Rothstein Fired by Pistons

Ron Rothstein, whose team failed to make the playoffs for thefirst time in 10 years, was fired as coach of the Detroit Pistons.

Pistons president Tom Wilson and Billy McKinney, the playerpersonnel director, met Monday with Rothstein and announced hisdismissal at an afternoon news conference.

"This team was beset with inherent problems from the day I tookover," Rothstein said in a statement. "I don't think I have torecount the other problems that unfolded as the year progressed.

"I have given this job my all from day one. I tried to find abalance between the needs and wants of the players and what I feltwas my responsibility as the head coach. Above all, I have tried toconduct myself in a professional manner."

Don Chaney, an assistant who once coached the Houston Rockets,is considered a leading candidate to succeed Rothstein, although theclub would not comment.

"It wouldn't be fair to say that before we talk to all ourassistants," McKinney said. "Maybe toward the end of this week, orearly next week, we'll have an announcement on a replacement."

The Pistons, in their first season under Rothstein, finished40-42 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 1983. Afterthat season, it was coach Scotty Robertson who was fired.

ROGERS ENTERS DRAFT: Wake Forest forward Rodney Rogers made itofficial: He will enter the college draft, passing up his senior yearat the Atlantic Coast Conference school.

"I thought it was time to go on to the next level," said Rogers,a 6-7, 235-pound forward from Durham, N.C. Rogers averaged more than21 points this year for the Demon Deacons.

NOTES: Dallas Mavericks forward Randy White will undergoarthroscopic surgery today on both knees. Center Hakeem Olajuwon, who helped Houston win its first divisiontitle in seven years, was named NBA player of the month for April.