RealGM Basketball Wiretap

15 September 2024

• Evan Fournier Considering Offers From EuroLeague Teams

  After helping France to a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Evan Fournier is focused on finding a team for next season. Fournier is a free agent after the Detroit Pistons declined a team option for the 2024-25 season.

  The veteran wing is seriously considering offers from EuroLeague teams. Fournier has received offers or interest from teams in his native France, as well as Spain and Italy.

  Staying in the NBA remains the priority for Fournier, but he's considered offers to return to Europe as the summer has gone along. In addition to the Pistons, Fournier has also played for the Denver Nuggets, Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics and New York Knicks in the NBA.

• Pistons Hire Matthew Verden As Director of Grassroots Scouting & Intelligence

  The Detroit Pistons are hiring Matthew Verden as their new Director of Grassroots Scouting and Intelligence, sources told Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.

  Verden was previously the senior manager of player personnel and strategy for Overtime Elite.

• Joe Harris Retires From NBA

  Joe Harris has retired from basketball after 10 seasons in the NBA. Harris appeared in 16 games last season with the Detroit Pistons before he was waived.

  Harris dealt with a number of injuries dating back to the 21-22 season.

  Harris retires as a career 43.6 percent three-point shooter across 504 games. Harris was a key part of the Brooklyn Nets when they contended for the 2021 title before losing to the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round.

• RealGM Radio: Caitlin Cooper, Dan Feldman On The Central Division (Aug 2024)

  Host Danny Leroux, Caitlin Cooper of Basketball, She Wrote and Dan Feldman of Dunc'd On Prime go in-depth on the NBA's Central Division.

  They discuss how the Bucks, Bulls, Cavs, Pacers and Pistons fared in the off-season and predict the season to come, including projected finish, breakout players and rookies they are most excited to see.

  Subscribe to RealGM Radio on Apple Podcasts or via the RSS feed.

• Diamond Sports Group May Drop Broadcasts For Mavericks, Pistons, Grizzlies, Pelicans, Thunder

  If, and when, Diamond Sports Group finishes bankruptcy proceedings, they are considering dropping the broadcasts for up to five NBA teams. The teams that are being considered at the Dallas Mavericks, Detroit Pistons, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans and Oklahoma City Thunder. Currently, games for those five teams have been carried under various Bally Sports networks.

  Through Bally Sports, Diamond Sports Group carries games for 15 total NBA teams. The remaining 10 teams are expected to continue to have their games carried, assuming the courts approve Diamond Sports Group's plan to come out of bankruptcy.

  The NBA declined to comment on the situation. However, there are reports that the NBA, like MLB, is considering an agreement with Amazon to become a streaming provider for local games. The NBA and Amazon recently reached agreement for the network to carry national games.

• Pistons Add Vitaly Potapenko As Assistant Coach

  The Detroit Pistons have hired Vitaly Potapenko to their coaching staff as an assistant. New Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff is building a new staff as he takes over the team.

  Potapenko has spent the last five years on the Memphis Grizzlies staff. He previously worked for the Indiana Pacers and Cleveland Cavaliers to begin his coaching career.

• Pistons Add Gianluca Pascucci To Front Office

  The Detroit Pistons added Gianluca Pascucci to the front office, sources told Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.

  Pascucci previously worked with team president Trajan Langdon while with the Nets.

  Pascucci also worked for the Wolves and Bulls.

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