Troy Weaver’s vision for Detroit Pistons is taking shape

The Detroit Pistons have lost eight in a row and have the worst record in the NBA, so it might sound silly to say things are going to plan, but they are.

Troy Weaver knew he was in for a long-term rebuild when he took over as General Manager for the Pistons, as Detroit had little talent, few assets and a bloated payroll full of overpaid veterans who were no longer producing.

Flash forward to the present day and the Pistons are a completely different team and don’t have a single player who Troy Weaver didn’t bring in himself.

The Detroit Pistons are young, rebuilding and not very good but you can see Troy Weaver’s plan for the team starting to come into focus.

Goal #1: Get rid of all of the Detroit Pistons bad contracts

Weaver is not quite there yet, but the Pistons are almost free of any and all bad contracts.

After this season, Blake Griffin’s disastrous deal comes off the books and the Pistons will be one of four teams with copious amounts of cap space next offseason.

After next season, DeAndre Jordan’s dead money will be off the books, though we’ll still have to wait a few more years to get Dewayne Dedmon off the payroll.

If you look at the Pistons payroll, it is looking good for them to be able to add at least one impact free agent next offseason and possibly another max deal in the next.

Even if the Pistons strike out in the free agent market, there are many ways to use that cap space, including making a big trade for a proven star.

Detroit is in a great place financially and should be a major player on the free agent and trade market over the next several seasons.

Goal #2: Get a superstar in the draft

The Pistons landed Cade Cunningham with the number one pick in the draft, and although he’s just getting started, there are signs that he is going to be a superstar.

Even though he has been inconsistent shooting the ball so far (almost all rookies are), Cunningham has shown that he can impact the game in a number of ways.

He is a plus rebounder for his position, already grabbing six a game and his passing is much better than his assist numbers would indicate, as currently his teammates cannot make a shot.

He has a great attitude, is a natural leader and it looks as though Detroit finally has another star after a LONG drought.

Cunningham is the exact type of player you want to build your roster around, as he can play all over the place defensively, is unselfish and genuinely wants to win.

He’s versatile enough that the Pistons can continue to just take the best player available in the NBA Draft and not worry about how they fit because Cade can adapt.

But it takes more than one superstar to be a contender.

Goal #3: Get the Detroit Pistons a second superstar

While I like Saddiq Bey and Isaiah Stewart as role players and part of the core of the team, the Pistons will need more high-end talent around Cade Cunningham.

Luckily, it looks like they are headed for another top pick in another loaded draft. The Pistons picked two good years to be bad, as there was obviously impact talent up and down the draft board last season and that appears to be the case again.

ESPN scout Mike Schmitz sees Troy Weaver’s vision:

There are several high-end talents in this draft who would look great on the Pistons next to Cade Cunningham.

With Jerami Grant‘s contract expiring after next season, the Pistons can start planning for his replacement or his protege (if they decide to re-sign him) and draft a forward like Paolo Banchero or Jabari Smith, who would both fill their need for shooting and athleticism.

There is the unicorn Chet Holmgren, who has a guard’s bag of skills in a 7-foot body or rim protector Jalen Duren who would give the Pistons the shot blocker and lob threat they lack.

The Pistons have a great chance to add another star in the draft and from there it’s just a matter of adding pieces and watching them flourish.

This offseason the Detroit Pistons can add a free agent, then sit back and watch them grow

With Griffin’s contract coming off the books next offseason, the Pistons will be in a great position to add a young, impact player through free agency or trade.

There are a number of guys available, but Deandre Ayton of the Suns might make the most sense as a young, up and coming center who can run the pick-and-roll, defend and catch a lob.

But even if the Pistons strike out on Ayton (or don’t think he’s worth a max), there are a lot of second-tier guys who could help the Pistons, or they could just sit on their cap space and try to make a big move or add assets by facilitating a trade with their open space.

By this point next season the Pistons will have at least one number one pick, another top pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, two good role players and a ton of money, which should be pretty attractive to prospective players.

Troy Weaver warned us that this restoration wasn’t going to happen overnight, and realistically the Pistons are still a few seasons away from really competing, but the vision is starting to take shape and so far all the boxes have been checked.