Detroit Pistons: The season is over, what’s next?

Guessing the plan

My guess is worry would be misplaced at this point. Weaver’s background as a scout and in player development with the Jazz and the Thunder set the stage for a similar type of build in Detroit. He was in Utah when they drafted Deron Williams (unfortunately over Chris Paul but still) and Paul Millsap (in the second round no less). He was reportedly a big proponent of taking James Harden while in Oklahoma City, which was a much hotter take at the time than results would have you believe.

Noting that the team needs “big-time competitors” may seem off base for fans looking to take issue but when it comes from a man whose background is in scouting and building through the draft it should be music to their ears. Weaver is well aware of how important nailing draft picks is and there is a reason he decided to come to the team when they had cap space for the first time in years and the first (hopefully) top-five pick since 2003.

Furthermore, fans hoping for a lengthy tank may be ignoring how quickly things can turn around. Last season the Grizzlies and the Pelicans finished as the 12 and 13 seeds in the West with their future looking bleak as they moved on from Marc Gasol, Mike Conley and Anthony Davis respectively.

One year later and some draft lottery luck and they have two of the young faces of the league and are challenging for a playoff spot in what is considered the tougher conference. The reality that Ed Stefanski laid out (as quoted above) shows that should the Pistons get lucky in the draft the higher reaches of the playoffs may not be that far. So what will he do this summer?