Maurice

Cheeks

Cheeks, who spent the last four seasons as an assistant in Oklahoma City, has a 284-286 record in eight seasons as an NBA coach (with the Trail Blazers and 76ers). Pistons owner Tom Gores praised his “leadership and player development qualities,” and Cheeks has a nice young core to develop with Greg Monroe, Andre Drummond and Brandon Knight. He’ll get a three-year deal with a team option for a fourth season.

According to the report, discussions on a new contract could begin soon, and Detroit’s ownership and management have reached a “consensus” on Cheeks as their next head coach. He edges out Nate McMillan, and in all likelihood will leave Scott Brooks’ staff in OKC to become a head coach in the NBA again.

Cheeks ran into Jonas Jerebko and Kim English at the team’s practice facility after his introductory news conference. Cheeks scolded Jerebko for shooting around in sandals, telling him, “When you’re in (the gym), you’ve got to put in work.” According to English, Cheeks has also passed a rule that anyone in the team facility must be wearing Pistons gear. “There should be a sense of pride putting on those Detroit letters every time you take the court. That was the extent of (the conversation), every time you’re on the court, come to work and be in Detroit stuff,” English said of what Cheeks told him. It doesn’t sound like a lot, but little things like that can go a long away to changing the atmosphere and mindset around a team.

Cheeks was never arrested and cooperated with police throughout the ordeal. This news solidifies earlier reports of Cheeks’ innocence and his focus should now be fully geared towards the new squad in Detroit.

Bibby was an assistant coach for Cheeks back in 2006, but has been with the Grizzlies since 2009 with Lionel Hollins. His son, Mike Bibby, has also been rumored to be interested in coaching and wants to play one more year in the NBA.

That’s all we know and it sounds like Cheeks managed to avoid the trouble and embarrassment that come along with being arrested. More details may come to light eventually, but it sounds he’s in the clear as NBA teams get back into a groove and start prepping for training camp.

There’s no word exactly what changes Cheeks might have in mind, or when he might implement them, but this isn’t a surprise on the heels of the Pistons’ fourth loss in five games. Rookie Kentavious Caldwell-Pope seems like the most obvious candidate to be benched, but owners should keep an eye out for details of Cheeks’ plans.

Great news. Cheeks had a medical episode on an airplane on Wednesday, but there still are no details on his ailment. Hopefully, he and his family are doing well.

He is in “good sprits” and is resting as he awaits test results at a Philadelphia hospital. The 60-year-old Thunder assistant had hip surgery in February 2016 and was away from the team for a month last season, but there’s no word if this is related. He’s been one of the better coaches in the NBA and his moment during a national anthem in Portland was one of the greatest pre-game moments ever.

Cheeks served as an assistant under Scott Brooks from 2009-13, so this would actually be his second go-around with the team. Expect Donovan to continue to target assistants with NBA experience as he enters his first year in the league.