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Pistons GM search: Colangelo still frontrunner but team may want to groom Billups

Raj Mehta / USA Today Sports

The Detroit Pistons have kept their search for a new general manager relatively quiet so far, which has led to plenty of names being thrown out as possible successors.

Word out of Milwaukee, by way of the Racine Journal Times, is that Bucks general manager John Hammond is a candidate for the opening, having worked in Detroit before moving on to Milwaukee.

However, Hammond has company:

There are a number of individuals keenly interested in becoming the new Detroit Pistons general manager, although I keep hearing former Toronto GM Bryan Colangelo and Boston assistant general manager Mike Zarren are at the front of the pack.

There has also been some chatter about the Pistons possibly bringing in an experienced GM and having him groom Chauncey Billups, the former Pistons star guard.

Bryan Colangelo is an interesting name because of how he left the league, as somewhat of a punchline in Toronto. However, the Raptors made a playoff run that a starting five entirely comprised of "Colangelo guys," though his acquisition of Rudy Gay and extension of Andrea Bargnani will surely scream Dumars redux to Pistons fans.

Mike Zaren is incredibly well-respected around the league and it seems only a matter of time before he's given the reigns to a team.

Chauncey Billups is maybe the most interesting name mentioned. The 37-year-old will likely have his $2.5 million team option declined for next season and is an obvious candidate for retirement. He's often spoken of highly for his basketball IQ, though, and many see him as an eventual coach or executive. He also spent eight of his 17 NBA seasons in Detroit, so he's familiar with the organization.

The issue there would be who guides Billups as he learns the ropes, something big-name candidates may not be willing to do.

Whoever takes over is walking into a mess, but one that is salvageable - there are bad contracts on the books and Greg Monroe is a restricted free agent, but the team also has Andre Drummond as a building block and cap space this summer.

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