Kuester Fired: Dont Let the Door Hit You....Chump

In news that shouldn't surprise anyone, the Pistons have reportedly fired head coach John Kuester. With the franchise's sale to Tom Gores expected to become official this week, the team has decided to start the roster's rebuilding now.

With a lockout pending July 1, the Pistons have about a month to make as many moves as they can, the first of which being a coaching change. The team will also conduct its selection in the upcoming 2011 NBA Draft being held June 23. Reports have surfaced that Detroit could package its No. 8 first-round pick to the Cleveland Cavaliers, who would also absorb the contract of Rip Hamilton via a trade exception.

Kuester is already being linked to the L.A. Lakers, who could hire him as an assistant under newly-named head coach Mike Brown. The Pistons, meanwhile, are believed to be interested in both Mike Woodson and Bill Laimbeer. Woodson and Kuester both served as assistants in Detroit under Larry Brown during the 2003-04 season. Laimbeer has no NBA head coaching experience but has served as an assistant with the Minnesota Timberwolves the past two years after coaching Detroit's former WNBA franchise, the Shock.