Now that we know Larry Brown will be named the Pistons' next head coach at 2 p.m. today, how soon before Derrick Coleman joins the team?

Don't laugh. One thing that has been consistent about Brown through the years is that he likes to surround himself with people and players he is comfortable with.

It's almost certain he'll bring his Philadelphia assistants -- Randy Ayers, John Kuester and Dave Hanners -- to Detroit. If Mike Woodson doesn't get a job as a head coach, he, too, will join Brown in Detroit.

And you can bet that Brown will want to make changes to the roster.

Here's the rub.

At almost every other stop in his career, Brown has had some authority over personnel decisions. He won't here.

Joe Dumars runs the day-to-day operation with a firm, confident hand. He and vice president John Hammond make the decisions.

Brown will have some input, sure, but at the end of the day, it will be Dumars' call.