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DETROIT -- A person with knowledge of the talks says the Detroit Pistons and Jeff Bower are nearing an agreement that would make him the teams general manager. The person spoke on condition of anonymity Tuesday because the deal was not yet final. The Pistons hired Stan Van Gundy as their coach and team president last month. Bower was the coach at Marist College last season, but he resigned Monday. Athletic director Tim Murray said in a statement that Bower was leaving for "a very specific and compelling NBA opportunity." Bower was previously a general manager and coach in the NBA, holding both those positions with the New Orleans Hornets in 2009-10. Connor Carrick Jersey . The Blue Jackets got goals from Cam Atkinson, Nick Foligno, Boone Jenner and R.J. Umberger and Curtis McElhinney posted his first shutout since 2011 in a 4-0 victory on Friday night. 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I can remember like it was yesterday calling Raptors games in my first season with players like rookie Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady, Charles Oakley and Kevin Willis and now its a whole new era. Its been a fun ride and fingers crossed the success of the franchise becomes a more consistent happening for you wonderful fans. Here are five quick thoughts as we look ahead to the season. 1. LOU WILLIAMS and JAMES JOHNSON: These two veteran players will be critical to the success of this team. These are the two newcomers that will realistically have a chance to make an impact on a daily basis. They bolster the strength of the second unit and both bring a significant skill to the table. Williams will give you instant offence and a nice jolt that you like in your back court. Johnson has the ability to guard 3s and 4s and has a knack for making plays with his athleticism and toughness. Dwane Casey will regularly be able to go 9-10 deep this season when he wants to. Its a long season and you must have depth and more importantly guys that can produce and get you over the hump. These two werent the sexy/flashy acquisitions of the NBA offseason yet they make sense for this franchise. 2. TYLER HANSBROUGH and CHUCK HAYES: Who is going to be the fourth big man this year? I think it will likely be similar to last year depending on the opposing front court match-up that game. Both are free agents at the end of the season as well as Amir Johnson so all have lots to play for. Again, depth over the course of the 82-game regular season is huge. Not lots of flash and dash with Hayes and Hansbrough but both are consummate pros and their energy, smarts and team first approach will help a great deal. 3. DWANE CASEY: The challenge that I call a Positive Problem of expectations is something he has to deal with this season unlike his previous years as the Raptors head coach. Lets be real, the Cavs and Bulls will get all the hype in the Conference and the Raps are in that next group of teams that might be able to make noise in both their divisional and conference races yet he has to make sure that this group doesnt buy into the nonsensical hype that folks will try to put on them. Kudos for winning the division and 48 games yet theyve got a long way to go and both he and Masai Ujiri know it. Keeping each player focused and prepared at times will be a bit of a challenge. Internal leadership will be critical from the players as well reminding themselves every day that theyve got bigger goals to achieve and lots to earn and prove. Nice to say, yet will they do it? This 2014-15 campaign can be successful if they stay healthy and humble and locked in oon improvement yet their margin for error isnt huge.dddddddddddd Coach Casey and his staff are grinders each day and dont get too high or low over anything. I like that. Is this team an NBA championship contender this year? Highly unlikely. Solid incremental steps are what Im looking for in a winning environment. Keep building the right foundation and tune out the noise and unrealistic expectations that a small minority will try to put on this team. Easier said than done. Tough battle to fight but it has to be fought. This is about trying to achieve multiple winning seasons and playoff appearances and providing young players with the experience and then making the signature deals when you get closer to being a legit contender based upon the foundation you set. Creep-Crawl-Walk-Run. Easy does it. Be steady. Dont try to skip steps or cheat the process. He knows that and Im sure will have this group hearing that message on a daily basis. 4. TERRENCE ROSS and JONAS VALANCIUNAS: I expect solid next steps from both of these guys. The third professional season is when you really start to see whether guys are figuring it out. I give huge credit to Bryan Colangelo, Dwane Casey and Masai Ujiri for investing the playing time and patience in these guys and the time for more consistent return on investment begins this season. Both have shown nice flashes that they can be good pros on a daily basis. Now the high-end consistency has to come to the scene. Theyve been nurtured, developed and mentored quite well and Im really excited to see the next steps both guys take. Both are terrific young men that are willing students and are figuring it out. You want the Raptors to improve? Like any good organization - your high draft picks have to deliver. The proper patient long term approach with both has been taken and the next step will play out before our eyes this season. Will be fun to watch that growth. 5. DEMAR DEROZAN: Congrats on winning the gold this summer with Team USA. Neat opportunity for him to play with and against the best in the world and to be coached by an outstanding staff. That Residue of Success really helps him as he continues to mature as a pro. Fabulous experience for him. Give him credit. Hes taken advantage of the chances hes gotten and grown from them. Hes a hungry and motivated Gym Rat who has the love affair with the sport that excellent players have and its no surprise hes becoming a really nice player. He doesnt take short cuts and respects the game. Nice to have one of your top players with this makeup. I think youll see this team take on that approach even more due to his presence, increased confidence in being vocal, accomplished resume and experience. Need your better players to really set the tone and Im confident his tone will be all business. ' ' '