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**DetBNyce** · 06-26-2005, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Larry Brown does not sound nor act like a man who is about to walk away from his job.

There he was Saturday morning, working out seven draft prospects, including Illinois guard Luther Head, Providence forward Ryan Gomes and Indiana guard Bracey Wright.

The Pistons have worked out some 40 players throughout the last two months, and Brown was there for most of them.

"I am planning on coming back," Brown said Saturday. "I just don't know about the time frame. I cannot rush with this. If Joe (Dumars) needs a definite answer in two or three days, I don't know if I can do that."

Brown will be at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., at 7 a.m. Wednesday for three days worth of diagnostic testing on his bladder.

On Friday, Brown expects to be heading to the Hamptons in New York knowing one of two things: Either the doctors have determined the problem can be fixed with surgery, or, there is some neurological issue that would require further evaluation and treatment.

If it's the former, then Brown expects to be able to tell Dumars that he can return to coach next season.

If it's the latter, then he would tell Dumars he needs more time.

Dumars would then have to make a very difficult decision.

If he grants Brown additional time, then he would risk losing some of the best available candidates to replace him (Flip Saunders or Nate McMillan).

At the same time, Dumars doesn't want to kick a Hall of Fame coach to the curb prematurely.

Dumars has said repeatedly that he wants Brown back and would allow him to work this out on his own timetable. Neither Dumars nor vice president of basketball John Hammond wanted to comment further on Saturday.

"I just hope that by Friday I will be able to tell everybody exactly what is going on," Brown said.

Quote:

Brown said that he and Dumars were very much in accord as to how best to move forward. Both agree that the nucleus of the team, relatively young and under contract, is solid. But the depth, in particular a backup small forward, needs bolstering.

Both believe a proven veteran might become available this summer, someone like Michael Finley or Allan Houston, who played for the Pistons from 1993-1996.

"There are definite areas of improvement and Joe will address needs that are obvious to all us," Brown said.

"Our depth was a little different this year and, ultimately, that might have really hurt us."

Brown listed three specific areas where he thought the Pistons needed help: backup small forward, more quickness in the backcourt and a young, athletic, shot blocking, rebounding big man. Brown said that he thought Carlos Arroyo, having a full training camp with the Pistons, could be the quick, change-of-pace guard the Pistons need.

Brown also hasn't given up on Carlos Delfino as the eventual backup to Tayshaun Prince.

"I still think Delfino will be fine," Brown said. "Getting hurt killed him this year, and last summer he was on the Argentine team, but he didn't play a lot. I really think he's going to be good."

He said the same about Darko Milicic, who will get the first opportunity at filling the void in the front court left by Elden Campbell's departure.

The Pistons will be watching Delfino and Milicic carefully during summer-league competition in Las Vegas beginning July 5.

The Pistons are also very excited about an amnesty provision in the new collective bargaining agreement that is expected to be ratified by the players on Tuesday and by the owners later this summer.

http://www.detnews.com/2005/pistons/...C01-228269.htm

**kamego** · 06-26-2005, 07:54 AM

I like the name Bracey Wright, he might be a steal in the draft depending on where he goes.

Also I hope he was just being kind by putting Allen Houston in the same sentance as Finley lol. Houston doesn't have the knees to play any more.

Midnight_Marauder · 06-26-2005, 09:07 AM

I am a huge IU fan.......getting Bracey Wright would be good....but I dont know how good of a pro he is going to be.....

But then again the last time the Pistons got someone from Indiana it turned out pretty well

**Austin Kent** · 06-27-2005, 06:13 PM

"He said the same about Darko Milicic, who will get the first opportunity at filling the void in the front court left by Elden Campbell's departure.

The Pistons will be watching Delfino and Milicic carefully during summer-league competition in Las Vegas beginning July 5."

This in particular makes me very happy. So Campbell is gone now?

**DetBNyce** · 06-27-2005, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lope31

This in particular makes me very happy. So Campbell is gone now?

More than likely. He signed the two year deal back when he was a FA and e ven though he still can be somewhat effective I think he and Joe both knew that 2 years was all he was going to play for the Pistons.

P33r~ · 06-28-2005, 02:27 AM

Come on guys. It's going to take more than just Campbells departure to get LB to put Darko on the floor next season. Elden never got any minutes except in Heat games. If LB stays, he is going to have to learn that next season is probably the last chance for the Pistons to effectively utilise Darko. I'm sure the media and Dumars have pounded that into his head already and hopefully Larry should comply.

Midnight_Marauder · 06-28-2005, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P33r~

Come on guys. It's going to take more than just Campbells departure to get LB to put Darko on the floor next season. Elden never got any minutes except in Heat games. If LB stays, he is going to have to learn that next season is probably the last chance for the Pistons to effectively utilise Darko. I'm sure the media and Dumars have pounded that into his head already and hopefully Larry should comply.

Dumars will make LB play Darko and Delfino next year....he just has to.....Remember how people got upset that Carslisle woudnt play Prince...this is kind of like that

**kamego** · 06-28-2005, 08:51 AM

Darko will play next year. Watching him in warmups and when he saw more then just 1 minute in games, he has gotten a lot better. I doubt LB is coming back but even if he does, I think he knows he has to play him.

**DetBNyce** · 06-28-2005, 08:55 AM

All I know is if he doesn't play that seals the deal on him being a Detroit Piston after his roookie deal runs out.

**kamego** · 06-28-2005, 09:05 AM

Yeah I agree with that. If we don't play him for 3 years, he would need to be God in his option year for us to have a shot to get him. I only say that because then we could justify the large sum of money he would demand lol

**Austin Kent** · 06-28-2005, 09:40 AM

As great as Larry Brown is a coach, this is kind of why I want him gone. Brown would be good for one more year right? Is keeping Brown worth sacrificing a franchise player for the next decade? I think not.

**kamego** · 06-28-2005, 10:22 AM

It depends on who our next coach is. I think if we get someone who can hold the fort together while still letting Darko grow, it would be the best for our teams future. We want to win and we want Darko to grow, we can't afford to skip one for the other.

**Austin Kent** · 06-28-2005, 11:19 AM

I believe that it's a given that Darko will not develop with Larry Brown.

We are not necessarily going to lose if we change coaches.

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