Can Troy Weaver and Monty Williams Survive the Upcoming Offseason?
Major changes are expected this offseason for the Detroit Pistons. Will Troy Weaver and Monty Williams survive a massive offseason for a franchise trying to crawl out of hell?
Rumors are swirling.
An indication from an in-the-know beat reporter suggests it.
The Detroit Pistons are on the brink of making major changes to its leadership group.
From James Edwards III of The Athletic:
“As I mentioned previously, I don’t think anyone is safe after the season the Pistons just had. There is part of me that believes Williams’ seat is currently hotter than Weaver’s.”
Initially, this notion seemed crazy. Weaver joined the organization in 2020. He’s coming up on four years as this franchise’s general manager. The Pistons will likely have less than 75 total wins in four seasons under Weaver depending on how they finish out over the final four games this week.
Williams has been here for just one season. He was handed a roster that won 17 games last year. A roster in which its key offseason additions were Joe Harris and Monte Morris - a pair of career role players.
Expecting Williams to win with this group was always a hilarious concept.
Expecting the Pistons to be more competitive under a highly acclaimed coach and a more seasoned roster, however, was not.
Certainly, the Pistons, under both Weaver and Williams, have failed to meet that goal. And they have done so in embrassing fashion.
Detroit was eliminated from post-season contention in early March.
The annual player shutdowns began in coincidence with this. It’s been a tradition throughout Weaver’s tenure.
A few years back it was Jerami Grant and Mason Plumlee. Last year it was Bojan Bogdanovic and Isaiah Stewart. This year Stewart and rookie Ausar Thompson were shut down. Other core pieces including Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren have been rested in these final weeks of the season as well.
Williams is under contract for five more years. He’s still owed around $60 million from the organization. He’s reportedly unwilling to accept any sort of buyout. You may hate his performance as the team’s coach, but he isn’t stupid.
Would Tom Gores be willing to cut ties with Williams, pay out his contract, and commit even more millions of dollars to ANOTHER head coach?
I don’t know if he’s willing to, but he should. And he should do the same with Weaver.
This organization needs a reset. A losing culture has permeated under Weaver. He’s been given a massive runway and ample time to build his roster. Outside of Cade Cunningham, what does the organization have to show for Weaver’s tenure?
The core pieced together by Weaver is significantly flawed, and likely won’t be kept together past this season.
This same core has failed to properly develop under the guidance of Williams and his staff.
Jaden Ivey was benched to start the season, with Williams stubbornly choosing to start Killian Hayes, a player that the team was unable to trade at the deadline and ended up waiving. Hayes hasn’t played another minute in the NBA since.
He was starting Isaiah Livers, who after being thrown into the Marvin Bagley trade, hasn’t played a minute in the NBA since.
Williams’ rotations have been highly scrutinized all season long, and rightfully so.
But to be fair to him, he can only play the players Weaver has given him. And Weaver has built a roster full of non-NBA level players.
As the Pistons entire another critical offseason, no one in this entire organization should be safe, even Cade Cunningham to a certain extent.
When you’re about to be on the wrong side of history AGAIN, changes have to be made. Significant changes.
And it starts with the people being paid millions of dollars to build a roster and coach it.
Both have failed.
It’s time to cut ties and try again.
It can’t go worse than it did this year.
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