Jeff

Bower

Bower works directly under head coach and president of basketball operations Stan Van Gundy in Detroit, and he was key in orchestrating the trades for Reggie Jackson and Tobias Harris, in addition to drafting Stanley Johnson.

“We couldn’t be more pleased with the job Jeff has done for our organization,” Stan Van Gundy said. “He’s been at the forefront of all the moves we’ve made over the last two seasons and has implemented much of the strategy and structure throughout our basketball operations department. The confidence I have in his ability allows me to go out and coach during the season knowing that he’s always looking to make our team better.”

“Versatility is very important. It gives a player more options and more ways to make a contribution,” Bower said. The Pistons have a clear need at the small forward position, but if Greg Monroe elects to leave as a free agent this offseason, they’ll have a hole at the power forward spot as well. Because of that, they’re looking for a guy that can fill both those roles, and Arizona’s Stanley Johnson and Wisconsin’s Sam Dekker appear to be on their radar.

Bower spent 15 years with the Hornets franchise in a variety of roles, including GM and interim head coach, so he’s no stranger to NBA front offices. He’ll handle day-to-day operations alongside Pistons coach/president Stan Van Gundy, who may not be done filling out his management team.

The Pistons are doing a complete overhaul after their first year in their new arena was a major flop. Bower received a contract extension back in 2016, but he and the team won’t see the rest of it through. The Pistons are still looking for a coach and they’re missing several pieces in their front office, as well.

It’s unclear exactly what the Pistons are looking for on the trade market, and while their most attractive asset would be Greg Monroe, Stan Van Gundy has said that he will not be traded by the deadline. We’ll continue to monitor this situation closely, but there’s not enough information right now to make any speculation about the potential fantasy implications of a trade.