Goal is the same, method isn't for Brown, Dumars

Both are driven to succeed, but coach's impatience tempered by Piston president's big-picture thinking.

By Chris McCosky / The Detroit News


Clarence Tabb, Jr. / The Detroit News

Would the Pistons trade Darko Milicic to acquire a big man who might have a more immediate impact?


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AUBURN HILLS -- What a pair, these two -- Larry Brown and Joe Dumars. Their relationship is a classic study of two respected basketball men who, despite contrasting personalities and conflicting methods, are brought together by mutual admiration and the quest for success.

But their daily existence at times can resemble a tug-of-war. And, before the end of the season, second-year center Darko Milicic might be the rope upon which the two are tugging.

We'll get to that in a minute.

Brown, whose impatience is legendary, worries mostly about the short term. What coach doesn't?

When he was in Philadelphia, and had control over personnel decisions, it was said he would trade a player one day and want to reacquire him the next.

It's no secret that as the Pistons struggled through the early part of last season, Brown was imploring Dumars to trade half the team.

Fortunately for the Pistons, Dumars' patience is as legendary and steadfast as Brown's impatience.

"That's natural, to a certain extent," said John Hammond, who as vice president of basketball has had to mediate between President Dumars and Coach Brown on many occasions. "From a front-office standpoint, we're trying to put the best team possible on the floor, but we still have to do what's right for the future. Those are Joe's two thoughts, first and foremost."

Hammond believes that Brown has the same goals, at least until the team starts losing a few games.

"We are in such a reactive business," he said. "And that's probably where the real difference lies between them. After a loss or two, after an injury or two, as a coach, you have a tendency to be more reactive.

"Maybe on our side, we tend to be more analytical and can evaluate more openly and honestly."

Dumars and Brown talk daily. Sometimes they just chat. Often, though, Brown offers ideas on how to shape the roster. Earlier this season, after he and assistant coach Phil Ford spoke with Vince Carter's mother, they approached Dumars about the feasibility of acquiring Carter.

Dumars politely shot that one down. But he has never discouraged Brown's input.

"Only because Larry is a very bright basketball person," Hammond said. "He knows this league, he knows players and he's got a great eye for talent. He is great with us talking about NBA players. He's unbelievable talking with (director of player personnel) Scott Perry about college players. He's an addict to this game. He sits and watches everything. He'll pull (director of scouting) George David aside and ask about a certain NBDL (development league) player.

"It's amazing how on top of things he is."

Brown this season has been after Dumars to upgrade the bench with another point guard and perhaps another small forward -- someone who can change the pace of the game.

Dumars, who has ultimate control over all personnel matters, appreciates and respects Brown's input -- and in fact has a deal on the table to acquire guard Frank Williams from Chicago. But at the same time, he won't rush to judgment 23 games into a season.

"Joe as a player was a man of great patience, and doing this job, he's still a man of great patience," Hammond said. "He makes moves when he's sure the move is right and the timing is right. I've never seen him do something off of an emotional reaction."

If Brown had his druthers, Eric Snow would be a Piston right now. Snow, who met with Brown for nearly 30 minutes before the Cavaliers played the Pistons last Thursday, is one of Brown's favorite players -- his ideal point guard in many ways.

But Snow, 31, has four years and some $26 million left on his contract. If Dumars were to acquire Snow, it would completely negate the trading away of Corliss Williamson last summer.

Dumars did that deal, as much as he hated to lose Williamson, to clear salary for Tayshaun Prince and Ben Wallace, whose contracts expire in the next two years.

Brown, understandably, is not as worried about the future as Dumars is. He would rather cross that bridge when, or if, he gets to it. Dumars can't afford to think that way. He would be run out of town if, somehow, the acquisition of an Eric Snow (or keeping Williamson) led to the departure of Prince or Wallace.

"But as a coach, it's such a natural thing to wonder and worry on a day-to-day basis," Hammond said. "If a player like Carlos Delfino is injured and out for an extended period of time, it's natural for a coach to say, 'What am I going to do?' That's not unfair or abnormal for Larry to do that."

Last year, Brown got his wish -- to an extent. He pushed hard for Dumars to acquire Rasheed Wallace. But, Brown qualified his request. He wanted Dumars to acquire Wallace without breaking up the core of the team.

Somehow, Dumars was able to pull that off. But it would be foolish to expect him to pull a similar rabbit out of his hat this season.

Which brings us to Milicic.

Should the Pistons continue to scuffle along, should they be hovering at or near .500 as we roll into February, Dumars is going to feel pressure, and not only from Brown, to make another big move. Again, he is going to want to make it without breaking up the core of the team.

So, look down the bench, what does he have as potential trade bait?

The answer -- Darko Milicic.

Tough, tough call there. Milicic represents the future for the Pistons. The hope is that in three years he will be ready to step in and, if not replace one of the two Wallaces, at least be the third big man in the rotation.

You don't want to make the same mistake Portland did, giving up on Jermaine O'Neal too soon and having him make another team a championship contender.

Brown, though, will look at that differently. He will point to Ben Wallace (still in his prime), Rasheed Wallace (in the first of a five-year deal) and Antonio McDyess (in the first of a four-year deal) and say Milicic is expendable. If he can help lure another productive piece to this year's puzzle, one that might push the team over the hump, then you have to do it.

"In regards to something like that, Joe has proven that he will do anything that he thinks will make our team better," Hammond said. "He has made difficult trades. He's not afraid to make tough trades. He'll make them. But he wants them to be for the right reasons and at the right time."

Meanwhile, the tug of war continues.

http://www.detnews.com/2004/pistons/0412/20/F04-37067.htm

would you give up sweet for him ?

IT is hard to evaluate Darko as we are not privy to watching him practice, but I think darko would likely last longer than Brown at Detroit. Larry likely to bolt and retire than stay 5 years. There is nothing special about that statment!

I would trade Sweets for darko in a heartbeat. Nothing against sweets at all, its just that Darko can be a monster one day.

It would take more than sweets!

What can we give Detroit that would help them NOW! They only do this tradeif they think they can win it again. THey need a tippy top Timmy, but what other contract can we take from them? Whats our biggest asset? Financial relief! So TT and Sweets for Darko and ?????

okur wouldnt have resigned with detroit. LB didn't like his game and put him in his doghouse. players usually remember that kind of things, and more often than not pay the team back by bolting somewhere else.

darko is broken by the lack of playing time. his confidence is really shake, you can see that. i personnaly saw him play during pro GAMES, not preseason stuffs, and that guy could flat play.

i would trade sweet to get him. (though i like sweet a lot, but heck, you can't teach height).

I'll bring the usual knick fan magic wand : " imagine what mark aguire could make of darko"...

I haven't seen practically anything from him. Is he good enough of a prospect with a lot of potential to trade someone like Sweetney?

If we can get him without trading our youngsters, do it. Who knows if he does become a great thing after all...

I've moved on from Maciej. Sweets has proven to be the right choice to keep from that draft. And now, we have Ariza, so we would have no need for Lampe to play some SF. Unless he is strong enough to play C, I would pass.

real glad Zeke put lampe in the trade instead of sweets, they were both rookies at the time.