James Edwards III: Sources: There have been a few changes to Pistons front office. George David is now associate GM; Rob Murphy, Tony Leotti and Josh Bartlestein have all been named assistant GMs.
NBA Rumor: Pistons Front Office
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Rod Beard: #Pistons GM Troy Weaver on the rebuild: “The process is to build a sustainable winner, and that takes time. I’m sure everyone would like us to fast-track it, but you only have one shot at this thing.”
James Edwards III: Weaver on Cade/young players: “They stay true to their characters and who they are. They get better every day and understand it’s a process.”
James Edwards III: Weaver on Marvin Bagley III: “We’re excited about adding Marvin to our group. He fits our timeline with these other young guys. The one thing we were void of, and that’s on me, is athleticism in the frontcourt. He will provide that.”
Ben Wallace joining Pistons as advisor
Omari Sanfoka II: Ben Wallace is joining the Pistons as a basketball operations and team engagement advisor. He will assist the front office and coaching staff as a player developer and mentor and will also participate in business and community efforts.
James Edwards III: Sources tell me @TheAthletic Josh Bartlestein is having his title adjusted to include basketball ops, as he continues a role in connecting the Pistons’ business side and basketball side of the operations.
Adrian Wojnarowski: The Detroit Pistons have agreed on a deal to bring back George David as an assistant GM, sources tell ESPN. David spent 19 seasons in Detroit’s front office before leaving to work on the player rep side with Wasserman in 2015.
The marketing team also found ways to capitalize on non-jersey player merchandise. Once “Beef Stew” became the colloquial nickname for Stewart, the Pistons partnered with America’s Test Kitchen to film an episode with chef (and Detroit native) Elle Simone Scott made beef stew with Stewart and Rick Mahorn. “I definitely think undoubtedly the on-court product is always going to impact the business,” Kirkham said. “All the recognizable names it’s going to drive. However, we take pride in manufacturing moments and building our player’s brands, even if they may not be as well-known. Take Isaiah Stewart, for example. We leaned in and fans nicknamed him ‘Beef Stew.’ We create product, we create some really cool content in partnership with America’s Test Kitchen, and that ends up being one of our best-sellers in e-commerce throughout the year.”
Both Zavodsky and Kirkham are newer additions to the business side of the organization. Zavodsky was hired last June, and Kirkham joined the Pistons last August. They’ve seen the team change almost completely within their short time with the franchise. They’re excited to see what will come next. “I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t exciting,” Zavodsky said. “Troy’s given us a great story to tell. He’s assembling a great unit of players who are also good people, I think that’s an important piece and why the fanbase has gravitated around them. And I think it’s our job on the business side of the house to not only tell that story, but give people other reasons to like the brand and gravitate towards it.”
Pistons to hire George David as assistant GM
Omari Sanfoka II: The Pistons are planning to hire George David as assistant GM, a league source tells @freep. David is a Pistons veteran who previously spent nearly 18 years with the org in various front office roles. Hasn’t been finalized but told he will be hired.
James Edwards III: The Pistons have hired George David as assistant general manager, sources tell @TheAthletic. David was with the organization previously for close to two decades in various roles, including assistant GM from 2012-14.
James Edwards III: The Detroit Pistons and assistant general manager Dave Mincberg have mutually agreed to part ways, sources tell The Athletic.
Troy Weaver: 'I don't anticipate having too many roster spots available'
The Pistons are in a youth movement, but that doesn’t mean they’re just going to send all their veterans packing. Weaver hinted at his season-ending press conference that there wouldn’t be much movement with free agents, as they valued their experience and contributions this year. “I don’t anticipate having too many roster spots available. We like our group and we’re excited about guys under contract and even our own free agents,” Weaver said. “I don’t anticipate much turnover at all. I would say maybe one or two additions from the outside, but the answers for the Pistons moving forward are all in-house.”
Tom Gores: 'We require a little bit of patience'
With five rookies on the 15-man roster and eight players 23 or younger, Gores knows that being competitive and having that translate to immediate success might not be possible. But he’s invested in watching the progress of the team and asks the same of Pistons fans. “We require a little bit of patience,” he said. “It was difficult, but it was the right thing to do and I like what Troy’s doing in jump starting it reasonably fast with all these young folks. It’s not about me. It’s about getting to the end road we all want to get to.”
