NBA rumors: Pistons looking to steal away key Mavericks exec

The Detroit Pistons are actively seeking to expand their front office personnel during this offseason. Recent reports suggest that they have expressed interest in bringing on Dennis Lindsey, currently a senior adviser with the Dallas Mavericks, as part of their front office team. This information comes from NBA insider Marc Stein.

Lindsey was previously considered a top contender for the role of President of Basketball Operations with the Pistons. He went through the interview process with team owner Tom Gores for the position, but the Pistons ultimately opted to hire Trajan Langdon instead. Despite this decision, the Pistons are continuing their efforts to entice Lindsey away from the Mavericks.

The Dallas Mavericks recently extended the contract of their General Manager, Nico Harrison. Lindsey, seeking a more prominent role in a front office, may see an opportunity to contribute significantly in a team like Detroit.

Before joining the Mavericks, Lindsey spent ten years in the front office of the Utah Jazz. He later stepped down from his position after the hiring of Danny Ainge as the team’s leader.

Lindsey has a strong track record of helping build competitive playoff-worthy rosters. Under his tenure, the Utah Jazz consistently reached the playoffs, featuring stars like Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, who achieved the Defensive Player of the Year award multiple times. Lindsey was adept at complementing these foundational talents with players like Jordan Clarkson, Mike Conley, Bojan Bogdanovic, and Joe Ingles.

In 2015, Lindsey faced controversy following allegations made by former Jazz guard Elijah Millsap. Millsap claimed that Lindsey made inappropriate remarks during an exit interview, which Lindsey denied. No evidence was provided to substantiate the allegation after it surfaced in 2021.

Pistons coaching evaluation

Stein also mentioned that Langdon is currently assessing head coach Monty Williams and his coaching staff. Williams had an underwhelming start in Detroit, guiding the Pistons to their worst-ever NBA and franchise record of 14-68 in the 2023-24 season. The initial hope was that Williams would aid in the development of Detroit’s young talent and instill a culture of winning.

Williams faced criticism for a number of questionable decisions that contributed to the team’s struggles. One such decision was starting Killian Hayes over Jaden Ivey for a significant portion of the season. Questions were also raised about his substitution patterns, often opting for entirely bench lineups without staggering minutes for the starters.

Although Williams had to work with a very inexperienced roster, his coaching decisions didn’t always help the situation. For instance, benching a player like Marvin Bagley, who was performing well on both ends of the court, in favor of Isaiah Livers and James Wiseman seemed peculiar.

Last offseason, Williams signed a six-year, $80 million contract to lead the Pistons, making him the highest-paid coach in the NBA. However, Langdon is now evaluating the coaching staff and considering their future with the Pistons.