Dumars says Flip Saunders's job is safe

Associated Press

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — The Detroit Pistons have no plans to fire coach Flip Saunders, despite disappointing endings to the past two seasons, president of basketball operations Joe Dumars said Monday.

"Just because we haven't gotten to the finals, it doesn't mean Flip has done a bad job," he said.

Also, contrary to some speculation, Detroit doesn't plan to make drastic changes this offseason.

"We don't have a fire sale going on," Dumars said.

With four of the same starters, the Pistons have lost in the Eastern Conference finals as the top-seeded team the past two seasons after winning a title in 2004 and falling just short of repeating the following year.

Dumars said his No. 1 priority is re-signing point guard Chauncey Billups when he becomes a free agent next month, adding he plans to bring back a majority of his key players.

Rasheed Wallace has been the subject of trade rumors in the week since the Cleveland Cavaliers eliminated Detroit, but Dumars does not seem anxious to deal him.

"You're talking about the guy that was our best and most consistent player in the playoffs," Dumars said. "He's probably also the guy that is the most volatile and crosses the line at times, but I have to balance that."

Posted by MS:

Isiah put the team together and then proved you couldn't win with it. Its a little worse, especially when dumars has been two championships and conference finals regularly...