The first task for new Detroit Pistons General Manager Troy Weaver will be to select the team’s next top player.
With the official announcement of the 2020 NBA draft lottery being pushed back to August 25th, teams will have more time than usual to evaluate this years’ crop of young talent. Detroit Pistons fans will have plenty of time to research their favorite prospects.
The uncertainty of the NBA draft combine happening at all makes this years’ evaluation process unique. For many players, the pre-draft process is a way to boost their stocks by showing off their skills right in front of league scouts.
One thing that is certain is the Pistons finally have their architect of the future. On Thursday Woj reported that the team will hire long time Oklahoma City Thunder executive Troy Weaver as their new general manager – a move that will surely effect the franchise’s decision making going into this offseason.
Hiring a new GM shows the franchise is ready to move into a new direction. Weaver inherits a roster where Luke Kennard (23 years old) is the longest tenured player. Maybe the one positive of missing out on the regular season return in Orlando is giving Weaver the time to get acclimated to the organization and start planning.
No matter the draft position, the Pistons seem to be in the market for a point guard. Fans have starved for the possibility of a star floor general since the departure of Chauncey Billups in 2008.
However, it may be best to go the best player available route in this draft. The team is still far from serious contention, and they should be in talent acquisition mode.
Building a team this young may be tough for a few years, but an exciting youth movement might just be what the fan base needs to invest back into Detroit Basketball.