Things haven’t been looking good for Joe Dumars and the Detroit Pistons since 2006, and many believe the fact that they passed on Carmelo Anthony for Darko Milicic with the second overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft is responsible for those doldrums. General Manager Joe Dumars has been getting much of the blame for that and other mistakes too, but even his biggest critics can’t deny that he brought an NBA championship to Detroit back in 2004 and a Finals appearance in 2005. But earlier this week, word came down that Dumar, the former Bad Boys star, would be stepping down as president of basketball operations at the conclusion of the season.
“Joe Dumars is a great champion who has meant so much to this franchise and this community,” said Pistons owner Tom Gores in a release. “We are turning the page with great respect for what he has accomplished not only as a player and a front office executive, but as a person who has represented this team and the NBA with extraordinary dignity.”
During the transition, director of basketball operations Ken Catanella and assistant general manager George David will prepare for the upcoming NBA Draft and free agency.
“It's time to turn the page on a wonderful chapter and begin writing a new one,” Dumars said in a release. “I've had the pleasure of working with some great people throughout the last 29 years as both a player and executive, and I'm proud of our accomplishments. Tom Gores and ownership is committed to winning and they will continue to move the franchise forward.”
Dumars was drafted by the Pistons in 1985, spending 29 seasons with the organization, 14 as a player (1985-1999) and 15 in the front office (1999-2014). Dumars won three championships with the Pistons, two as a player (1989 and 1990) and one as their general manager (2004). As a GM, the Pistons made it to the Finals twice (2004 and 2005).
Since taking over as general manager, the Pistons went 595-536, had 73 playoff wins and went to the Eastern Conference finals six consecutive times (2003-2008).
In college basketball, Tennessee Volunteers men’s basketball coach Cuonzo Martin has done a lot with very little since arriving on campus back in 2011. He led Tennessee to 24 win season and a trip to the Sweet 16 this year, his third season as head coach. Now Martin will segue to his next big challenge as he has just been selected to become the next head coach at the University of California next season.
Tennessee AD Dave Hart told the Associated Press he didn't know Martin was talking to Cal about its coaching position until they spoke to each other Tuesday morning.
"We did have a conversation. He was very emotional," Hart said. "The bottom line is he said in his heart he believed this was best for [him] and his family."
These two men are of few words, letting their performances speak for themselves.
And their actions speak volumes, loud enough for everyone to hear.
