Detroit Pistons: Time to rise to the level of their training

In 2020, his first draft with the Detroit Pistons, Troy Weaver privileged high-character over any specific basketball talent or physical potential. Killian Hayes, Isaiah Stewart, and Saddiq Bey have all proven to be exceptional individuals who have worked hard, played to the best of their skillsets and abilities, and improved every year.

Tyrese Haliburton, drafted five picks after Hayes and selected to his first all-star game this year, has proven to be a better offensive player and probably a better basketball player overall than Killian Hayes.

Does that mean Weaver made the wrong choice?

Detroit Pistons: Troy Weaver laying cultural foundations

Weaver’s goal was to set the tone for a franchise that had lost its way. Since trading Chauncey Billups for Allen Iverson in 2008, the Pistons had sacrificed their culture for the possibility of winning. As Archilochus wrote, “We don’t rise to the level of our expectations. We fall to the level of our training.” Weaver sought to build a core of talented players who conducted themselves in a disciplined, diligent, and focused manner. He wants the Pistons to rise to the level of their training.

He valued character over talent.

In 2021, Cade Cunningham, the consensus first overall pick, thankfully fit this mold. In 2022, Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren seem to have fit this prototype as well. The Pistons have a solid young core of hard-working, high-character guys.

There will come a time, and we may already be there, when Weaver can draft solely based on basketball because the culture is in place. The draftee will have less effect on the culture than the culture will have on the draftee. The hiring of Monty Williams will go a long way to reinforcing Weaver and the team’s core values.

In fact, some of Weaver’s reclamation projects may have been more successful had the team culture been better developed.

We’ll see if the foundation is laid and the tone set. The next step will be for Coach Williams and his team to fine tune the habits and details, and the Pistons will be looking for a couple more pieces to round out the character of the team.