Then came June, when Weaver, who started with zero connections on perhaps the bottom rung of the basketball career ladder ascended to the top when the Detroit Pistons hired him as their general manager. He’s believed to be the first former AAU guy to hold such a job. “I love a good story. I love start-ups,” Pistons owner Tom Gores told Yahoo Sports. Gores, as a child, immigrated with his family from Lebanon to outside Flint, Michigan, where he worked his way into a self-made billionaire. “The story isn’t why we hired Troy though,” Gores said. “Troy’s ability to evaluate talent was the No. 1 reason. He is concise in how he sees talent. He sees it on a micro-level. I’ve met a lot of executives who know basketball. Troy is just on a whole different level.”
Jason Buckner, who has served eight years as manager of scouting for the Indiana Pacers, has joined the Detroit Pistons as their director of draft scouting, league sources with direct knowledge of the situation tell IndyStar. Buckner, who also served in a dual role as regional scout the last three years and has an expertise in getting background on prospects, had already left the Pacers before the firing of coach Nate McMillan in late August.
Pistons general manager Troy Weaver is rounding out his staff with new appointments announced Monday. The Pistons added Britta Brown as the senior director of basketball administration and will manage day-to-day team operations and logistics. Brown previously was an assistant athletic director at Eastern Michigan University and played lacrosse at the University of North Carolina.
Tony Leotti is the new senior director of strategy and systems and will assist with overseeing the salary cap as well as strategy. Leotti had been with the Cleveland Cavaliers for four seasons in a joint role as director of basketball administration and team counsel. Leotti also worked with the NBA league office as associate vice president and senior associate counsel. Two new pro personnel evaluators are Harold Ellis and Ryan West. Ellis previously was a Pistons assistant coach from 2008-09 and a scout from 2009-12. Since then, he’s worked as a director of pro scouting with the Orlando Magic and director of player personnel with the New York Knicks.
Marc J. Spears: The Pistons announce the additions of Britta Brown, Senior Director of Basketball Administration, Tony Leotti, Senior Director of Strategy and Systems, Harold Ellis and Ryan West, Pro Personnel Evaluators, and Michael Lindo, Director of Player and Family Engagement.
Adrian Wojnarowski: The Pistons finalized a deal to hire former Lakers executive Ryan West to a player evaluation role in the front office, sources tell ESPN.
The Detroit Pistons announced today that the team has named David Mincberg as assistant general manager. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Mincberg comes to Detroit from Milwaukee where he spent three seasons with the Bucks, including this past season as Vice President of Basketball Strategy.
Pistons hiring David Mincberg as assistant general manager
Adrian Wojnarowski: Detroit Pistons assistant GM Pat Garrity will be departing the organization, sources tell ESPN. His contract was expiring and new GM Troy Weaver is starting to reshape the front office.
The Thunder have been in this position before. For the fourth time in their 12 seasons, the Thunder have lost an assistant general manager to another team. It’s a testament to the sharp minds general manager Sam Presti has surrounded himself with in Oklahoma City. This time is a little different. Troy Weaver was different, from his eye for talent (documented by The Athletic’s James Edwards III) to his truth-telling style, from his storytelling to his trash-talking.
Weaver — the Thunder’s vice president of basketball operations for the last seven seasons — bridged the gap between executive and player better than any high-ranking front-office member in the Thunder’s history. It’s why so many players who’ve come through Oklahoma City were overjoyed when Weaver was named the general manager of the Detroit Pistons on June 18. When Thunder guard Chris Paul picked up his phone and saw Weaver was hired in Detroit, he called and congratulated him. Even before Weaver was hired — when there were reports Weaver was in the running for the Detroit GM job — Paul called then, too.
It was Weaver who helped Paul’s transition from Houston to Oklahoma City. “Personally, I had a tricky summer being traded when I didn’t know I was going to be traded, and Troy made my transition so smooth,” Paul said last week. “I can’t imagine going through last summer without someone like Troy.” Many former players can’t imagine their Thunder experience without Weaver.
To wit: Weaver was the only candidate to interview with the Pistons’ owner, Tom Gores, according to a person familiar with the search who was not authorized to discuss it publicly. Beyond maximizing the Pistons’ forthcoming high draft pick and some newfound financial flexibility after the February moves to jettison Andre Drummond and Reggie Jackson, Weaver’s immediate challenges include learning his new terrain and meshing with the various voices in Detroit after spending the last 12 seasons in Oklahoma City. Gores leans heavily on Arn Tellem, the longtime power agent who serves as Detroit’s chairman, and Ed Stefanski, who will remain with the Pistons in his position as a senior adviser to Gores.
