Troy Weaver has shown that he is not afraid to put his fingerprints all over the roster of the Detroit Pistons.
After trading away Svi Mykhailiuk for Hamidou Diallo, there is a new Pistons’ player on the hot seat: Sekou Doumbouya.
Mykhailiuk had probably been the most disappointing Piston up until he was traded away, but now Doumbouya assumes that role by default, as he has not shown much in his second season to be excited about.
I’ve been one of the people preaching patience with Doumbouya, as he came into the league as a very young and very raw prospect who is still just 20-years-old.
It is too early to give up on Doumbouya but there are signs that he could be the next one shipped off if things don’t turn around.
Fans have soured on his potential and the front office may be next.
Detroit Pistons: Sekou Doumbouya has not progressed as planned
Doumbouya had some impressive flashes last season that may have set expectations a bit too high for this one.
I didn’t expect Doumbouya to have a breakout season to be honest, but I thought we’d see him build on some of the big games he had last season in his rookie campaign.
That hasn’t happened, as Doumbouya’s numbers have dropped across the board and he doesn’t look as athletic or as confident, which is disappointing given what we saw just last season.
His minutes have been inconsistent to be fair, but Dwane Casey has shown he will play the young guys when they earn it and Doumbouya hasn’t.
After being used sparingly in the last couple of games, Doumbouya is teetering on the brink of being out of the rotation.
Doumbouya is now the last man standing from the pre-Weaver era, so the question is whether he will be traded next. We broke down the pros and cons of this move.
Detroit Pistons: Pros and cons of trading Sekou Doumbouya
Pro: Troy Weaver has a clear vision for what he wants this team to be and has so far shown a sharp eye for talent.
Doumbouya is now the longest-tenured Piston and the last guy who Weaver didn’t either draft or get via free agency or trade.
If Weaver really wants to wipe the slate clean and start over, then it makes sense to trade Doumbouya for a prospect he likes or for another draft pick.
This would get the stink off the former roster and Weaver could continue to bring in guys who fit the culture he is trying to build in Detroit. So far, that looks like athletic defenders who play hard every night and Doumbouya has yet to show he is any of those things.
Con: THE KID IS 20-YEARS-OLD! Just for reference, Pascal Siakam was 22 in his rookie season, a full two years older than Sekou is halfway through his second. The Pistons knew he was a project when they drafted him, he wasn’t even a lottery pick and that draft was horrible, so it’s not like he was a top-five pick in a loaded draft. The Pistons took a swing on high-upside talent, but everyone knew it would take time for him to develop.
Trading Doumbouya now would be pretty unfair to him, as he hasn’t even really gotten a chance to develop given the circumstances of last season, a shortened offseason and a whole new team to adjust to, not to mention having to play behind Blake Griffin’s corpse, which couldn’t have been good for his confidence.
The Detroit Pistons are not going anywhere in the next few seasons so there is no rush to jettison Doumbouya. It looks like a panic move from a team that has no reason to panic or be in a rush. It’s not a great look for the other Pistons’ young guys who might then feel their future rides on every bad game.
Detroit Pistons: Pros and cons of trading Sekou Doumbouya
Pro: Even though I’ve said the Pistons need to be a bit more patient with Doumbouya, he is still eating up a roster spot that could be claimed by someone else, possibly a player with higher upside.
Obviously, not having a G-League team to play on was a disadvantage, as the Pistons could have just let him play big minutes, be the centerpiece of the team and gain some confidence. But without that, he is just a guy running around whose spot might be better used on someone who can contribute.
Saben Lee has earned the right to at least get a tryout next season, same with Dennis Smith Jr. Both of these guys could be gone or on two-way deals if Doumbouya is still on the roster next season and they are just two of many players who would love the opportunity that Doumbouya is getting and could do more with it.
Do the Pistons have time and roster spots to waste on guys who might not be ready for another four or five years?
Con: I don’t need to remind Pistons’ fans that the team has a history of giving up on guys too early. Do we really want another Spencer Dinwiddie or Khris Middleton situation? The Pistons gave up on those two guys, shipped them away for nothing and then watched them become All-Stars on other teams.
The same could certainly happen with Doumbouya, has still has high-ceiling upside and may just need a chance to flesh it out with more minutes and a consistent role.
He is only 20, so giving up on him now would be risky, as most NBA players do not round into form until they are 24 or 25 when they come into the league with such raw skills and need for improvement.
My verdict is that it is still too early to give up on Sekou Doumbouya, mostly because the Pistons are not going to be good for a few years anyway and it’s not like he’s eating up a huge chunk of the salary cap or playing big minutes.
It would be unfair to give up on this kid given the circumstances of the pandemic and last offseason, as that has undoubtedly had an effect on the development of a lot of young guys.
Doumbouya may be on the hot seat but unless the Detroit Pistons are getting a real asset back in return, there is no reason to trade him….yet.