When Stan Van Gundy signed a five-year deal with the Detroit Pistons to be the team’s head coach and president of basketball operations, he brought on former Hornets executive Jeff Bower to assist him with the day-to-day duties of the latter job. Thus far, it’s been a successful partnership, and The Vertical‘s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that the team has agreed to a contract extension with Bower:
The Van Gundy-Bower regime has had a solid first two seasons, getting the Pistons back into the playoffs for the first time since 2009 and making successful moves like trading for Reggie Jackson last season and Tobias Harris this season. The coach-as-president structure has had mixed results other places (see: Doc Rivers with the Clippers), but the way the Pistons have it set up makes sense. Bower and his staff handle day-to-day scouting duties and hold discussions with other teams about trades, and Van Gundy’s president title gives him final say over moves. It’s a model that Tom Thibodeau is copying in his new role in Minnesota, with GM Scott Layden handling the daily front-office responsibilities.
Detroit Pistons general manager Jeff Bower has reached agreement on a multiyear contract extension, league sources told The Vertical.
Bower, who works under president and coach Stan Van Gundy, was entering the final season of his original three-year deal, league sources said.
Van Gundy signed a five-year, $35 million contract in 2014.
The Van Gundy-Bower regime has had a solid first two seasons, getting the Pistons back into the playoffs for the first time since 2009 and making successful moves like trading for Reggie Jackson last season and Tobias Harris this season. The coach-as-president structure has had mixed results other places (see: Doc Rivers with the Clippers), but the way the Pistons have it set up makes sense. Bower and his staff handle day-to-day scouting duties and hold discussions with other teams about trades, and Van Gundy’s president title gives him final say over moves. It’s a model that Tom Thibodeau is copying in his new role in Minnesota, with GM Scott Layden handling the daily front-office responsibilities.