Flip Saunders named Pistons head coach.

[BaseballFanatic]

CBS

The Detroit Pistons are expected to name Flip Saunders as their new head coach at 12 o'clock on Thursday.

The Detroit News reports the two sides are set to agree to a four-year contract worth between $4 million and $5 million US per season. Saunders will replace Larry Brown, who was relieved of his duties by the club on Tuesday.

Saunders, who was considered the top choice to replace Brown, was fired by the Minnesota Timberwolves in February after almost 10 years of service.

Saunders went 411-326 with the T-Wolves and had great success during the regular season, but not in the post-season. His teams only made it past the first round of the playoffs once.

Known as a players' coach and one that stresses defence, Saunders helped guide the Timberwolves to a franchise-best and league-best 58-24 mark in 2003-04. Minnesota advanced all the way to the Western Conference finals before losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in six games.

However, last year was a different story for a club with high expectations coming into the season. The Timberwolves got off to a disappointing 25-26 start to the campaign, prompting the firing of Saunders.

The T-Wolves finished the season with a 44-38 mark and missed the playoffs.

In two seasons with the Pistons, Brown guided Detroit to the NBA championship in 2004 and lost the finals in seven games to San Antonio this past season.

The 64-year-old Brown signed a five-year, $25 million contract with the Pistons two seasons ago.

Brown reached a settlement Tuesday with the Pistons on the final three years of his contract and is free to pursue a job elsewhere.

Details of the so-called buyout were not disclosed.

Brown's health was also a primary concern as he missed several games, reportedly because of urinary discomfort related to hip surgery performed last November.

Brown is a proven winner, having compiled a 987-741 record in 22 NBA seasons with the Denver Nuggets, New Jersey Nets, Spurs, Los Angeles Clippers, Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers and Pistons.

He also spent four seasons in the ABA, going 229-107 (.682) as head coach of the Carolina Cougars and Nuggets.

Brown is the only head coach to capture championships at both the NBA and NCAA levels, with Detroit (2004) and Kansas (1998), respectively.

He was named coach of the year three times in the ABA (1973, 1975-76) and once more in the NBA (2001), then inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2002.

[ATLien]

No surprise here. IMO, they are 3rd best team in the East next year.

[Porter]

No Surprise, but they are still the best team in the East until someone beats them.

[awefullspellare]

That division will be crazy next year. Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't Cleveland, Indy, Milwuakee, Chicago and Detroit all in the same division? That would be fricking nuts.