They haven't expressed interest to me. I haven't spoken to anybody" ("The Jump," ESPN, 3/20).

SVG WAITING UNTIL SEASON'S OVER: Van Gundy prior to last night's Pistons-Suns game addressed the report by saying Gores "will make a decision at the end of the year." Van Gundy: "The reports don't mean a damn thing. The only thing that matters is the decision Tom makes at the end of the year and that doesn't matter right now" (FREEP.com, 3/20). NBA TV’s Leigh Ellis called it a good idea to "bring back a guy who has been a legend at that club." However, Billups would need to work "along someone who has experience in a front office role." Ellis: "It’s difficult for a player to automatically assume that role and then think they’re going to be successful in it.” NBA TV’s Trey Kirby said, “It’s pretty hard to be a coach and a GM at the same time, unless you’re a Gregg Popovich. ... Getting somebody in there whose focus is just building the basketball team for the future and for the present day -- it’s impossible to do when you’re a coach, to look at the long-term and the short-term at the same time, so a little bit of help for SVG would be alright” (“The Starters,” NBA TV, 3/20).

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