DETROIT -- The Detroit Pistons, who hired Stan Van Gundy as their coach and team president last month, announced Tuesday that Jeff Bower is the team's new general manager.
"I'm pleased to welcome Jeff Bower to the Detroit Pistons organization," Van Gundy said. "Jeff brings great basketball knowledge and NBA experience to our organization and he's enjoyed success in building teams. He's a great evaluator of talent, and Jeff will bring solid leadership to our front office."
Bower was the coach at Marist College last season, but he resigned that position Monday. He spent 14 years with the Hornets franchise in Charlotte and New Orleans, including serving as the team's general manager in 2002-03 and again from 2005-10.
Bower is best known for building a talented, young roster while the team was exiled to Oklahoma City for two seasons after Hurricane Katrina. He traded Baron Davis and built the roster around his first draft pick, Chris Paul, in his second stint as general manager.
By surrounding Paul with players like Peja Stojakovic, David West and Tyson Chandler, Bower had the team ready to win a division title when they returned to New Orleans in 2007.
As Pistons GM, Bower is expected to handle the day-to-day functions of the front office, leaving Van Gundy free to coach the team and make roster decisions.
"I'm excited to join the Pistons organization and play a role in helping this franchise build on its great basketball tradition," Bower said. "I look forward to working with Stan, his staff and everyone in the Pistons organization to put together a team that the community can support and be proud of.
"I'm also excited about ownership's commitment to winning and their demonstrated commitment to the community."
Given Bower's strong performance building the Hornets, it's likely that he will be Van Gundy's top advisor on roster moves, while also supervising the scouting and video departments and working with the team's salary-cap experts.
