Snag in negotiations halts Johnson's deal with Pistons

Avery Johnson is not returning to the sidelines as coach of the Detroit Pistons after a deal between the two sides fell apart. The former Mavericks coach and ESPN analyst had come to terms with Pistons president Joe Dumars on general terms of a contract before a snag in negotiations Tuesday.

Dumars is still searching for his sixth coach in the 10 years he has been running the team and 27th in club history. Current NBA assistants John Kuester (Cleveland) and Tom Thibodeau (Boston) are considered the leading candidates, according to TNT's David Aldridge.

Dumars traveled to Johnson's Houston-area home Sunday to discuss the position face-to-face for the first time.

"I enjoyed meeting with the Pistons and Joe Dumars," Johnson told NBA.com on Tuesday. "We had some lengthy discussions about the head coaching position. We talked about vision short-term and long-term, and at the end in the day they were not ready to make the necessary commitment.

"I'm really comfortable working as an analyst with ESPN and ABC. Like I've always said, if there is a job opening that somebody wants to talk to me about and it's potentially the right fit, I'm willing to listen."

Finances likely played a large part in the decision by Detroit's front office to go in another direction. The Pistons are in rebuilding mode and the contract it would have taken to land Johnson -- likely in the range of four years and at least $16 million -- was considered too rich for a team not expected to contend in the next few seasons.

Dumars was hoping to make a big splash with an experienced coach instead of going back to the assistant ranks. The Pistons fired first-time coach Michael Curry after just one season on the job last week. Doug Collins, another former head coach and current TNT analyst, was also a candidate when the search began.

The Pistons are hoping to restore their place as one of the top teams in the league. Detroit has won three championships since 1989, including its most recent in 2004, and reached at least the Eastern Conference finals every year from 2003-08.

Detroit and the Magic Johnson-led Los Angeles Lakers are the only franchises to play in six straight conference finals since 1970-71, when teams had to win two series to advance that far.

Dumars has been aggressive in retooling the Pistons since firing Curry. Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva agreed to terms on the first day of free agency, but a number of roster questions need to be sorted out before training camp.

Detroit has already lost Rasheed Wallace in free agency to the rival Celtics, and won't be bringing back fellow veterans Allen Iverson and Antonio McDyess. The arrival of Gordon likely means the end of Rip Hamilton's stay in Motown. Another mainstay, Tayshaun Prince, could also be on the move.

Chauncey Billups was traded last season for Iverson in the first step to break up the core of those contending teams and create the cap space Dumars enjoyed this offseason. Johnson wanted personnel input as Dumars continues the roster makeover.

The Detroit job won't be without its challenges. Not only did the Pistons fall to eighth in the East last season and had their first losing record (39-43) since 1997-98, but the top of the East is daunting. Defending conference champion Orlando, as well title contenders Cleveland and Boston, have all made significant deals this offseason.

Johnson, dismissed by Dallas last year, wasn't going to return to coaching unless the situation was right. Johnson still has two years of compensation for approximately $8 million left from the Mavericks.

He and his family are leaving for a two-week vacation in Greece this week.

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