Pistons vice chairman Arn Tellem was once Ellington’s agent before Tellem left the business to run the franchise for owner Tom Gores. Josh Bartlestein, Pistons vice president of strategy and chief of staff, is the son of Ellington’s current agent, Mark Bartlestein. They enlisted Gores’ services, too, and his phone conversation with Ellington’s wife, Safie, helped close the deal.
“Tom Gores did a heck of a thing,” Casey said. “She’s Lebanese and Tom is Lebanese. Whatever he said to recruit him worked. They spoke in Arabic. That was a positive for him. We’re just happy to have him as part of our program and add to the quality of guys we have.”
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