Stein: Pistons To Interview Former Blazers Coach Nate McMillan

Marc Stein of ESPN.com reports that the Detroit Pistons are set to interview former Portland Trail Blazers coach Nate McMillan this week after firing coach Lawrence Frank earlier this month.

The Detroit Pistons have opened the interview process in their search for a new coach and are scheduled to sit down Tuesday with Nate McMillan, according to NBA coaching sources.

The Pistons were likewise planning to interview Phoenix Suns interim coach Lindsey Hunter this week after Hunter -- who is widely expected to lose his post with the Suns after the dismissal of general manager Lance Blanks last week -- sought and received permission to interview for the Detroit opening.

McMillan has been mentioned as a possible coaching candidate for the Pistons over the last week by a number of outlets, including Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press (here) and Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News (here)

The Blazers fired McMillan in March 2012, replacing him with interim coach Kaleb Canales before hiring current coach Terry Stotts in August 2012. McMillan served as an assistant coach for the USA Basketball team that won a gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics but hasn't coached in the NBA since.

Last summer, McMillan interviewed for the Charlotte Bobcats' job that eventually went to Mike Dunlap, who has since been fired. McMillan interviewed with the Orlando Magic and was reportedly a "top choice" but Jacque Vaughn took over for the fired Stan Van Gundy instead. In November, McMillan was linked to a possible assistant coach's job with the Los Angeles Lakers under Mike D'Antoni, following Mike Brown's dismissal, but that did not materialize. He was linked as a possible candidate to replace the fired Avery Johnson with the Brooklyn Nets, but interim coach P.J. Carlesimo has coached out this season.

McMillan holds a career coaching record of 478-452 (.514) over 12 seasons with the Seattle SuperSonics and the Blazers. McMillan posted a 266-269 (.497) record in seven seasons with the Blazers. Portland advanced to the playoffs in 2009, 2010 and 2011 but was eliminated in the first round in all three seasons.

-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter