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Detroit Pistons: Expect GM Troy Weaver to be active during NBA Draft

By Michael Scott

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 11: Blake Griffin #23 of the Detroit Pistons tries to get around the defense of Treveon Graham #12 of the Minnesota Timberwolves at Little Caesars Arena on November 11, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. Minnesota won the game 120-114. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 11: Blake Griffin #23 of the Detroit Pistons tries to get around the defense of Treveon Graham #12 of the Minnesota Timberwolves at Little Caesars Arena on November 11, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. Minnesota won the game 120-114. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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Speculation regarding the Detroit Pistons’ future direction under first-year GM Troy Weaver is reaching its peak with the 2020 NBA Draft approaching.

The two-round, virtual event is perhaps the most unclear draft the league has seen in years. There’s no consensus pick that is projected to be selected first overall, and Detroit Pistons GM Troy Weaver can be expected to make some noise while beginning to erect the pillars of an organizational foundation he intends to build.

Graduating from a player-personnel executive under Sam Presti in Oklahoma City is surely exciting, and Weaver will be sure to make some noise in his Pistons draft debut. Like his mentor, the understudy has a history of finding star talent in the draft.

He’s been monumental in convincing teams to bring players such as Carmelo Anthony, Russell Westbrook, and Serge Ibaka aboard during his career.

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So why should Motor City fans expect anything less from Presti’s protege?

Both have been active in the early draft week trade business. Early Monday morning, ESPN NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Weaver traded guard Bruce Brown to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for forward Dzanan Musa and a 2021 second-round pick.

A few hours later, the reporter dropped an even bigger bomb that Presti had flipped guard Chris Paul to the Phoenix Suns in a six-player deal that netted the Thunder a 2022 first-round pick in return.

Making sense of all that activity, it’s not difficult to understand that player movement is the life-blood of the small market Thunder. It’s how they’ve managed to stay relatively competitive since relocating from Seattle in 2008.

Detroit is also a small-market team. They’re not a destination for premier free agents, so the Pistons under Weaver will look to build through trades and the entry draft. He’s no stranger to this situation, and it can be expected that he’ll be in the mix of trade scenarios and rumors up to the draft and throughout the coming weekend.

It’s quite possible he packages either Derrick Rose or Blake Griffin in a package to move up for a top selection in the draft. Rumors and whispers around the Motor City have the team pursuing guard LaMelo Ball.

Head coach Dwayne Casey wants a young perimeter guard to lead his team into the future, and the youngster has the talent and IQ that would be well suited for the coach’s system. And, he’d absolutely be a hit at the box office and help sell tickets.

On the contrary, Weaver might prefer to bring in another veteran to help fast-track this rebuild forward. Right now, the Pistons have been stuck in mediocrity for a majority of the last decade, never bad enough to garner a top-pick, and never good enough to actually compete in the playoffs. They didn’t even have an opportunity to compete in the bubble.

So, in looking to find an impact veteran, the highly-motivated Weaver should need to look no further than the league’s trading-block. High-price targets being shopped include the likes of Westbrook, Rockets guard James Harden, and Wizards guard Bradley Beal.

However, there is also a slew of other impact names being discussed as potential movers. Zach LeVine, Paul George, Andrew Wiggins, Aaron Gordon, Al Horford, Myles Turner, Caris LeVert, Spencer Dinwiddie, Buddy Hield, and Jrue Holiday are some others.

The options for Weaver are endless. The NBA is a league that’s been defined by heavy ball and player movement for a majority of the last decade. The Pistons GM has spent time learning under one of the league’s best in Presti and will now be tasked with getting the wheels of this Motor City machine moving once again.

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Prediction: Look for Weaver to move on from Rose, whose stock right now is at its highest after suffering from a rash of injuries for years. Pairing him with the number-seven pick would allow the Detroit Pistons to move up and draft an impact rookie to build around.

If healthy, Griffin will fit well in Casey’s system as he did two seasons ago. Westbrook is intriguing with three years remaining on his deal, but there’s a reason Presti and Weaver sent him to Houston last season. His game doesn’t fit well in the modern NBA. The Detroit Pistons and their new GM are in this for the long haul.

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