Pistons fire assistant GM Rob Murphy following misconduct investigation

[Laimbeer]

The Detroit Pistons have fired assistant general manager Rob Murphy, seven months after he was placed on leave pending an investigation of workplace misconduct involving a former female employee.

In a statement issued to the Detroit Free Press, the Pistons said:

“Rob Murphy no longer works for the Detroit Pistons or Motor City Cruise, in any capacity. Mr. Murphy was recently terminated for violation of company policy and the terms of his employment agreement. The facts that gave rise to his termination surfaced during a review, assisted by a national law firm, of allegations made by a former employee.”

https://www.mlive.com/pistons/2023/05/pistons-fire-assistant-gm-rob-murphy-following-misconduct-investigation.html

[DBC10]

Makes a lot of sense that we didn't schedule an interview with Udoka. We had our own crises to deal with, would've been bad optics either way

You'd think it'd be easy not to mess around at work but apparently not for some

[Uncle Mxy]

Did it take 7 months for the Celtics to cut ties with Ime Udoka? Not knowing the details, it seems long to me. Was there some reason not to do this during the season?

[MotownMadness]

Did it take 7 months for the Celtics to cut ties with Ime Udoka? Not knowing the details, it seems long to me. Was there some reason not to do this during the season?

Maybe it wasn't that serious? Not alot of details there.

[Manocad]

Makes a lot of sense that we didn't schedule an interview with Udoka. We had our own mini issues to deal with, would've been bad optics either way

You'd think it'd be easy not to mess around at work but apparently not for some

It's easy to not mess around not at work too. It's a conscious decision to either mess around or not.

[JNewton]

This sounds pretty bad, honestly - Cuban or Sarver/Suns bad potentially.

https://archive.ph/jI8m4

[tmorgan]

Very bad.

[theBigLip]

She was getting harrassed by Murphy. She told the Pistons about it and they didn't do anything, hence the lawsuit. I'm sure it will get settled out of court.

[DBC10]

She was getting harrassed by Murphy. She told the Pistons about it and they didn't do anything, hence the lawsuit. I'm sure it will get settled out of court.

I wonder if we'll see how far the org tried to bury this originally. The brazen hubris of it all was certainly enlightening and depressing at the same time after reading that

On multiple occasions, while they were alone in his office, Murphy stood up from his desk and showed Raska that his penis was erect. He did this again when he dropped his son off at home. He would tell her that she had aroused him.

Murphy once proposed that Raska could travel with the team if she would sleep with him, but said "If you're not ready for that, you're not ready for travel."

In stairwells at work, Murphy would touch her and comment on her body. Other times at work, he would ask her to walk in front of her as if he was being polite, "then grab her behind and her legs."

One afternoon, while Raska was dropping off his son at home, Murphy telephoned a woman, placed the call on speaker and discussed having sex with her while Raska stood there. Murphy hung up, looked at her and said, "See, I can get this anywhere."

Raska would soon learn that Murphy had sexual relationships with other women at work, including a director, the lawsuit says.

Clean the house

[vege]

She was getting harrassed by Murphy. She told the Pistons about it and they didn't do anything, hence the lawsuit. I'm sure it will get settled out of court.

I wonder if we'll see how far the org tried to bury this originally. The brazen hubris of it all was certainly enlightening and depressing at the same time after reading that

On multiple occasions, while they were alone in his office, Murphy stood up from his desk and showed Raska that his penis was erect. He did this again when he dropped his son off at home. He would tell her that she had aroused him.

Murphy once proposed that Raska could travel with the team if she would sleep with him, but said "If you're not ready for that, you're not ready for travel."

In stairwells at work, Murphy would touch her and comment on her body. Other times at work, he would ask her to walk in front of her as if he was being polite, "then grab her behind and her legs."

One afternoon, while Raska was dropping off his son at home, Murphy telephoned a woman, placed the call on speaker and discussed having sex with her while Raska stood there. Murphy hung up, looked at her and said, "See, I can get this anywhere."

Raska would soon learn that Murphy had sexual relationships with other women at work, including a director, the lawsuit says.

Clean the house

Took 7 months to fire this imbecile? WTF

Makes a lot of sense that we didn't schedule an interview with Udoka. We had our own crises to deal with, would've been bad optics either way

You'd think it'd be easy not to mess around at work but apparently not for some

No it doesn't. As far as we know everything Udoka did was consensual. It was wrong, but it wasn't a crime.

Total different situations.

[tmorgan]

Yeah, this sounds way worse than Udoka, who just consensually f’d around with two co-workers.

This needs to lead to, at the very least, a major overhaul of HR staff and policies.

[theBigLip]

Yeah, this sounds way worse than Udoka, who just consensually f’d around with two co-workers.

This needs to lead to, at the very least, a major overhaul of HR staff and policies.

Udoka did more than that. After his consensual relationships ended, he kept coming back, not accepting a “no”. Consensual relationships are usually not prohibited unless it’s a boss/employee, and if they are, a warning is usually first step. Udoka went way past.

[bstein14]

The strange thing here is... she reported a ton of misconduct and he was just put on suspension for a super long time and not fired... and only when they just now theatened a law suit against the Pistons did they finally get rid of him.

[Snakebites]

Yeah, this sounds way worse than Udoka, who just consensually f’d around with two co-workers.

This needs to lead to, at the very least, a major overhaul of HR staff and policies.

Udoka did more than that. After his consensual relationships ended, he kept coming back, not accepting a “no”. Consensual relationships are usually not prohibited unless it’s a boss/employee, and if they are, a warning is usually first step. Udoka went way past.

Udoka did more than just a consensual relationship, but this is still far worse than what he did. It won’t get the same headlines because he’s an assistant who most fans won’t know of.

Really bad that it took this long to fire the guy- we don’t know all the details but it sure looks like they tried to sweep this under the rug. Seems like we’ve got enough recent examples in the NBA that show this is a bad idea, but I guess we don’t know how many things actually do get successfully swept.

Shame really. Glad he’s gone now but this is all quite disappointing.

[DETermination]

Definitely not a good look

[JNewton]

Udoka did more than just a consensual relationship, but this is still far worse than what he did. It won’t get the same headlines because he’s an assistant who most fans won’t know of.

Really bad that it took this long to fire the guy- we don’t know all the details but it sure looks like they tried to sweep this under the rug. Seems like we’ve got enough recent examples in the NBA that show this is a bad idea, but I guess we don’t know how many things actually do get successfully swept.

Shame really. Glad he’s gone now but this is all quite disappointing.

The Detroit News story on this says the Pistons' investigation into the matter had concluded in December, but they didn't take any action against Murphy until the lawsuit was filed. Like you say, he's probably not a big enough name for this story to get more traction, but I wonder how the league will feel about this. I doubt it would get the point where the league takes action against Gores, but I kinda wouldn't mind that - the Pistons have been an absolute **** since he bought the team, even if he seems to have gotten the point on the need to rebuild in the last few years.

[Kilo]

Gores is the new Sarver.

IIRC there is something seedy involving Gores, his brother and one of their wives as well. Allegedly.

[theBigLip]

Speaking of Gores, whatever happened to those promised changes on the prison phone call exploitation business he has?

[Uncle Mxy]

And the plot sickens....

Read on Twitter

[Manocad]

And this is why you don't jump to conclusions, people. You just make yourself look silly.

So it appears that Murphy broke the rules which lead to him being fired but, at least according to the Pistons' investigation, didn't commit a criminal act.