Detroit Pistons '20-'21

[moldyoldie]

After new GM Troy Weaver's recent flurry of FA signings and trades stemming from the draft, I'm trying to figure out who is still on the team from last year! Off the top of my head, all I can think of is Doumbouya.

[edit]
Oh yeah, and Blake Griffin...but that was kind of a given. Derrick Rose and Svi, too. I think that's it.

[moldyoldie]

I shouldn't have made the edit in my previous original post.

Watching this team is fun, win or lose. I believe the makings of a "winning culture" the likes of what Larry Brown accomplished is very doable. Coach Casey has them playing at a high "team" level.

I'm still trying to get my head around who plays at what position. It does seem the modern game has taken more of a hybrid approach based on talent, athleticism, and match-ups than pigeonholing players into set positions.

[moldyoldie]

...I have significant doubt as to the front office's ability to build a cohesive team. I think this team is still three seasons away from being anything worth a damn.

Starting from scratch with a young team growing together is a time-honored method. As I've pointed out before, in basketball one or two players can make the difference between bottom-dwellers and champions. It can happen in the course of a single season with the right drafting and coaching.

By the way, Donovan Mitchell is averaging over 26 points a game this season for the 1st place Utah Jazz. Just thought I'd mention that.

If Van Gundy had drafted him, the Pistons would've been a perennial playoff team with a nucleus of Mitchell, Drummond, Harris (maybe - he still might've bolted in free agency), and Jackson.

And if we had drafted Carmelo instead of Darko....
Van Gundy is gone, Weaver's a different animal. Dwell on the past if you wish, but the game exists in the present and future.

[moldyoldie]

Wake me up in three years when this team might actually be competitive.

Well, Coach Casey has just been extended for that long.