Can Jeff Bower help fix Detroit Pistons?

The Pistons are close to locking up former Marist College coach Jeff Bower as their next General Manager, via ESPN.com. The Pistons keep rolling on what has been a busy offseason in terms of staffing. They hired Stan Van Gundy just last month, now Van Gundy is hiring Bower.

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When Bower left Marist College, athletic director Tim Murray said in a statement that Bower was leaving for “a very specific and compelling NBA opportunity.”

So it comes as little surprise that Jeff Bower has made his return to the NBA. He has GM experience with the New Orleans Hornets. He served 2002-2003 and 2005-2010. He was also the Hornets interim coach during the 2009 season after Byron Scott was fired. His record as a coach for the Hornets was 34-39 and with Marist College he managed a 12-19 record.

Van Gundy had also reportedly been considering former NBA President of Basketball Operations Stu Jackson and his former GM in Orlando, Otis Smith.

Bower is a strong leader and has experience manage small market teams in New Orleans. He did, however, run into spending limitations in 2008, which broke up a strong roster that featured Chris Paul and David West. The hire makes sense to the degree that Bower has experience. He should learn from any mistakes in New Orleans and bring a fresh perspective to Detroit — in theory.