"Charlie Villanueva isn't endorsing a particular candidate to be the next Pistons coach, but there is one trait he'd like to see in whoever gets the job.

"Communication," Villanueva said today at the charity softball game he co-hosted with Lions receiver Derrick Williams. "Have somebody who can communicate with their players."

The Pistons fired John Kuester as coach last Sunday, four days after Tom Gores officially took ownership of the team.

Kuester went 57-107 in two seasons as Pistons coach. His final year was marred by repeated acts of player revolt, including more than half the team skipping a February shootaround.

"There was a lot of communication issues," Villanueva said. "In any relationship or anything you want, communication is very important. I think last year we lacked that a little bit."

And how much was Kuester to blame for last year's struggles?"