Detroit Pistons: The future isn’t as certain as it may seem

Detroit Pistons fans felt a great sense of optimism when it was made clear that they were finally entering a rebuild. How sure is it?

When the trade deadline arrived and the Detroit Pistons traded Andre Drummond to the Cleveland Cavaliers, it was the first time in the better part of a decade that the franchise’s direction was clear.

In seemingly every interview that he’s appeared in since the move, Pistons Senior Adviser ed Stefanksi has referred to Detroit’s current situation as a rebuild.

Hearing that word can sometimes scare fans away and drive away their interest in the team, but for Pistons fans it felt like a breath of fresh air. The choice to rebuild not only felt long overdue but also felt nearly impossible under owner Tom Gores.

The plan was made clear from the very next game that they played. Detroit wanted to use this opportunity to give their younger players time to develop.

With no Blake Griffin or Luke Kennard in the mix, it freed up plenty of time to play whoever they wanted. After the buyouts of Markieff Morris and Reggie Jackson, this reality only deepened.

Before the suspension of the NBA season things weren’t going well for the Pistons in terms of actually winning games, but the products they were trying to develop were making great strides. Most notably, the dominating performances put on by Christian Wood.

This isn’t the first time that Detroit has tried to adhere to this strategy though.

In an interview right after the Pistons released Josh Smith, Stan Van Gundy said this:

"“We are shifting priorities to aggressively develop our younger players while also expanding the roles of other players in the current rotation to improve performance and build for our future.”"

So while it’s not explicitly referring to the current situation as a rebuild, because it’s not entirely what they were aiming for, the principal remains the same.

Detroit wanted to use the opportunity to play youth over veterans. In the end, it never worked out because a majority of their younger players just weren’t cut out for the NBA, and just a few years later the Pistons traded for Griffin in order to “win now”.

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There’s an undeniable parallel here. Although it’s two completely different front offices and two completely different coaching staffs, the same philosophy being enforced in a six year span can become worrisome.

What if Kennard’s knee issues flare back up? What if Bruce Brown can’t develop a more consistent offensive game? What does Detroit do with Griffin?

There are so many variables that go into a potential rebuild. If down the road we see a similar move to the Griffin trade, it would mean a few things.

For starters, it would mean that the team has either drafted, signed, or developed assets significant enough to land a player of that caliber which is great. Although, you’re also giving them up.

It would also mean that they can’t stay dedicated to a cause. Rebuilding doesn’t mean you’re breaking the mold in order to win 40 games for a few seasons.

This is all completely hypothetical, and the truth is that  Stefanski hasn’t done anything to warrant distrust in his tenure as (for all intents and purposes) the Pistons GM.

They could easily find themselves coming out of this rebuild in five years with a close to finished product in Sekou Doumbouya, which could propel them to new heights. They’ll have a quality draft selection this season, and the same could be said about whoever they pick.

Time will tell how the Pistons are able to move forward, but fans shouldn’t feel complacent.