After four seasons of mostly mediocre results Dee Ford Jersey , the Detroit Pistons are moving on without Stan Van Gundy.

He won’t return as president of basketball operations and he isn’t staying on as Detroit’s coach, either.

Van Gundy held both those roles for four years, and at times the Pistons seemed to be making progress. But they made the playoffs only once during his tenure, in 2016, and the team announced his departure Monday. Owner Tom Gores said it was a difficult decision.

”I am grateful to Stan for everything he’s done for the Pistons and for the city of Detroit,” Gores said. ”He rebuilt the culture of our basketball team, re-instilled a winning attitude and work ethic, and took us to the playoffs two years ago. He went all-in from Day One to positively impact this franchise and this community.

”But over the past two seasons our team has not progressed, and we decided that a change is necessary to regain our momentum,” Gores said.

The Pistons went 39-43 this season, missing the playoffs for the third time in four years under Van Gundy. They’ve made the postseason just once in the past nine seasons, and even a blockbuster trade for Blake Griffin wasn’t enough to salvage 2017-18.

The Pistons went 152-176 over the past four seasons under Van Gundy, and his personnel decisions have come under more criticism than his coaching. Detroit hasn’t been able to make the most of its draft position, spending first-round picks on Stanley Johnson, Henry Ellenson and Luke Kennard.

This past season, Kennard shot over 40 percent from 3-point range, but he was taken one spot ahead of Donovan Mitchell in last year’s draft. Mitchell has blossomed into a Rookie of the Year candidate for Utah.

The trade for Griffin was a bold one for the Pistons and left them with limited flexibility. Not only did the team take on Griffin’s big contract Wayne Gallman Jersey , but Detroit also sent a protected first-round draft pick to the Los Angeles Clippers in the deal.

Gores indicated last month that changes would be coming, but it wasn’t clear if that might mean a front office shake-up or a coaching change. Now the Pistons are embarking on both.

The team’s news release Monday didn’t shed much light on the decision-making process of these past few weeks. It did say that Van Gundy wanted to return.

”Stan is a competitor and he wanted to finish the job,” Gores said. ”He retooled a roster that we think can be very competitive in the East. I know he’s disappointed, and that he cares deeply about his players, his staff, this organization and this city. He’s also a professional who will make sure this is a seamless transition, and someone I hope will be a friend and adviser to me long after this transition is completed.”

Van Gundy declined comment via text message Monday.

Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue was unaware and stunned to learn of Van Gundy’s dismissal. Lue played for Van Gundy on Orlando’s Eastern Conference title team in 2009.

”It’s just crazy to see that you let a great guy like Stan go,” Lue said before the Cavs hosted Toronto in Game 4. ”I know he’s emotional because he’s into the game, he loves the game that much. But as far as X’s and O’s, understanding different teams, different schemes, his players, he’s one of the best as far as knowing the basketball game and what it takes.”

When Van Gundy was hired, he talked about how there would be a good connection between the front office and the coaching staff – that much was obvious, since he was going to be part of both. Setups like that aren’t unheard of in the NBA – Tom Thibodeau is Minnesota’s coach and president of basketball operations – but it’s not that easy to make it work.

Atlanta coach Mike Budenholzer had the title of president of basketball operations, but he gave up that position last year. Now he’s no longer coaching the Hawks either .

Doc Rivers had dual roles with the Clippers, but last offseason Joey Bosa Jersey , Lawrence Frank took over responsibility for basketball operations while Rivers remained the coach. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich also has the title of president, but he has help from general manager R.C. Buford, a two-time NBA Executive of the Year.

A decade ago, the Pistons were one of the game’s most respected organizations after reaching the Eastern Conference finals six straight years and winning the NBA title in 2004. They sank quickly into irrelevance after that.

Detroit missed the playoffs the final five seasons of Joe Dumars’ tenure as team president, and Gores – who took over as owner in 2011 – eventually brought Van Gundy in.

The Pistons made the playoffs in Van Gundy’s second season, but they couldn’t build on that breakthrough. This past season was particularly disappointing because it may have been the most productive of center Andre Drummond’s career.

