Report: Maurice Cheeks Favorite For Pistons Job

The Detroit Pistons search for a head coach may be coming to a close sooner rather than later.

February 24, 2012; Orlando FL, USA; Team Chuck coach Maurice Cheeks talks to an official during the second half of the BBVA rising stars challenge at the Amway Center in Orlando. Team Chuck defeated Team Shaq 146-133. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

According to Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowksi former Philadelphia 76er point guard and current Oklahoma City Thunder assistant Maurice Cheeks has the (very) inside track to the longtime vacant head coach position in the Motor City.

"Oklahoma City Thunder assistant Mo Cheeks has emerged as the strong frontrunner to become the Detroit Pistons’ head coach, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.Discussions on a contract could begin soon, league sources said.Detroit’s ownership and management reached a consensus on Cheeks as their choice, league sources said."

It was long believed that former Portland head coach Nate McMillan was the favorite to land the Pistons job, but then Cheeks’ candidacy arose from basically nothing to something serious. His emergence as a prime target for the job can be viewed as a surprising possible hire for a team that has fallen on tough times since its championship days in 2004.

In his last six seasons as a head coach, with the Blazers and 76ers, Cheeks had not one winning season. Overall, Cheeks’ career coaching record is a mediocre 284-286 with only two winning seasons to his name: 2001-2002 and 2002-2003, his first two years as a head coach.

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