Arn Tellem becomes vice chairman of the Pistons
Powerful agent Arn Tellem, 61, will report directly to PS&E and Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores and will be expected to spearhead Palace business strategies as the ownership group enters its fifth year
Powerful agent Arn Tellem, 61, will report directly to PS&E and Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores and will be expected to spearhead Palace business strategies as the ownership group enters its fifth year.
"Arn is one of the most accomplished and respected sports executives in the world," Gores said. "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."
The news comes just four weeks before the start of the league's free-agency period. Tellem's client list includes prominent free agents Marc Gasol and LaMarcus Aldridge.
To that end, the organization and Tellem have agreed on a start date of Aug. 3, which would allow Tellem to transition his responsibilities at Wasserman Media Group.
Tellem, a Philadelphia native who received his law degree from the University of Michigan, will be joining management after representing labor for more than 30 years. His bio on the Wasserman website boasts that he has negotiated more than $3.5 billion in deals for basketball and baseball clients since 2008 alone.
"The decision to change careers was in one sense a difficult one, because I am leaving a terrific job with great clients and an outstanding leader in Casey Wasserman, who I believe runs the finest sports marketing and talent company in the business," Tellem said. "But in another sense it was an easy decision, because I am joining another great organization with an outstanding leader in Tom Gores, who is committed to ensuring Palace Sports & Entertainment is a championship organization both on the court and in the community."
Tellem does have previous sports franchise experience, having served as executive vice president and general counsel for the Los Angeles Clippers in 1982-88.
The organization's interest in Tellem goes back several months with negotiations starting in earnest over the past couple months.
When Tellem starts in Auburn Hills, he will join an organization at a crucial juncture.
"Arn is one of the most accomplished and respected sports executives in the world," Gores said. "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."
The news comes just four weeks before the start of the league's free-agency period. Tellem's client list includes prominent free agents Marc Gasol and LaMarcus Aldridge.
To that end, the organization and Tellem have agreed on a start date of Aug. 3, which would allow Tellem to transition his responsibilities at Wasserman Media Group.
Tellem, a Philadelphia native who received his law degree from the University of Michigan, will be joining management after representing labor for more than 30 years. His bio on the Wasserman website boasts that he has negotiated more than $3.5 billion in deals for basketball and baseball clients since 2008 alone.
"The decision to change careers was in one sense a difficult one, because I am leaving a terrific job with great clients and an outstanding leader in Casey Wasserman, who I believe runs the finest sports marketing and talent company in the business," Tellem said. "But in another sense it was an easy decision, because I am joining another great organization with an outstanding leader in Tom Gores, who is committed to ensuring Palace Sports & Entertainment is a championship organization both on the court and in the community."
Tellem does have previous sports franchise experience, having served as executive vice president and general counsel for the Los Angeles Clippers in 1982-88.
The organization's interest in Tellem goes back several months with negotiations starting in earnest over the past couple months.
When Tellem starts in Auburn Hills, he will join an organization at a crucial juncture.
E. Carchia
@Sportando
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