After meeting with the Pistons about a leading role in their new-look front office, Shane Battier has withdrawn from consideration, reports ESPN’s Zach Lowe (via Twitter).
The Pistons – who received permission from the Heat to interview Battier – were said to be “impressed” by the former NBA forward after their first meeting, and planned to meet with him against last week. It’s not clear whether Battier removed his name from consideration before that second meeting could take place, or after the two sides met for a second time.
Battier currently serves as the director of basketball development and analytics in Miami, though the Heat are believed to be grooming him for a higher-level front office job down the road. The opportunity to potentially join his hometown team may have appealed to Battier, a Michigan native, but he seems content to stick with the Heat for now.
The Pistons, who are on the lookout for a new head of basketball operations and a new head coach after parting ways with Stan Van Gundy, hired Grizzlies executive Ed Stefanski as a senior advisor to lead those searches. Besides Battier, former players like Brent Barry, Chauncey Billups, and Tayshaun Prince have been mentioned as possible candidates for front office jobs in Detroit. Nets assistant general manager Trajan Langdon is also considered a serious contender for a GM-type role with the Pistons.
Sh*t
Thank god. I believe Battier should be the guy that replaces Pat Riley. Hopefully sooner than later.
While I agree he should be the eventual replacement, as of now, I hope that moment doesnt come for as long as possible, and to suggest otherwise as a Heat fan is totally ridiculous
There have been overpays, which is surprising, because it mutes the advantage of Riley’s charisma in signing FAs. There’s no money for them!
Must have been tough for him to turn down his hometown team. The timing, I guess, wasn’t right
He probably realized that Tom Gores is the worst owner in the league.