Detroit Pistons: 3 reasons Khyri Thomas was a good pick
By Amaar Burton
3. The Pistons’ future is now
Having led the Toronto Raptors to five straight playoff appearances, including a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2016, Casey did not come to Detroit to manage a rebuild.
The Pistons have missed the playoffs eight of the last nine years, and haven’t been past the first round since 2008. But Casey thinks he has the foundation in All-Star center Andre Drummond, All-Star power forward Blake Griffin and point guard Reggie Jackson to make some noise in the East sooner than later.
“I’m telling the guys now: We’re not developing, we’re not two or three years away,” Casey said in his introductory press conference. “We want to win right now.”
That said, the Pistons have an immediate need for shooting and defense in the backcourt, which just so happen to be two areas where Thomas shines. Trading two future second round picks to get a player that is ready to contribute in the present is a move consistent with what Casey says he wants to do in Detroit.