With Drummond leading the way, Detroit started 19-14 and won on the road against the likes of Golden State, Oklahoma City and Boston. Then an ankle injury to point guard Reggie Jackson derailed the season, and not even the trade for Griffin in late January was enough to push the Pistons to the playoffs in their first season at downtown Detroit’s new Little Caesars Arena.

”Would like to take a min to wish Stan the best and thank you for everything you’ve put into our team the last four years,” Drummond said Monday in a message on his Twitter account.

—

AP Sports Writer Tom Withers in Cleveland contributed to this report.

—

A new offseason workout plan has rejuvenated Pittsburgh Steelers' quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

The 36-year-old indicated that he's in the best shape of his career Thursday following the team's first training camp practice at St. Vincent College.

A leaner, trimmer Roethlisberger hopes the additional offseason work can play a part in helping the Steelers to another championship.

"Anything you can do to lighten the load on your knees and ankles, I think is important," said Roethlisberger, who worked with a personal trainer and nutritionist to cut sugar and carbohydrates from his diet to get him ready for his 15th season.

"The knees, the ankles, being lighter ... those are all positives when it comes to this age, playing football and a sport where you're pounding on your knees and you've had a couple knee surgeries."

It could be his last chance to win a championship with two-time All-Pro running back Le'Veon Bell.

Bell is away from the team after he and the Steelers failed to reach an agreement on a contract extension earlier this month C. J. Beathard Jersey , meaning he will play under the $14.5 million franchise tag for the second straight year.

Bell skipped training camp last year and signed his franchise tender less than a week before the start of the season. He is expected to follow the same plan and then play what could be his final season in Pittsburgh.

"I don't know what's going on with his agents and how this whole thing works, so I'm not sure what's going to happen," Roethlisberger said.

Nobody's sure when Bell will show up either. Until then, former Pitt star running back James Conner, rookie fifth-round pick Jaylen Samuels and veterans Stevan Ridley and Fitzgerald Toussaint will carry the load.

"Le'Veon is one of the best, if not the best in the business," Roethlisberger said. "We miss him as a teammate, but I look at it as an awesome opportunity for the other guys."

Roethlisberger, whose contract expires in the spring of 2020, is excited about the offensive line in front of him and the Steelers' skill players at running back and wide receiver, led by Bell and four-time All-Pro Antonio Brown.

"I really like where this team is at," Roethlisberger said. "If I didn't have a good feeling about this team, it probably wouldn't be as exciting, but I am excited about this group."

He led the team to a 13-3 regular season last season, which included a second straight AFC North title and third in four years. But the Steelers were upset by Jacksonville at home during the divisional round in the playoffs.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said it's reasonable to expect another big season from Roethlisberger after his renewed offseason conditioning focus.

"Regardless of position, we always say physical conditioning precedes anything else," Tomlin said. "When a guy shows up in great shape Nazair Jones Jersey , that's oftentimes a springboard for big-time play."

While Roethlisberger hopes the additional work can prolong his career, he also reiterated that he's only focused on this season.

"I think the biggest key is physical health," Roethlisberger said. "When you get done with the season, how do you feel physically? Do you feel physically able to go back another season or not? We'll address that when the season is over and that's a long ways away."

Roethlisberger established career highs in completions, attempts, completion percentage, yards and touchdowns under Todd Haley, but shared an at-times contentious relationship with the Steelers' former offensive coordinator.

This season, he will work with former quarterbacks coach Randy Fichtner, who has taken over the play-calling duties after Haley's deal wasn't renewed in January. Roethlisberger said Fichtner hasn't changed much offensively.

"He's not going to change who he is," Roethlisberger said. "He's not going to change his approach to the game and be a different person."

As long as it leads to a Super Bowl title, that's all that matters to Roethlisberger.

"If you win more than you lose, that's important, but winning those games can lead to Super Bowl opportunities, so that's always our ultimate goal," Roethlisberger said. "There's 31 other teams doing the same thing. That needs to be our singular focus."

Womens Daniel Kilgore Jersey