Battier will remain with Heat front office after interviewing with Detroit.

Former player interviewed for Pistons opening

MIAMI — Shane Battier will remain in the Miami Heat front office after interviewing with the Detroit Pistons.

The former Heat forward had met with the Pistons, who are overhauling their front office in the wake of their separation with former Heat coach Stan Van Gundy as the team’s coach and president.

Battier, who worked with the Heat scouting staff at the recent Chicago pre-draft camp, initially was approached by the Pistons before they hired Memphis Grizzlies executive Ed Stefanski to lead their restructured from office. Battier had interviewed for a position that would have served under Stefanski.

Battier has been the Heat’s director of basketball development and analytics since Feb. 16, 2017, a role that has had him largely working behind the scenes in the team’s front office, as well as handling community appearances. The position was created for his return to the franchise.

A move to Detroit’s front office would have represented a homecoming for Battier, 39, who was born and raised in Birmingham, Mich., just outside of Detroit.

Battier, whose affinity for analytics dates to his playing career, traveled with the Heat this season on trips that General Manager Andy Elisburg did not make. He is listed below Heat President Pat Riley, Elisburg, Vice President of Player Personnel Chet Kammerer, Vice President of Player Programs Alonzo Mourning and Assistant General Manager Adam Simon on the team’s organizational chart.

The Heat routinely have granted permission for those in the organization to interview for promotions elsewhere.

The Heat position is the first front-office assignment for Battier, whose 13-year NBA career ended with the Heat in 2014, after winning NBA championships with the Heat in 2012 and ’13.

Battier