3 Biggest concerns about the Detroit Pistons next season

If you asked fans of the Detroit Pistons what they wanted out of next season the answer would likely be some iteration of the word “progress.” 

The Pistons have made none in five seasons, bottoming out, promising change, bottoming out again, rinse and repeat. 

We’ve been through coaches, a string of forgettable players and started the whole process again with a new team president and head coach, who are both making promises that are eerily similar to the last ones. 

If you asked fans of the Detroit Pistons what their biggest fear for next season is, the answer would likely be some form of “more of the same.” 

That’s the greater theme at play here but there are nuances that break down into sub-concerns. 

#1: Is this just a placeholder team? 

When Troy Weaver took over the Pistons, he immediately blew up the roster and started to put his fingerprints on it, which turned out to be like the grubby prints of a guy who picked up a wet turd. 

Trajan Langdon took a more measured approach, didn’t make sweeping changes to the roster, but added complementary veterans so he could see what he has. That’s what next season is, more “let’s see what we have.” 

But who did he really add? Tobias Harris is on a two-year deal, both Malik Beasley and Tim Hardaway Jr. are on expiring contracts. He extended Simone Fontecchio for just two years and hired a coach who had just been fired. 

These aren’t moves for the long-term, ones that will set up sustainable success, as none of these players are likely to be around next season and are just keeping their seats warm for the next guy. 

At the very least there will be more substantial roster churn before the end of the season, another reboot, another set of “complementary” veterans to help the young players who will suddenly not be so young. 

All teams have some amount of unpredictability when it comes to the roster and coaching staff, but can you honestly tell me that all or even most of these players and/or coaches will be here in three seasons? Nope. 

At some point, Langdon is going to make this “his” team with his guys and we have no idea of any of the current players will be among that group. The concerning thing is that the Pistons may not have even begun to begin this process.