NBA: Phil Jackson to aid in Pistons' coach search

Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores has brought in legendary NBA mentor Phil Jackson, to help with his team's search for a new head coach, following the firing of Lawrence Frank last April.

In an article on the Pistons' website, Gores is quoted as saying, "Phil Jackson is a friend and one of the best minds in the business.

"We are thrilled to have him as an adviser as we make some very important decisions for this franchise. Joe [Dumars, Pistons president of basketball operations] and I discussed this and he and I are in full agreement that this is a great opportunity."

The piece however makes it clear that Jackson would not be a candidate for the head coach position, nor is he assuming a full-time role with the squad, as this is purely an advisory role.

"Phil Jackson and Tom Gores are friends," Mark Barnhill, one of Gores' business partners in the California-based private equity firm Platinum Equity, said in the article. “Based on that relationship, Phil has agreed to provide advice and counsel on the coaching search and immediate basketball needs. He will be in Detroit next week as a resource to Joe Dumars, who is leading the search.

“Phil’s role is to advise Joe, Tom and the ownership team, not to assume a formal position inside the Pistons organization,” Barnhill stressed.

[Related: Detroit Pistons fire head coach Lawrence Frank]

The Pistons had fired this year's mentor, Lawrence Frank, in April, after a 29-53 season, that saw his two-season record with the Pistons settle at 54-94.

Jackson is reportedly interested in a front-office position with an NBA franchise, as opposed to getting back to coaching, and has been linked to a position with the Toronto Raptors. - AMD, GMA News