Bucks hire a general manager

MILWAUKEE, April 11 (UPI) -- Reports Friday said Detroit Pistons' Vice President of Basketball Operations John Hammond will be the next general manager of the Milwaukee Bucks.

ESPN, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel and the Detroit Free Press all reported that Hammond has been chosen to succeed Larry Harris, who left the post in March after five years when he was told he would not be retained after his contract expired in June.

Hammond was in his second stint with the Pistons.

He was scouting director and assistant coach under Doug Collins and Alvin Gentry from 1994-99, an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Clippers, and spent 11 years as a college assistant at Nebraska, Southwest Missouri State and Houston Baptist.

ESPN said the Bucks could announce the hiring as early as Monday.

Hammond worked closely with Detroit President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars and was part of seven straight 50-plus victory seasons and five straight Eastern Conference finals with the Pistons.