Detroit Pistons: The true cost of Troy Weaver's horrible asset management

Trading for Marvin Bagley III and the fallout for the Detroit Pistons 

The Detroit Pistons started this mess by trading Trey Lyles, Josh Jackson and two second-round picks to acquire Marvin Bagley III. 

You could argue that Lyles alone was too much to give up for MBIII, who had done next to nothing since being drafted 2nd overall and had fallen out with his team. Lyles is playing rotation minutes on a playoff team and is shooting over 40 percent from 3-point range, a skill that would have undoubtedly helped the Pistons’ core more than a guy who can’t shoot beyond five feet and doesn’t defend. 

MBIII never got much of a chance with the Pistons, as he was mostly battling for minutes with James Wiseman, the pet project of Troy Weaver. Bagley III had a nice start to the season but then found himself out of the rotation even though the player behind him was worse at everything.  

But that didn’t stop Troy Weaver from giving MBIII a 3-year extension, the likes of which he wouldn’t have sniffed from literally any other team. Even if you argue that the Pistons should have extended Bagley, which no sane person would, he should have been on league-minimum deal, not one paying him over $12 million per season. 

The Pistons finally ended the relationship at the deadline, sending MBIII to the Wizards in exchange for Danilo Gallinari and Mike Muscala. Bagley III has since played well for the Wizards, an indictment of both Weaver and Williams. 

The Pistons had to send the Wizards two second-round picks just to get rid of MBIII, but at first, it looked as if the move had paid dividends. 

Both Muscala and Gallinari made positive impacts on the team with their shooting and just by being capable NBA players who know how to play the game. 

But positive impact and fit have never mattered much to Troy Weaver.