Shane Battier no longer in running for Detroit Pistons front office job

Shane Battier has pulled himself out of the race for a job in the front office with the Detroit Pistons. What’s next for the team?

According to a report from ESPN senior writer Zach Lowe, Shane Battier is no longer in the running for a job with the front office of the Detroit Pistons.

Note on Pistons continuing front-office search: Shane Battier has withdrawn from consideration for a leading front-office role in Detroit, sources tell ESPN.
— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) May 29, 2018

Battier decided to stay in his current role with the Miami Heat. He is the the Heat’s director of basketball development and analytics. Barry Jackson, writer for the Miami Herald, had this say about Battier’s decision to stay with the organization.

“But Battier, 39, ultimately decided to stay with the Heat, where he works for ownership that holds him in high regard and where he played the final three seasons of his 13-year career and won two championships.”

“The Heat created a new position for Battier 15 months ago, and he could assume a more prominent role in a post-Pat Riley era with Miami. Riley, 73, has said he’s not considering retiring.”

So, back to the drawing board. This entire off-season has been strange.

The organization took a long time to determine whether or not they would be keeping Stan Van Gundy. It’s been rumored that general manager Jeff Bower will be out of a job when his contract is up as well.

Could the Palace Prince be returning?

Recently, Tayshaun Prince‘s name has been thrown around about filling vacant positions within Detroit’s front office.

Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press said this about Prince in his piece from a couple of days ago.

“Prince, who is special assistant to Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace, fits the profile of what Stefanski and Pistons ownership are seeking in a new front office.

The Pistons are seeking a young, rising executive to learn the ropes under Stefanski. They are hoping to unearth the next Danny Ainge, who was in his mid-40s when the Boston Celtics hired him as team president in 2003.”

Ainge has put a very competitive product on the court consistently during his time with Boston as a general manager. If Prince could be anything close to Ainge, that would be a huge move going forward.