The Lakers have been playing mind games with the Pistons all offseason long, but Detroit's most recent close call has more to do with Luka Doncic personally than his team. The Pistons nearly lost adviser Dwane Casey to a head coaching position with BC Roma SPQR, a new team in Italy's Serie A that was co-founded by Doncic. Fortunately for the Pistons, they were able to retain Casey in his role, where he's served the Pistons since 2023.
Casey could have been a big loss for the Pistons
For the last 3 years, Casey has occupied a front office role as the Pistons have executed a masterful turnaround. They went from a franchise-worst season in 2024 winning just 14 games to leading the East with 60 victories just two years later. Casey certainly wasn't the only executive with a hand in the turnaround, but his previous NBA connections could have given the Pistons underrated advantages is securing transactions.
Before his front office days, Casey was a longtime head coach in the NBA. He coached the Pistons for 5 seasons from 2018 to 2023, and notably held a position with the Raptors prior. During his 7-year run as a head coach for the Raptors from 2011 to 2018, Casey helped the team rebuild to become a perennial playoff contender and eventually won Coach of the Year in 2018 before being unceremoniously fired.
Casey has more than his fair share of NBA experience with players of all different kinds. Although he hasn't featured in the same prominent role on the Pistons' sidelines for a few years, his expertise navigating player relationships could be very helpful navigating precarious situations with youngsters and veterans alike. The Pistons need stability in their front office to retain a common vision as they build towards a title contender.
The Pistons can't afford too much turnover
Compared to last year, the Pistons have had a good amount of changeover this offseason. They parted ways with both Isaiah Stewart and Tobias Harris, who were vocal leaders in the locker room. And they've brought in a bunch of new faces, ranging from Isaiah Joe to John Collins and Ebuka Okorie.
Too much change within the team's management at the same time could be a recipe for disaster. Some other teams have had success with big front office changes when a past regime wasn't doing its job, including the Pistons themselves when they got rid of Troy Weaver and Joe Dumars. Another standout example is the 76ers adding LeBron James and Jaylen Brown this summer after firing Daryl Morey.
But the Pistons have no reason to doubt their current front office. That includes Casey, who has earned his dues as both a coach and an executive. Detroit is glad to retain its veteran contributor, especially at the expense of Luka Doncic.
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