The Detroit Pistons have formalized their search for a president of basketball operations.
The organization announced the search Monday night, following Free Press reporting on Sunday the team is seeking new leadership following a franchise-worst 14-68 finish to the 2023-24 season. The new president of basketball operations will operate over Troy Weaver, who just completed his fourth season as general manager, and will have final say on front office and coaching hires.
The president will report directly to Pistons owner Tom Gores and Weaver and his staff will remain in their current roles “while the organization assesses where adjustments are needed,” the statement said.
“I am committed to doing whatever it takes to build a winning team,” Gores said. “Nothing is off the table. As tough as this season has been, a bright future is available to us. It’s in our power to get this right, and we will. This is a pivotal summer for the Pistons.”
REQUIRED READING: Worst season in Pistons history sets up most important offseason in a generation
It’s the latest attempt by Pistons ownership to align the organization as it tries to climb out of yet another sputtered rebuild. The Pistons have won a combined 31 games through the last two seasons, accounting for the worst and third-worst seasons the team has ever produced. The team regressed this season despite entering with the expectation to compete every night.
Gores hinted at pending front-office changes in December as the team was in the midst of an NBA-record 28-game losing streak, and this latest announcement is the first public step the organization has taken. It will be the first time the Pistons have had a team president since Stan Van Gundy stepped down from the role in 2018.
Per sources, the aim in hiring a president is to get a splintered front office back on the same page. While Weaver has been Detroit’s lead signal-caller as GM, Gores and vice chairman Arn Tellem have also had input as the team’s year-to-year record has stagnated. There needs to be one unified voice, rather than several competing agendas.
“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 complementary talent.”
Weaver has some accomplishments to his record, such as drafting Cade Cunningham No. 1 overall and cleaning up the books to open roughly $60 million in cap space this summer. But the Pistons are 74-244 for a .233 win percentage with Weaver as GM, the eighth-worst mark for a lead executive in NBA history, according to Basketball Reference.
READ MORE: Painful, humbling season provides long list of lessons for Detroit Pistons
The press release clarified Weaver and the rest of the basketball staff remain in their current roles. But the pending president hire could force change, depending on which direction they wish to pursue.
The Pistons ended the season Sunday with a 28-point road loss to the San Antonio Spurs. The organization intends to move quickly in evaluating the field of candidates and will hire a consultant to lead the search.
Contact Omari Sankofa II at [email protected]. Follow him @omarisankofa.
Make “The Pistons Pulse” your go-to Detroit Pistons podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) or watch live/on demand on YouTube.
