The Pistons announced yesterday that Phil Jackson has agreed to serve in an advisory capacity to help the team find its next head coach. Despite the agreement, Jackson won't assume a formal role in the Pistons' front office, and remains open to other opportunities. According to ESPN.com's Marc Stein and Ramona Shelburne, Jackson's role as an advisor for the Pistons "does not foreclose any options."
Stein and Shelburne report that Jackson won't be paid for his assistance to the Pistons, and that the agreement represents an "act of friendship" between Jacksons and team owner Tom Gores. Presumably, Jackson's stint as a club consultant will come to an end once the team completes a coaching search that has led them to interview Nate McMillan and Lindsey Hunter so far.
The Raptors have been mentioned as an aggressive suitor for Jackson, though Toronto is far from the only one. Ken Berger of CBSSports.com reported earlier this week that a number of teams have reached out to Jackson via "back channels" to discuss a potential front office role with him, and that other clubs may still try to recruit the Zen Master as a head coach.
Jackson told the San Francisco Chronicle last week that he'd spoken to "three or four teams" about a front office position. Perhaps he has already ruled out a couple of those opportunities, but it's possible more have arisen since then.