Cade Cunningham’s 28 points led the Detroit Pistons in their 119-112 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday. The win capped off a 2-2 West Coast road trip that showed the Pistons’ continued fight on the road. Tobias Harris also played well, adding 20 points. The Pistons return home for three straight games, starting with a back-to-back against the Washington Wizards (Tuesday and Thursday), followed by a Saturday game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Wizards’ visit to Detroit marks the return of former GM Troy Weaver. He was fired last summer after four seasons and a 74-244 record. Despite his brutal win-loss record, Weaver’s roster moves, like drafting Cunningham, Jaden Ivey , and Ausar Thompson , helped lay the foundation for the Pistons’ playoff push .
While his tenure had struggles, Weaver’s impact on the Pistons’ young core and recent momentum shouldn’t be overlooked. How much credit does Weaver deserve for assembling a roster that is now making noise in the playoff race?
Why Pistons Fans Should Be Thanking Troy Weaver
How Troy Weaver Helped Transform the Pistons Roster
When Trajan Langdon was hired , questions arose about Weaver’s future with the Pistons, especially considering Weaver’s role in shaping the team’s young core. Langdon, seeking to redefine the front office’s approach, wanted Weaver to stay on—but only in an off-site scouting role . Weaver, unwilling to accept a reduced role, declined and left, ending his tenure with the team.
Before his departure, Weaver created over $64 million in cap space, giving the Pistons flexibility for key moves. Langdon quickly utilized this space by trading for Tim Hardaway Jr., while also signing Harris and Malik Beasley . These acquisitions brought much-needed veteran leadership and stability to accelerate the development of the team’s younger talents.
This shift in strategy—from a rebuild under Weaver to a more aggressive win-now approach under Langdon—marks a significant turning point for the Pistons. The early returns on these moves have defined the franchise’s current and future direction.
Weaver’s Young Core: Shaping the Pistons’ Future
The current young core of the Pistons reflects Weaver’s vision. During his tenure, Weaver’s moves have been a mix of hits and misses—but the positives have outweighed the negatives. His efforts to rejuvenate an aging and injury-prone roster began with the 2020 draft, where he selected Killian Hayes and made draft-day trades to bring in Isaiah Stewart and Saddiq Bey .
The following year, Weaver landed Cunningham with the first overall pick, a cornerstone piece for the franchise. With the fifth overall pick in the subsequent two drafts, he added Ivey and Thompson—two high-upside talents expected to play crucial roles in the team’s future. While Bey and Hayes didn’t pan out as hoped, Stewart’s development along with the potential of Ivey and Thompson have kept the core promising.
Coaching, however, has been inconsistent, with the team struggling to find the right fit despite investing in experienced options. Now, the Pistons appear more organized and competitive under J.B. Bickerstaff , who has a reputation for maximizing young talent. If the new coach and young core continue to gel, the Pistons could become a rising force in the East.
The Last Word
Troy Weaver’s tenure with the Pistons may be over, but his impact on the team’s future is clear. His ability to find and acquire young talent helped lay the foundation for the franchise’s future. From drafting Cade Cunningham to seeing players like Isaiah Stewart, Jaden Ivey, and Ausar Thompson, Weaver’s vision is visible in the current roster.
Though not all of his moves panned out, Weaver’s bold decisions reshaped the team and gave it a new direction. As the young core continues developing, the Pistons show renewed promise. Fans should appreciate the groundwork Weaver laid. His contributions will echo for years to come. For that, Pistons fans say: Thank you, Troy Weaver.
Photo credit: © Brian Bradshaw Sevald-Imagn Images
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