If you missed the Joe Dumars press conference this afternoon the video is up at Pistons.com.

WDFN just reported Flip Saunders is gone. Matt Dery reposts that The Pistons will buy Saunders out of his last year. There will be a press conference at 2 PM. All the Flip haters can rejoice.

Listen in Live for details from WDFN now.

From the sounds of things, it could be Michael Curry.

Pistons.com

“Detroit Pistons President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars announced today that Flip Saunders will not return next season as the team’s head coach.

“Decisions like this are difficult to make, especially with the success we have had throughout the last three regular-seasons,” Dumars said.” However, at this time, I feel it is necessary to make a change. I thank Flip for his hard work and dedication, but it is time for a new voice to lead our team.”

Saunders, who was named head coach on July 21, 2005, tallied a regular-season record of 176-70 in three seasons with the Pistons. In three trips to the NBA Playoffs under Saunders the Pistons were 30-21, losing in the Eastern Conference Finals each year.

Chris McCosky:
“Apparently, Pistons owner Bill Davidson has seen enough of the Flip Saunders era.

The Pistons fired Saunders on Tuesday after three seasons in which he compiled the highest winning percentage (.715) in franchise history. Saunders had one year remaining on his contract, for which he will be paid $5.4 million.”

Yesterday Chris McCosky of the Detroit News reported that Flip would be back next season.

“Saunders met briefly with Pistons president Joe Dumars on Saturday and all indications are that he was told he will be back. Understand that with the Pistons, a coach’s job security can change in an instant, but as of today, the plan is for Saunders to finish out the final year of his contract. He’s already working on next season. He will supervise a workout of draft candidates at the practice facility Wednesday.”

Today Krista Jahnke from The Free Press reports that Dumars and Saunders haven’t spoken yet.

“A person with knowledge of the situation said president Joe Dumars has not sat down with Saunders yet to discuss the past season, which ended last week to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals.

Nor has Dumars met with owner Bill Davidson, who will undoubtedly have his say in Saunders’ future.

The person said a meeting between Dumars and Davidson will take place “really soon,” and after that, questions about Saunders’ future should be cleared up. The person stressed that Saunders has not yet been given any assurance he’ll be back.”

I really can’t blame Saunders on Detroit’s playoff woes this season, he did an admirable job making adjustments and using his bench better. Although if I don’t think if Joe Dumars wasn’t pulling the strings behind the scenes the bench wouldn’t have developed the way it did this season.

Last season I thought if Flip stayed Sheed would go and vise versa. Maybe that holds true this season. Sheed is in his final year of his contract, will be 34 next season, and may have worn out his welcome in Detroit. Plus if Dumars is going to get anything in return now is the time.

My gut feeling is that they both will be gone.

No matter what is reported things aren’t really certain until Saunders gets an extension or is let go.

Stoney and Wojo talked to Jason Maxiell on Thursday. The audio is on their Podcast Page of WDFN’s site as well as the direct link to the interview. They also spoke to Detroit News Pistons beat reporter Chiris McCosky, again the podcast it up on their page as well as a direct link to the audio.
Sean Baligian got a special call from Flip Saunders during his show. You can listen to Sean’s conversation with Flip on his Podcast page as well as this direct link.

Quality podcasts to listen to as we still wait to see who the Pistons will play on Tuesday. The vote was pretty even for quite some time but it looks like you want to see The Pistons play The Cavs.

Flip Saunders is being interviewed on WDFN’s Stoney and Wojo Show. It’s up on the Podcast Page of WDFN’s site as well as the direct link. Don’t miss it, he talks Chauncey.

If you hadn’t noticed yet Need4Sheed is all about WDFN 1130 AM The Home of your Detroit Pistons. Not only am I a fan of The Fan, but come to find out they are a fan of Need4Sheed. So much so that they added the site to their Pistons page. So instead of just repping the station on game night for you, I have added a link in the sidebar for easy access to the site.

I’ll be making sure I post all relevant Pistons goodies from WDFN on Need4Sheed. Today Stoney and Wojo interviewed Flip Saunders today and touched on something I took notice of at the game Wednesday night and that was the little argument Rip and Flip seemed to have when Saunders pulled Hamilton out of the game after his technical foul.

The Podcast is located on S&W WDFN Podcast page and this is the direct link.

Good stuff as always from WDFN.