Remember all that buzz about the Detroit Pistons looking for a new head coach? Scratch that. Troy Weaver is not leaving. What follows is a rundown of the many ways in which this will benefit the Motor City.
The Detroit Pistons made the announcement on Tuesday that they would be strengthening and reorganizing their front office for basketball. As part of this, they will be hiring a new head of basketball operations who will report directly to franchise owner Tom Gores. General Manager Troy Weaver and the basketball staff will remain in their positions and current roles while the organization assesses where adjustments are needed, according to the Pistons official press release.
“This past season has been incredibly difficult and frustrating for our fans, players and our entire organization,” said Gores. “We will continue to invest in our core group of young players and surround them with the right complimentary talent.”
For those following the NBA, the news might not come as a huge surprise. Troy Weaver, the Pistons’ current general manager, has been steadily building something special in Detroit. Drafted players like Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey are already turning heads, and the team is slowly progressing except for bringing results to the table.
We should not overlook the fact that building a winning team takes time, and constant change at the top can disrupt that process. With Troy Weaver staying put, the Pistons can focus on player development and building a strong team culture without worrying about a new GM shaking things up.
Troy Weaver was definitely brought in for a reason. He has a clear vision for the franchise, and it seems ownership trusts him to see it through. This continuity allows Weaver to execute his plan without second-guessing.
Any young talent needs nurturing and the Pistons have a core of exciting young players. Weaver, who has a strong track record of scouting and development—let’s not forget his days with Oklahoma City—is the perfect guy to help them reach their full potential.
Of course, there are still challenges ahead. The Pistons are far from a finished product, and the Eastern Conference is a tough place to navigate. But with Weaver at the helm, Pistons fans can be cautiously optimistic about the future.
Is Troy Weaver a talent whisperer?
Troy Weaver, general manager of the Detroit Pistons, was not always in charge in Detroit. Weaver worked behind the scenes for the Oklahoma City Thunder for several years prior to joining the Pistons in 2020.
Here’s why that’s important. For more than ten years, the Thunder were a formidable team, and Weaver is recognized as having played a significant role in that success.
Think of Weaver as a talent scout with a golden eye. Russell Westbrook, James Harden, and Steven Adams were among the future superstars he assisted in identifying while he was in Oklahoma City. These players formed the foundation of a team that qualified for the playoffs every year and even advanced to the 2012 NBA Finals.
The secret sauce behind Weaver’s success with young players in Oklahoma City is a bit of a mystery. But here’s what we can guess: Weaver was probably an expert in three things.
First, he could spot hidden talent in young players, even before they were NBA stars. Second, he wasn’t just fooled by flashy moves. He figured out what each player did well and what they needed to improve on. But most importantly, Weaver might have had a superpower: believing in players. He saw these young guys and probably read their thoughts. This combo of finding talent, understanding players, and a sprinkle of belief probably helped Weaver build a winning team in Oklahoma City.
Now, Weaver is using his talents to build a winning team in Detroit. With exciting young players like Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey, Pistons fans are hoping Weaver’s magic touch can work its magic once again.
