The entire Detroit Pistons offseason hinges on one decision
Nothing else matters until the Pistons determine who will led the franchise into the next stage in its evolution after a failed rebuild.
The entire Detroit Pistons offseason hinges on one decision.
After a record-setting 14-68 record, owner Tom Gores has decided the franchise will hire a president of basketball operations — a position that the team has not filled since Stan Van Gundy served as both the POBO and head coach for four seasons from 2014-2018.
The president of basketball operations will oversee Detroit’s front office, including current general manager, Troy Weaver.
Staring down a failed rebuild, there are several very serious decisions that the Pistons — led by this new president of basketball operations — will have to make if there is any chance to crawl out from the bottom of the Eastern Conference.
But where is daydreaming about which players — actual NBA players and not guys like Killian Hayes and Joe Harris — the Pistons could acquire this offseason going to get anyone?
There is no POBO yet, and therefore, we have no idea what type of roster the new head honcho will want to build out upon arrival.
Yes, there are players in general the Pistons should be interested in. If guys like Trae Young, Dejounte Murray, Brandon Ingram, and DeMar DeRozan are available over the next few months, Detroit should be interested.
They need NBA players. They need more guys that belong on an NBA roster and not in a different league overseas or in the NBA’s minor league.
They need guys that fit around Cade Cunningham.
But there is no point in getting ahead of ourselves.
Nothing matters except for the president of basketball operations hire.
Detroit can’t afford to miss again.
All eyes will be on what the new POBO does shortly upon arrival.
Will he keep Troy Weaver or Monty Williams?
He probably shouldn’t if the franchise is serious about getting rid of the stench of losing.
In the four seasons Weaver has served as the team’s general manager, the Pistons went 74-244.
Yes, the team has amassed young talent in Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Jalen Duren, and Ausar Thompson, but it hasn’t resulted in wins.
Weaver has also failed to put necessary supporting talent around his core.
Last offseason was Weaver’s most notable misstep. In what was deemed a “key offseason” for the Pistons, Weaver spent Detroit’s $30 million in cap space absorbing the contract of Joe Harris from the Brooklyn Nets and trading for Monte Morris.
Harris played in just 16 games with Detroit — averaging just 2.6 points on 35.9% shooting. He was waived at the trade deadline.
Morris appeared in just six games before being dealt to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
For all of Weaver’s lack of success, Williams’ tenure in Detroit, while being shorter, has had plenty of shortcomings as well.
Williams began the season starting Killian Hayes ahead of Jaden Ivey in Detroit’s backcourt.
He vouched for Hayes shortly after arriving in Detroit when the Pistons reportedly had a trade lined up to move on from the failed lottery pick this past offseason.
Williams’ stubbornness stunted Ivey’s development and kept the Pistons from getting a look at a potential backcourt of Cunningham and Ivey - the two pieces this team was expected to build around.
Hayes was waived by the Pistons at the deadline and remained unsigned through the remainder of the season.
Once Ivey was moved into the starting lineup, Williams then seemingly refused to stagger him and Cunningham to keep one of the team’s best ball handlers and players on the court at all times.
There is still a world where retaining Williams makes sense. You could argue he was dealt a poor hand from the beginning by Weaver — and that would be a fair argument.
So before anyone worries too much about what the roster will look like — it’s more important that the Pistons find the right individuals to build and coach the team.
The Pistons will hopefully give us an idea of who those individuals will be sooner rather than later.