AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Dave Cowens joined the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday as an assistant coach, leaving his job as coach and general manager of the WNBA's Chicago Sky.
A Hall of Fame center with the Boston Celtics in the 1970s, Cowens' last NBA coaching job was with the Golden State Warriors from 2000-02.
"We are pleased to add Dave Cowens to our coaching staff," said Joe Dumars, Pistons president of basketball operations. "His experience as a Hall of Fame player and head coach in this league will be an asset for our team."
The Sky said they have begun a search for Cowens' successor.
HEAT WAIVE ANDERSON: The Miami Heat waived veteran reserve guard Derek Anderson Tuesday, meaning the defending NBA champions will not be bringing their entire roster from last season into this year's camp. Anderson came to the Heat on Feb. 23 and appeared in 23 regular-season games, averaging 5.8 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists. He also played in eight playoff games, averaging 3.0 points, and did not see any time during the NBA finals.
SHOCK FANS CELEBRATE: The Detroit Shock feel right at home in downtown Detroit. Three days after winning the WNBA championship in front of more than 19,000 at Joe Louis Arena, the team was honored at a rally in front of the Spirit of Detroit statue. A couple of hundred fans braved rain Tuesday to join Gov. Jennifer Granholm, Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and his mother, U.S. Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick and members of the Detroit City Council at the event.
KUKOC LIKELY TO RETIRE: NBA veteran Toni Kukoc is likely to retire after failing to interest the Milwaukee Bucks or Chicago Bulls in signing him. "It looks like I'm done," Kukoc said told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Monday after playing in a charity golf tournament. "There are teams that want me, but I don't want to go far from home." Kukoc, who has played 13 seasons in the NBA, lives in Highland Park, Ill., and the Bulls and Bucks are the two closest teams.