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The Detroit Pistons will not be the worst team in the NBA next season

By Stuart London

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 08: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Tony Snell #17 of the Detroit Pistons in action against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on March 08, 2020 in New York City. The Knicks defeated the Pistons 96-84. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 08: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Tony Snell #17 of the Detroit Pistons in action against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on March 08, 2020 in New York City. The Knicks defeated the Pistons 96-84. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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DETROIT, MI – JANUARY 25: Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk #19 of the Detroit Pistons drives against Joe Harris #12 of the Brooklyn Nets. Mykhaliuk is a reason for optimism going into the season (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – JANUARY 25: Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk #19 of the Detroit Pistons drives against Joe Harris #12 of the Brooklyn Nets. Mykhaliuk is a reason for optimism going into the season (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /

Youth will be served

Detroit is not a team of tottering old guys trying to stretch out one more season of decent play.

Under contract, the only players Detroit has over 30-years-old are Blake Griffin (31) and Derrick Rose (32). The next oldest would be 28-year-old Tony Snell.

As most people know, Sekou Doumbouya was the youngest player in the NBA last season. He will not turn 20-years-old until late December.

The organization began making a commitment to youth last season as it let several veterans go, and there is no reason to think that trend will not continue.

Young players improve, or at least usually do not get worse, and are a lower risk to get injured. With a bunch of youngsters returning, plus whoever they draft at No. 7 on November 18, the Pistons should be an improved team on the court next year.

Organizational stability

Nothing causes a team to plummet to he bottom of the standings than a front office in turmoil. The Pistons seemed to have solidified their basketball operations this summer.

Ed Stefanski is entrenched as president and Troy Weaver was hired from Oklahoma City to be the general manager. Coach Dwane Casey is a proven winner from his time in Toronto. He was named the NBA Coach of the Year his final season with the Raptors.

How good they do their jobs is still to be proven, but the Pistons at least now have a stable front office of people who know their roles, unlike some NBA franchises (see 76ers, Philadelphia).

Having everyone on the same page is an important factor in a team’s success. It does not guarantee wins on the court, but you can not go far without it.

Next. Detroit Pistons Offseason to-do list: Using Cap Space in Trades. dark

Conclusion

The Detroit Pistons have a lot of salary cap space in the future, some young, promising players and a stable front office. These are all factors in the success of a team.

Assuming Griffin and Rose stay, it is hard to believe there will not be teams with worse records than the Pistons.

However, even if both players were dealt for assets, the foundation is solid enough in Detroit that Harper’s ranking of them as 30th should not turn into reality.

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