The Detroit Pistons have been so bad that the only hope for fans is that things can only get better in the future. Right?!?
After finally breaking their embarrassing 28-game losing streak, the Pistons got right back at it and have lost two in a row, one via blowout and one because they didn't play any defense, losing against Utah despite one of their best shooting nights of the year.
A new year brings fresh hope, though the Pistons have done their best to dash that with two losses to start 2024. Will things turn around this calendar year? Here are some predictions about wins, possible trades and which players, coaches and front-office staff will be fired.
I warn you, the future isn't looking much better than the painful past and the brutal present.
Detroit Pistons record for the rest of the season
I was one of the optimistic fools who believed the Pistons would be marginally improved this season. I was but a summer child back then and thought the Pistons had a chance to double their win total from last season. Yes, I am the donkey that never quite catches the carrot dangled in front of him.
Even getting back to 17 wins this season would take a miracle and I am all out of belief. I have the Pistons winning six more games this season, for a final record of 9-73, which would tie the worst record in NBA history for a full season.
If the Pistons fail to win even 10 games, which is a distinct possibility, as they have the 8th-toughest remaining schedule in the NBA, there will have to be big changes from the top down.
Players the Detroit Pistons cannot bring back
There have to be changes all over the franchise, starting with this terrible, poorly constructed roster.
Luckily, the Pistons have seven expiring contracts this season and they should take the opportunity to clean house.
None of these players should be on the roster next season:
-Joe Harris
-James Wiseman
-Alec Burks
-Killian Hayes
-Kevin Knox
-Isaiah Livers
Replacing these players with average NBA talent would go a long way toward fixing this roster. The Pistons need to replace Harris, Burks, Knox and Livers with two-way wings and forwards who can defend AND shoot.
They need a competent backup center, a veteran who knows how to play defense.
And they need a quality backup point guard, which is why I didn't list Monte Morris even though his deal is also expiring. He'll be back just before the trade deadline (hopefully) so could end up traded, but he fits what the Pistons need and wants to be in Detroit, so there might be a match there on a future contract if he comes back, shows he is healthy and can still play.
But these won't be the only players we see the back of in 2024.
Detroit Pistons who should be traded
The will they/won't they game with Bojan Bogdanovic needs to end one way or another in 2024. Either the Detroit Pistons will trade him before the deadline or pick up his option for next season at $20 million.
It appears the team is leaning towards the latter, though that could change if the right offer comes up. If the Knicks were to offer the Pistons their pick back, they'd almost have to move Bogdanovic, as it would allow them to add more draft picks into future trades.
My prediction is that Bogdanovic will eventually be moved for a late first-round pick and an expiring deal, likely less than they would have gotten for him last season. If that first-round pick is never on offer, expect Bojan to be back.
The Pistons should be able to deal Alec Burks now that it looks like he remembered how to shoot. They aren't going to get much for Burks, so don't get too excited, but he should net them a young player and a second-round pick or two from someone, possibly the Miami Heat.
I don't think the Pistons will find a taker for Marvin Bagley III but they should be trying, as he isn't even in the rotation right now, $12.5 million well spent there, Troy! Weaver has $25 million wrapped up in two backup centers who combined aren't as good as Andre Drummond, who is making $3.3 million this season. Talk about not getting value for money, the Pistons roster will be improved dramatically by ditching these two and replacing them with minimum veteran centers.
I predict the Pistons will come up short in trading MBIII, but Bogdanovic and Burks will be gone.
The Pistons will overpay in a trade or free agency but get one player
We know the Pistons need to add talent, and if they have an extra first-round pick it will be easier to do so in a trade.
I do think the Pistons will try to make a splash in the trade market or free agency but the fans will probably not be happy with the result, as they are going to have to overpay one way or another.
Who is that player going to be? A trade for Pascal Siakam with the hopes of re-signing him? Trading for Tobias Harris (doubtful) or waiting for him in free agency (possible). Using the 2024 top-5 pick to trade for Lauri Markkanen? (I hope).
The Pistons will make a splash in 2024 but are limited on how big it can be and will have to overpay to get it. This is a nebulous prediction, but there are too many moving parts and permutations.
They will make a splash, but it will be an expensive one.
The big question is who will be making the trade.
Troy Weaver will be fired by the Detroit Pistons
Despite what owner Tom Gores said recently, he will have to fire Troy Weaver if the Pistons fail to win 10 games, it's that simple.
The problem is that he won't do it now, so Weaver will still have a trade deadline to make this even worse (if possible). Who knows, maybe he will make the right move and save his job. There is a slight possibility that the Pistons make a big trade at the deadline, start to play well around the changes and save Weaver.
It's more likely that he offloads some contracts for peanuts at the deadline, the Pistons fail to win even 17 games this season and Troy Weaver will be fired. If this is the route the Pistons are going to take, I'm not sure what they are waiting for, as they should give the new regime as much time as possible to plan how to fix this mess.
My prediction is that Weaver gets the deadline, it doesn't work out and he gets fired at the end of the season, which will make a lot of fans happy.
Personally, I'll be gutted, as it will be proof that the hope we had was misplaced all along. I'm sick of the fans who would rather lose and be right about their "hot takes" than win and be wrong. I want the Pistons to win. I want Troy Weaver to succeed, so firing him will be an admission that Detroit is lost with no plan on how to fix it.
Sorry there isn't more optimism for a new year, but there is little reason to think things are going to improve right away. There are no quick fixes for the Detroit Pistons.