:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66951586/1191357231.jpg.0.jpg)
The Detroit Pistons are finalizing a deal to make Troy Weaver their next general manager, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported early Thursday.
The Detroit Pistons are finalizing a deal with Troy Weaver to make him the franchise's new general manager, sources tell ESPN. Weaver has been the VP of Basketball Operations with Oklahoma City.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 18, 2020
Weaver comes over from the Oklahoma City Thunder, where he spent the past decade with OKC. Weaver was a key component of the Thunder’s rise to prominence in the West along with GM Sam Presti. Weaver helped build up the teams that featured Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden.
Weaver also helped orchestrate numerous trades that panned out, including Paul George, Chris Paul and Danilo Gallinari. PG-13 was then flipped to grab Shai-Gilgeous Alexander. Dennis Schroder was also brought in and now OKC is in the thick of the playoff chase in the West.
A former College assistant coach, Weaver got his start in the NBA as a scout for the Utah Jazz back in 2004. He remained with the Jazz until joining the Thunder after their move from Seattle to OKC. Weaver went from assistant GM to VP of Basketball ops over the course of a decade and here we are.
Whenever the deal is done, Weaver will have his work cut out for him in Detroit. The Pistons are coming another down season and have failed to make the playoffs in 9 of the past 11 seasons. It’s been rough times in Detroit since the Bad Boy revival won a Championship in 2003-04. So Weaver will need to go to work on revitalizing the Pistons’ roster. Detroit badly needs talent and youth at all positions.
A few bright spots on the Pistons’ poor season have been Christian Wood and Sekou Doumbouya. Both have emerged as potential pieces in a rebuild. Wood is more of a journeyman who took a bit to find a landing spot in the NBA. Doumbouya is mid-first rounder who has shown flashes of upside as a rookie.
Andre Drummond was shipped out to Cleveland for next to nothing before the deadline and Blake Griffin has two years left on a massive contract. Weaver could look to deal Griffin to get some assets back, but at this point the aging All-Star lacks value due to injuries. After that, Weaver pretty much has a clean slate. He should get the resources he needs to build up a contender, likely through solid drafting and developing.