"Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars needs to get moving if he wants to have a coach in place by the time the team leaves for play in the Las Vegas summer league next week.

Former Pistons coach Doug Collins withdrew his name from consideration, which would appear to open the door for former Dallas Mavericks coach Avery Johnson.

Collins told ESPN.com late Wednesday night that he thanked Dumars for the consideration, but he would remain an analyst for TNT.

Johnson appears to be the front-runner to replace Michael Curry, who was suddenly fired Tuesday on the eve of the NBA's free-agency period. Dumars has said he wants an experienced coach to lead the Pistons as he tries to shape the roster into an Eastern Conference contender.

And Johnson has the experience.

During a run of a little more than three seasons as coach of the Mavericks, Johnson, 44, established himself as one of the bright young minds of basketball. He compiled a winning percentage of .735 (194-70).

But it all started to go downhill late in his second season. The Mavericks raced to a 2-0 lead in the 2006 NBA Finals. Up 13 points in the fourth quarter of Game 3 against the Miami Heat, the Mavericks went on to lose by two points and dropped the next three games. Dwyane Wade and the Heat had the title.

The Mavericks roared to the best"