Detroit — The Pistons have sought the help of a former NBA player to help evaluate talent within their scouting department.
Hakim Warrick, who played eight seasons in the NBA, has been hired by the Pistons as a pro scout, league sources confirmed on Tuesday. The sources were granted anonymity because they aren’t authorized to speak publicly about the hiring.
Warrick’s hiring was first reported by Mike Waters of Syracuse.com/The Post Standard.
Warrick, selected by the Memphis Grizzlies with the 19th overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft, played for six different teams, including the Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls, Phoenix Suns, New Orleans Hornets and Charlotte Bobcats. The former power forward averaged 9.4 points and 4.0 rebounds throughout his career.
For the past two seasons, Warrick dabbled in coaching as an assistant for the G League Ignite. He will be based in Washington D.C. and will evaluate talent on the east coast, according to the report.
Warrick played an integral role in helping Syracuse win its first and only NCAA championship, in 2003. He had a key block on a last-second shot attempt in the title game against Kansas, often described as one of the greatest moments in school history.
Warrick’s addition to the organization strengthens the Syracuse-Pistons pipeline. General manager Troy Weaver spent four seasons as an assistant at Syracuse from 2000-04. He coached Warrick for three seasons, which included Syracuse’s national championship run.
Buddy Boeheim, who spent last season in Detroit on a two-way contract, played four seasons at Syracuse from 2018-22. He signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Pistons this summer and will participate in next month’s training camp.
Former Pistons guard and ex-Detroit mayor Dave Bing, who played at Syracuse in the 1960s, remains close to the organization.
In a related move, Pistons scout Harold Ellis is no longer with the franchise after accepting a job last month to become the new athletic director at this alma mater, Morehouse College.
mcurtis@detroitnews.com
Twitter/X: @MikeACurtis2