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In the “it never hurts to ask” department, it appears that the Detroit Pistons requested permission to speak to Terry Stotts about their head coach opening, but were denied by the Portland Trailblazers.
This info comes courtesy of Mitch Lawrence (via Blazers Edge). Lawrence also reports that the interest between the Pistons and University of Michigan’s John Beilein was very real, with Beilein contacting NBA personnel to ask about the possibility before ultimately withdrawing from consideration.
The Pistons wanted to talk to Terry Stotts about their coaching opening, but Blazers wouldn’t give permission to Detroit to make a run at Stotts. Sources also say John Beilein had strong interest in Pistons, consulting with NBA team execs before deciding to stay at Michigan.
— Mitch Lawrence (@Mitch_Lawrence) June 7, 2018
Brendan Quinn at The Athletic spoke to Beilein about his interest with the Pistons, and Beilein said that the courtship lasted about a month and once the information became public and the organization still wasn’t ready to make a decision, Beilein withdrew from consideration.
As for Stotts, he is a great coach, and I’m happy to see the Pistons at least inquire about the possibility of adding him. He’s been on a pseudo hot seat because he can’t quite seem to get the Blazers over the hump. But I think that has to do more with team talent than it does with his coaching acumen. And if the Blazers were in the East, let’s be real they are a top-4 team easy.