Detroit Pistons fire GM Troy Weaver. Does the team need a complete overhaul?

Catastrophic? Disastrous? These are some of the words that come to mind when considering the 2023-24 season that wasn’t for the Detroit Pistons. With that, the franchise has understandably begun its overhaul of the team, and that process appears to have started at the top.

Pistons fire GM Troy Weaver.

According to reports on Friday, the Detroit Pistons have fired general manager Troy Weaver. It is understood that Weaver was offered an off-site scouting role as he did in fact have time remaining on his contract, however, he declined the offer. Weaver’s dismissal marks the first significant move of new team president Trajan Langdon’s tenure as he takes on the task of rebuilding a franchise that has an impressive past, but shaky present. As for what comes next, or who, reports also indicated that New Orleans Pelicans vice president of basketball administration Michael Blackstone could be the man to fill the role.

How bad have the Pistons been?

To put things in perspective, the Detroit Pistons are now the owners of perhaps the NBA’s most dubious record. That’s to say that with 28 consecutive losses, the Pistons managed to set a record for the longest losing streak in a single season. In the end, the team finished with a regular season record of 14-68 which as you can probably guess, was the worst in the league and by a distance. To be clear, prior to the Pistons it was the 2010-11 Cleveland Cavaliers and 2013-14 Philadelphia 76ers who held the record at 26 straight losses i.e., it was quite a feat that the Pistons pulled off.

As for Weaver, the 56-year-old was hired in June 2020 following 10 years with the Oklahoma City Thunder where he served in a number of capacities, finally taking the post of vice president of basketball operations. During his time in Detroit - four seasons to be precise - the Pistons amassed a record of 74-244 for a .303 winning percentage. On the other hand, it must be said that Weaver inherited a team that had no central star around which a roster could be built. While they did have several high-profile players in the form of lottery picks such as Cade Cunningham, the 2021 No. 1 overall pick, Killian Hayes (No. 7 in 2020), Jaden Ivey (No. 5 in 2022), and Ausar Thompson (No. 5 in 2023), the fact remains that the team never truly developed a player based identity that could be developed.

This brings us back to current circumstances, wherein the Pistons possess the No. 5 overall pick. On the other hand, reports indicate that got the best chance in the league of winning the lottery and clinching the No. 1 overall pick. Where the team itself is concerned, Monty Williams is now coach following Dwane Casey’s departure following the 2022-23 season. Indeed, it was Weaver who hired Williams - likely the result of their time working together in Oklahoma City - to the tune of $78.5 million and six years. That contract also carries a two-year team option that could surpass $100 million which is to say he’s not going anywhere anytime soon. Ultimately, a change is coming in Detroit, it’s just a question of what it looks like when it does.