Dumars Named Pistons VP

Joe Dumars wasn't ready to leave the Detroit Pistons after all.

Dumars, who recently retired as an active player after 14 years in the NBA all with Detroit joined the club's front office staff Tuesday as vice president of player personnel.

Dumars will result Rick Sund, the Pistons' executive vice president and general manager. Together, they will deal with free agent recruiting and acquisition, player trades and the NBA draft.

Â"I'm not after the GM's job,Â" Dumars said. Â"I would always want to work with somebody else. That's why having Rick is perfect for me.Â"

Dumars also has no interest in becoming a coach.

Â"Never,Â" he said emphatically. Â"Coaching doesn't appeal to me, and never has.Â"

Sund, who joined the organization in 1995 at the urging of then-coach Doug Collins, will continue to oversee the scouting department and all administrative aspects of the team.

Â"I've always had a good relationship with Rick,Â" Dumars said, smiling. Â"I remind him every day that he didn't draft me when he was in Dallas (in 1985).Â"

Sund will have final say in everything, said Tom Wilson, the team's president.

Â"Joe is very comfortable with that,Â" Wilson said. Â"In fact, he wanted it that way. There was no jealousy on the part of either Rick or Joe. This is what they both wanted.

Â"If you look around the NBA, a lot of teams are going to a two-man setup just like this.Â"

Dumars, who has business interests outside of basketball, said his only hesitation in taking the job was making sure he could find the time to do it right.

Â"Busy people seem to find ways,Â" Dumars said. Â"I'm sure I can make everything fit.Â"

It's a big job, and the first year could be daunting.

The Pistons, who already were thin in the backcourt even before Dumars retired, have no first-round draft pick, and no room under the NBA's salary cap.

Â"It's a tough situation to come in under,Â" Dumars said. Â"You can't script it. But, I believe that we can still get it done.Â"

Dumars, 36, played 38 games during the lockout-shortened 1999 season, helping the Pistons into the Eastern Conference playoffs for the third time in four years.

Â"Over the years, you build up an affinity for the organization you've played for,Â" Dumars said. Â"Pride is a factor.Â"

His 14 years in Detroit gave him more tenure than any other player in Pistons history and his 1,018 regular season games played rank him first on the team's career list.

He was a key in the Pistons' NBA championships in 1989 and 1990, and earned the Most Valuable Player Award in the 1989 finals.

Dumars played in six All-Star games. He was All-NBA Second Team once and All-NBA Third Team twice.

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