Sources: Pistons fire Maurice Cheeks
— -- The Detroit Pistons have fired Maurice Cheeks just 50 games into his tenure as the team's head coach, multiple sources confirmed to ESPN.
One of the Pistons' primary targets to replace Cheeks is former Memphis Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins, sources with knowledge of the situation told ESPN.com's Marc Stein.
Hollins coached Memphis to playoff appearances in each of the last three seasons and a berth in the Western Conference finals last year, but the Grizzlies opted not to renew his contract this past offseason.
The timing of Cheeks' firing was partly due to the fact that Hollins currently is not employed by an NBA team, sources told Stein.
If the Pistons decide that they want to focus their efforts on hiring Hollins, they will have the opportunity to pursue him unopposed. After parting ways with Memphis last June, Hollins turned down an offer from Detroit to serve as an assistant to Cheeks.
Yahoo! Sports reported earlier Sunday that Cheeks was fired.
The Pistons went 21-29 under Cheeks, who previously had head-coaching stints with the Portland Trail Blazers and Philadelphia 76ers.
Despite a new-look lineup featuring Brandon Jennings and Josh Smith, the Pistons entered Sunday as the No. 9 team in the Eastern Conference.
Pistons forward Charlie Villanueva took to Twitter on Sunday, apparently in disbelief that Detroit had fired Cheeks.
Is it true? - Charlie Villanueva (@CV31) February 9, 2014 ,I will like to thank Mo Cheeks for everything, thank you for helping me become a better person & player. I'm still learning
- BRANDON JENNINGS (@BrandonJennings) February 9, 2014
Cheeks, 57, owns a 305-315 career record over parts of nine seasons with Detroit, Philadelphia and Portland. He was a four-time All-Star point guard during his 15-year playing career.
ESPN.com's Marc Stein and Jeff Goodman contributed to this report.
Jennings also indicated on Twitter that he was surprised by the team's decision. Jennings later tweeted his thanks to Cheeks.
I will like to thank Mo Cheeks for everything, thank you for helping me become a better person & player. I'm still learning
Cheeks, 57, owns a 305-315 career record over parts of nine seasons with Detroit, Philadelphia and Portland. He was a four-time All-Star point guard during his 15-year playing career.
ESPN.com's Marc Stein and Jeff Goodman contributed to this report.