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Detroit Pistons hire former Toronto Raptors coach Dwane Casey

By Alex Butler
Former Toronto Raptors head coach Dwane Casey. File photo by John Angelillo/UPI
Former Toronto Raptors head coach Dwane Casey. File photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo

June 11 (UPI) -- Former Toronto Raptors coach Dwane Casey has agreed to become the coach of the Detroit Pistons.

Casey agreed to the new contract on Monday, according to ESPN and TNT. League sources told ESPN that Casey's pact with the Eastern Conference franchise is for five years.

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Sources told TNT analyst David Aldridge that Casey was not inclined to take the job at first, but pressure from the Pistons' front office this weekend got the deal done.

The Pistons hired senior adviser Ed Stefanski and Casey to replace former president and coach Stan Van Gundy.

Casey, 61, was named Coach of the Year by his coaching peers before being fired on May 11. He went 320-238 in seven seasons with the Raptors, after being hired in 2011. Casey served as head coach for the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2005 and 2006, but never made the playoffs during that tenure.

He owned a 21-30 postseason mark with the Raptors. His latest run ended at the hands of LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

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The Raptors won a franchise-record 59 games during the 2017-2018 season and were the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.

Detroit fired Van Gundy on May 7 after he went 152-176 in four seasons. Van Gundy led the squad to a 39-43 finish this season.

The Pistons haven't advanced to the Eastern Conference finals since the 2007-2008 season.

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