Detroit Pistons: One glaring omission from Troy Weaver’s letter to fans

Detroit Pistons general manager Troy Weaver published a letter to fans as a season that fell way below expectations comes near its end.

After two-straight solid drafts for Troy Weaver and the Detroit Pistons, it seemed the franchise was finally turning things around and making positive strides forward. Fast forward to where we are now; the Pistons currently hold the NBA’s worst record at 16-62 – also tied with the 1979-80 team for the worst in franchise history – and the best odds to win the Draft Lottery, again.

As the season wraps up, Weaver wrote to the fans to clarify the organization’s direction and provide a lifeline after a disappointing season.

"“When I made the decision to join the Detroit Pistons franchise in June of 2020, it was with great appreciation and understanding for what this organization means to the city, its fans and all those who bleed red, white, and blue. I know the history, I know the tradition and I know the urgency to which our fans want to win and see us move back up the ladder of the NBA’s hierarchy. Our focus is aligned with yours – and from the top down – we are committed to delivering on this restoration process for you.Rebuilding a team does not always follow a linear path, and we experienced that this year with the injury to Cade Cunningham that forced him to miss a majority of the season. While that injury impacted the continuity of our team, it also presented an opportunity for growth from others.Overall, our players have overwhelmingly embraced the core principle of going to work and competing every night. We are in an excellent spot to upgrade our roster this offseason. We’ve positioned ourselves for another high draft choice in this year’s draft, we have a favorable salary cap position, and we’ll continue to talk with teams and evaluate trade opportunities as they present themselves.Make no mistake – we are all disappointed with our record this season but are confident that we continue to be on the right path to success. We appreciate your patience, trust and loyal support as we continue this journey together…”"

Rebuilding an organization is not easy; optimists could view this as a blip as the clear-cut face of the franchise Cade Cunningham, only played in 12 games this season after needing season-ending surgery on his shin.

Despite a poor regular season, Troy Weaver and the Detroit Pistons are in position for a good offseason.

Weaver noted the teams’ position heading into the offseason, having another high draft pick and an excellent financial place to upgrade through free agency. Also, the third-year GM clearly stated that the team was evaluating all trade opportunities that may come to the surface. Trading for James Wiseman at the deadline seemed like a puzzling move after drafting Jalen Duren, meaning an answer could be on the horizon.

The moral of the story, fans seem to believe in Weaver, and outside of a few moves, there is no reason not to believe he is the right man for the job. Of course, the elephant in the room is Dwane Casey, who currently holds a record of 120-260 as head coach of the  Detroit Pistons. Following such a disappointing season, you’d have to think that if all options are on the table, as Weaver stated in his letter, a change in the coaching direction is near the top of that list.

But there was no mention of coach Casey at all, which seems like a big omission. It could mean the team is going to move in another direction or that Weaver has confidence Casey will be back to finish out his contract. We will know soon.