Pistons, Troy Weaver part ways with Trajan Langdon’s entrance
The Detroit Pistons will part ways with General Manager Troy Weaver, according to Shams Charania of the Athletic. Following the announcement of Trajan Langdon’s appointment as the new president of basketball operations, the Pistons’ front staff needed to make a fast decision about Weaver’s future.
According to Charania and James Edwards III of the Athletic, the Pistons are in talks with New Orleans Pelicans executive Michael Blackstone to serve as Langdon’s second-in-command decision maker. Blackstone has worked for the Pelicans basketball administration for numerous seasons.
Troy Weaver’s Pistons tenure has come to an end.
Detroit was never designed to achieve continuous and immediate success under Weaver. Under his guidance, the Pistons have gone 74-244, for a winning percentage of.233. The departing general manager was hired away from the Oklahoma City Thunder in June 2020. Weaver was approaching the four-year anniversary of Detroit’s hire.
After finishing last with a 14-68 record last season, the Pistons were in desperate need of change. The club struggled with depth, in-season adjustments, and staying healthy. The problems resulted in in-game “sell the team” cries from home supporters, as well as an NBA record-setting 28-game losing run. Their 14-68 conclusion sealed the franchise’s lowest record in history.
Weaver signed to a four-year contract extension with the Pistons in 2022. The extension has not and will not take effect since being dismissed by the franchise.
One of the most promising things Weaver was able to do in Detroit was bring in young talent such as Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Jalen Duren, and Ausar Thompson. They depended largely on the growth of their young core, but it was never enough to propel the Pistons into contention.
Cunningham is considered the franchise point guard, but Weaver has failed to surround him with established talent. The Pistons have historically been passive with their cap space, preferring to acquire older veterans or reclamation projects on expiring contracts such as Joe Harris, Monte Morris, Alec Burks, and others. Weaver and team owner Tom Gores did not appear to agree on the controversial hiring of head coach Monty Williams.
Langdon currently controls the franchise, with Weaver no longer involved. Restoring the Pistons will be a difficult undertaking, but the former Pelicans general manager has tools to help turn things around with the NBA Draft and free agency approaching.
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