A year after his firing over a sexual harassment scandal, embattled Detroit Pistons executive Rob Murphy and the team have settled a contentious lawsuit with his accuser: DeJanai Raska, a former executive assistant to the powerful basketball figure who accused her boss of sexually taunting her for months. According to lawyers for both sides, 33-year-old Raska has reached a confidential settlement with the Pistons and 51-year-old Murphy, one year after suing both in Wayne County Circuit Court, alleging the Piston’s former assistant general manager used his position to turn her into his sexual t ..read more

The Pistons, I’m told, would naturally have interest in Timberwolves lead executive Tim Connelly in the event that Connelly was moved to use the opt-out clause in his Minnesota contract at season’s end ..read more

I have since confirmed, as previously reported here, that Detroit does indeed plan to have Michigan native (and Pistons alumnus) Jon Horst on its candidate list if Horst is open to leaving the Bucks at season’s end ..read more

J.J. Redick, beyond his candidacy for the Hornets’ coaching vacancy, has been described to me as a name to monitor in Detroit in the event he has any interest in a move to basketball operations ..read more

Two weeks ago, Marc Stein reported that the Detroit Pistons have interest in hiring Bucks general manager Jon Horst to lead their basketball operations. Stein’s scoop didn’t get much traction. The playoffs had yet to begin, and the report didn’t exactly predict that anything will happen. But league sources tell me there’s a real possibility that Horst will take the gig in Detroit ..read more

James Edwards: I think they could do a significant roster overhaul through a combination of trades and signing B-level talent in the offseason. I know the notion in Detroit (from fans) is that if they sign Tobias Harris, they’re going to give him a max, and I’m not sure that’s the case. I think you could give him bigger money, but shorter years, which would allow him to go out into the market one more time to try and get more money. I don’t think they’re going to max anyone they bring in during free agency ..read more

James Edwards: Bryson Graham from New Orleans is someone I feel would be more primed if they were going to replace Troy Weaver as general manager. Michael Scotto: Graham has a close relationship with Monty Williams. Horst had been floated out there by some people around the league for the past couple of weeks speculatively, because there’s a lot of uncertainty in Milwaukee right now ..read more

James Edwards: I think one of the biggest issues for the Pistons this year was a lack of rim protection. For all of the upside Duren has as a guy who’s already an elite rebounder at 20 years old and has good touch around the rim with some playmaking stuff here and there, he’s really got to improve defensively. I think it goes back to what I said at the top of the podcast where I think the situation Detroit finds itself – and where it’s gotten worse every year of this rebuild – is there’s pressure to be better sooner than later. I don’t think they have the luxury of what most rebuilding teams ..read more

James Edwards: I think one of the biggest issues for the Pistons this year was a lack of rim protection. For all of the upside Duren has as a guy who’s already an elite rebounder at 20 years old and has good touch around the rim with some playmaking stuff here and there, he’s really got to improve defensively. I think it goes back to what I said at the top of the podcast where I think the situation Detroit finds itself – and where it’s gotten worse every year of this rebuild – is there’s pressure to be better sooner than later. I don’t think they have the luxury of what most rebuilding teams d ..read more

Michael Scotto: Looking ahead to the offseason, Detroit could have up to $60 million in cap space if they decline Evan Fournier’s team option and let go of Troy Brown. Everyone is looking for them to do what the Houston Rockets did a summer ago and spend all their cap space available. From what I’ve heard, plan A is not to go the Houston route and spend all the cap space money they have in free agency. There’s a possibility Detroit will look to sign a free agent like Tobias Harris or Miles Bridges, two guys that will certainly be on their radar heading into the offseason, and then use the rem ..read more