If you put your ear to the door of Detroit Pistons fans, you might hear anything from cheers to trumpets. Not only do they have a new president of basketball operations in Trajan Langdon, they’re getting rid of general manager Troy Weaver.
Pistons make the hiring of Trajan Langdon officially official. Here are some quotes from owner Tom Gores and Langdon: pic.twitter.com/G6wowQb0iA
— James L. Edwards III (@JLEdwardsIII) May 31, 2024
Frankly, nobody knows much about Weaver in Detroit outside of the frustration he’s caused with directionless team-building. However, that’s really all that they need to know; his tenure with the Pistons could not have been any worse.
Trajan Langdon In, Troy Weaver Out
To start, the Pistons simply have not won much since hiring Weaver in 2020. After four seasons, they’ve won total of 76 games with him as the grand architect. In 2023-24, they had their worst record of all-time. This after making Monty Williams the highest-paid coach in NBA history. Worst of all, they played that poorly while having four lottery picks healthy for most of the season.
Yet, when taking in the full view of Weaver’s tapestry, the biggest flaw is that it’s full of missed opportunities.
Troy Weaver’s Tapestry
Weaver’s first major decision was drafting French point guard Killian Hayes with the seventh overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. Hayes’s passing and defense kept him in the league much longer than his woeful shooting would have suggested. Nonetheless, at just 22 years old, Hayes is already all but out of the league.
Tyrese Haliburton, Tyrese Maxey, and Desmond Bane —star-caliber guards —were all drafted after Hayes.
Weaver’s next big boy choice was to trade Luke Kennard and Bruce Brown for Saddiq Bey, Rodney McGruder, Jaylen Hands, and Džanan Musa in 2020. Kennard has led the league in 3-point percentage twice since being traded and has the third highest 3-point percentage (.439) of all-time. Brown was instrumental in the Denver Nuggets’ championship run (2023).
Bey and McGruder played no more than two full seasons with the Pistons. Hands and Musa never played for Detroit at all.
In 2021, Weaver drafted Cade Cunningham, a versatile point guard with natural leadership ability. This is undoubtedly the best choice he’s made as general manager. Though Cunningham has been injury-prone and hasn’t quite lived up to his potential, the former No. 1 pick is among the league’s best players.
Yet, rather than provide Cunningham with a sensible supporting cast, he surrounded him with players who couldn’t shoot or wouldn’t defend. Oftentimes, both.
Indeed, inconsistency at both ends has been Jaden Ivey’s issue since being drafted fifth overall in the 2022 NBA Draft. Jalen Duren, an explosive rebounder, was picked 13th overall that same draft. Not only is his range restricted to inside arc, he lacks ideal defensive awareness. Then there’s 2023 No. 5 pick Ausar Thompson, a monster defender but mediocre shooter.
Who Is Michael Blackstone?
According to The Athletic’s James L. Edwards III and Shams Charania, Pelicans vice president of basketball administration Michael Blackstone is set to take Weaver’s place. Prior to heading to New Orleans in 2020, Blackstone previously worked for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks.
With the Cavs, Blackstone was the executive director of basketball operations for three seasons (2010-2013), helping them navigate through a particularly challenging time. In that time, the Cavs drafted Kyrie Irving with the first overall pick. He and Tristan Thompson, picked fourth overall that same draft (2011) went on to win championships with LeBron James in 2016 as key players.
With the Hawks, Blackstone was an assistant general manager under head coach and president Mike Budenholzer for one season. In 2015-16, Atlanta went 48-34, reaching the playoffs for the second consecutive year. However, they lost 12 more games than the previous season. They also made the curious decision to trade Jeff Teague for Taurean Prince when the former was fresh off of his first All-Star selection. A month prior, they drafted DeAndre’ Bembry multiple picks ahead of Pascal Siakam, Dejounte Murray, and Malcolm Brogdon.
Ultimately, he’s a mixed bag as well. Nonetheless, Langdon is the top decision-maker. With that said, Blackstone’s influence will have its limits, for better or worse.
