Pistons to Fire Chaney, Likely Hire Collins : Pro basketball: Dismissals of coach and key executive expected a day later than planned.

The Detroit Pistons, who finished last in their division this season, are set to fire coach Don Chaney today along with his assistants and key executive Billy McKinney.

The dismissals had been expected Tuesday, but the Pistons delayed the move because they couldn’t reach Chaney until late in the day.

Team spokesman Matt Dobek said the announcement will come today, probably by fax to news organizations.

“There won’t be any news conference,” Dobek said. “There will be an announcement. It will regard the futures of Don Chaney and Billy McKinney.

No matter how it is done, it means Chaney, plus assistants K.C. Jones and Brendan Malone are through. As is McKinney, the club’s vice president for player operations.

Former Chicago Bull coach Doug Collins will replace Chaney, the Detroit Free Press reported. The newspaper, citing sources, said Collins has agreed to a five-year, $6.5-million deal.

“We have had conversations with Doug Collins,” Club President Tom Wilson said. “But there is no agreement with anybody. It’s a little difficult now to say anything. We sat down and talked with Billy this morning. We talked with Don later in the day.”

Chaney, who has a year remaining on a $1.8 million, three-year contract, might be offered a front office job to finish out his contract.

The Pistons are still paying Ron Rothstein, Chaney’s predecessor, who had three years remaining on his contract when he was fired at the end of the 1992-93 season.

Chaney led the Pistons to a 20-62 record in his first season. But even with rookie sensation Grant Hill in the lineup, the Pistons finished 28-53 and out of the playoffs again this season.

Collins, 43, has said he was interested only in running a front office. But the Pistons might also want him to coach, something he hasn’t done since 1989 when the Bulls were eliminated by the Pistons in the Eastern Conference finals.

Boston Celtic Coach Chris Ford also has been mentioned as a possible Piston coach. Ford and the Celtics reportedly have been at odds.

The Pistons have known almost nothing but turmoil since Chuck Daly left, after leading the club to NBA championships in 1989 and 1990. Daly’s exit was followed by that of General Manager Jack McCloskey, who moved on to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Rothstein followed Daly, but never had the support of the players. Chaney appeared fairly popular with the players, but the team failed to win.