Pistons to Interview Pelicans Assistant Jarron Collins for Coaching Job

The Pistons have been granted permission to interview Pelicans assistant Jarron Collins for their head-coaching vacancy, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Collins, 44, spent 10 years in the NBA as a center with the Jazz, Suns, Clippers and Trail Blazers from 2001-11. He was an assistant with Steve Kerr and the Warriors from 2014-21, working under Willie Green with the Pelicans since.

The Pistons have also been linked to Bucks assistant Charles Lee and former UConn coach Kevin Ollie. Also said to be considered are Vanderbilt coach Jerry Stackhouse, former Celtics coach Ime Udoka, Heat assistant Chris Quinn and Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin. 

Detroit is looking to replace Dwane Casey, who moved into a role with the front office.

Pistons GM Troy Weaver and the front office are expected to start the interview process this week.

“I think it’s my job to know what the team needs,” Weaver said, via James L. Edwards III of The Athletic. “A lot of time you’ll see, more often than not, people go the opposite way. If you had an offensive coach, you want a defensive coach. If you had a defensive coach, you want an offensive coach. You had an older guy, you want a younger guy. The right guy is the right guy. It doesn’t matter what he’s known for. The right guy is the right guy, and we’ll vet that out. Hopefully, we’ll get that going in the right direction soon.”

The Pistons have received permission from New Orleans to interview Pelicans assistant Jarron Collins for their head coaching job, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Detroit is expected to begin interviews this week. Collins was a three-time championship assistant with Warriors.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 17, 2023