The Detroit Pistons and head coach Flip Saunders have parted ways. Saunders, who has 1-year left on a 4-year contract he signed in 2005, is owed $5.4M by the Pistons and will collect that money as long as he doesn't find an NBA job that exceeds that amount before the end of next season.

With coaching vacancies in Phoenix and Detroit, things will get very interesting indeed. Former Trail Blazers great Terry Porter could be in line for the Detroit job or the Phoenix job. Porter, who spent one season as the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, has already interviewed twice with Suns GM and former Spurs teammate Steve Kerr about the Phoenix job.

Michael Curry, a Pistons assistant and former NBA player, also has been mentioned in connection with the Pistons job. You'd have to think that the Pistons may turn to Curry or Porter as an inexpensive option since owner Bill Davidson will be paying Saunders $5.4M this season. Maybe Pistons GM Joe Dumars gives Curry or Porter a shot at the job and then if things don't work out, once Saunders contract has expired, the Pistons can hire a more expensive, high profile coach.

Former Mavericks coach Avery Johnson could also be tapped for the Pistons vacancy.

And don't rule out the Pistons putting Rasheed Wallace on the trading block this summer. His antics may have finally worn thin with teammates like Rip Hamilton and if Joe Dumars can get something of quality in return for the talented, but emotional star, he may move Sheed. I think Sheed would fit in very well with a veteran team trying to get over the hump (Phoenix), but I don't think he's a guy you want around a young team (like the Trail Blazers).