(My Sportsbook) - Despite winning 100 regular season games in two seasons and going deep in the playoffs this time around, head coach Rick Carlisle was fired by the Detroit Pistons. Detroit reached the second round of the playoffs for the first time in 11 years in '02. This past season, the Pistons were the top seed in the Eastern Conference after another 50-32 season, but were swept out of the playoffs by the New Jersey Nets. One hundred wins, Coach of the Year honors and an appearance in the conference finals with a dismal offensive team -- not bad for two years worth of work.

Reliable sources have confirmed that Carlisle did not kick Joe Dumars' dog, so one has to believe that the firing came from the top. There were rumblings about communication problems between Carlisle and managing partner William Davidson.

Carlisle's fate was sealed by the resignation of Larry Brown in Philadelphia. With Brown available, the Pistons parted with Carlisle with a great safety net in place. Just days later, Brown was introduced as the new head coach.

Brown enters his new job with three draft picks, including the second overall selection. With LeBron James almost certainly headed for Cleveland, the Pistons will select Darko Milicic, a center from Serbia. The seven-foot Euro star will team up with Ben Wallace to give the Pistons an even more formidable frontcourt.

Starting Lineup: C-Cliff Robinson, PF-Ben Wallace, SF-Michael Curry, SG-Rip Hamilton, PG-Chauncey Billups.

Bench: F-Corliss Williamson, F-Mehmet Okur, C-Zeljko Rebraca, G-Jon Barry, G/F-Tayshaun Prince.

Team Needs: Center, overall depth.

Draft Selections: 1st round (2nd and 25th overall) 2nd round (53rd and 58th overall).