One of the titans in player representation is switching teams.
Super agent Arn Tellem has finalized an agreement to become the vice chairman of Palace Sports and Entertainment, the company that owns the Detroit Pistons, the team announced Friday.
Pistons owner Tom Gores explained the addition in a press release:
Arn is one of the most accomplished and respected sports executives in the world. He has great passion, integrity, and honesty, and he shares my belief that sports can be a catalyst for change in the community. He is an outstanding addition to our leadership team who will help us make a real difference in Detroit.
Tellem's role will see him answer directly to Gores, though he won't be the final authority on basketball decisions. As part of the deal, Tellem is likely to receive an ownership stake in the team, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports.
The Pistons' management core of head coach Stan Van Gundy and general manager Jeff Bower will remain intact, with decision-making authority on the basketball side resting in the hands of Van Gundy. Tellem's responsibilities will be to head up a public face for the ownership group, something he got to work on Friday in penning an article for Sports Illustrated.
From Tellem's essay, which repeated the "If not now, when?" line of thinking throughout:
I’m excited by the 21st century potential of Detroit - in commerce, the arts and on its playing fields. I hope to make a constructive impact as the Motor City emerges from bankruptcy. I want to augment and expand the Pistons' Come Together Foundation, which enriches the lives of Detroiters by mentoring local youth, encouraging volunteerism, and partnering with businesses, government, and charitable causes. Outreach programs like Come Together can make a real difference in the community.
...
I believe in the future of the franchise. As vice chairman, I'll do whatever I can to support the management team, led by Stan Van Gundy and Dennis Mannion, and help build the team into a contender again. I’m coming aboard at a unique moment for the Pistons and Palace Sports & Entertainment. Together they will play a pivotal role in Detroit's turnaround.I'm elated. I'm pumped. And frankly, I'm terrified. But if not now, when?
Tellem is a key figure in Wasserman Media Group, which represents over 50 NBA players. Tellem's clients earned an estimated $325 million this season, with notable names on his roster including Russell Westbrook, Anthony Davis, Derrick Rose, Marc Gasol, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Draymond Green. In addition to basketball, Tellem has also represented a number of MLB players, including Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Chase Utley and Texas Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish.
It's expected that Tellem will transition out of Wasserman over the course of several months, likely handing off key clients to vice presidents of basketball Thad Foucher and B.J. Armstrong, among others.
There's no indication as to whether Tellem will play a role in attracting free agents, but his relationship with clients is certainly a plus. The Pistons have been linked to Green, a Michigan native who will be a restricted free agent this summer, though the Golden State Warriors are unlikely to let him go, and the Pistons may balk at tying up cap space by signing him to an offer sheet.
Tellem does have a modicum of official NBA experience, having served as executive vice president and general counsel for the Los Angeles Clippers from 1982 to 1988.