To wit: Weaver was the only candidate to interview with the Pistons’ owner, Tom Gores, according to a person familiar with the search who was not authorized to discuss it publicly. Beyond maximizing the Pistons’ forthcoming high draft pick and some newfound financial flexibility after the February moves to jettison Andre Drummond and Reggie Jackson, Weaver’s immediate challenges include learning his new terrain and meshing with the various voices in Detroit after spending the last 12 seasons in Oklahoma City. Gores leans heavily on Arn Tellem, the longtime power agent who serves as Detroit’s chairman, and Ed Stefanski, who will remain with the Pistons in his position as a senior adviser to Gores.
Although team owner Tom Gores and Stefanski have conceded that the Pistons are beginning a rebuild, Weaver isn’t so quick to use that term. “This isn’t a rebuild — it’s a restoring. There’s been greatness here,” Weaver said Monday in his virtual introductory press conference. “The Motor City deserves a consistent winner back on the floor.”
“You have two veteran big-time players that are looking to restore their careers: Blake Griffin, who is a perennial All-Star, and Derrick Rose. Both guys have had some injury history and they’re looking forward to building their careers back,” Weaver said. “That stood out and we’re excited to get them healthy and help us moving forward. “The second piece is the young players on the roster: Sekou (Doumbouya), (Luke) Kennard, Bruce Brown and Svi (Mykhailiuk) and (Christian) Wood. We feel like we have a good mixture of young guys with those two staples to start there.”
Weaver, Gores, Casey, Stefanski and Pistons vice chairman Arn Tellem were all on the video conference Monday. “I always recognized Troy as one of the top talent evaluators – you just look at the finished products in OKC, he had a big part of doing that. Not only that, he’s a man of his word,” Casey said. “He’s genuine, he’s real, and I will say this, and in today’s time, with all the unrest, here’s an opportunity for an African American man to be named to this position, and I’m going to credit Tom and Arn and Ed for opening up the door for the opportunity for him to step in.”
Rod Beard: #Pistons Ed Stefanski on front office structure: “I see myself as the senior adviser to Tom Gores…I’m all about winning. We all have egos.”
Rod Beard: #Pistons GM Troy Weaver on the roster: “You have two veteran, big-time players looking to restore their careers (Griffin and Rose). Both guys have had some injury history and looking forward to building their careers back. We’re excited to get them healthy.”
Rod Beard: #Pistons team owner Tom Gores on new GM Troy Weaver: “It’s an exciting day to be able to bring a person the caliber of Troy to Detroit.”
Eric Woodyard: Pistons Owner Tom Gores on hiring new GM Troy Weaver: “We just felt it was time to go big or go home.” Gores said they tried to talk with him a few years ago, too, but OKC wasn’t ready to let him go.
Rod Beard: #Pistons Gores: “He’s the GM, no doubt about it; he’s in charge of a lot of decisions … he has a great grasp of our basketball team and the roster, but I like his leadership.”
Rod Beard: #Pistons GM Troy Weaver: “This isn’t a rebuild — it’s a restoring. There’s been greatness here.”
Rod Beard: #Pistons coach Dwane Casey on new GM Troy Weaver: “We’re rebuilding our roster and Troy brings a tremendous amount of experience. He’s one of those guys who has a knack for talent … the next couple of years of developing our roster is a key team in our organization.” via @NBATV
Adrian Wojnarowski: Troy Weaver agreed to a four-year contract as GM, sources tell ESPN.
Pistons to hire Troy Weaver as general manager
Rod Beard: Confirmed that the deal is done and Troy Weaver is the #Pistons’ new general manager. Woj first.
Mike Dunleavy, JR Holden on Pistons' radar
Nets director of player personnel J.R. Holden and Warriors assistant GM Mike Dunleavy are among the executives on the Pistons’ radar as they look to add to their front office, per SNY sources. Holden had a remarkable Euroleague playing career and worked for both the 76ers and Pistons in scouting roles before Nets GM Sean Marks added him as director of player personnel last year.
Dunleavy Jr., a 15-year NBA veteran, started scouting with Golden State in 2018 and was promoted to assistant general manager last season. Nets assistant GM Jeff Peterson and Thunder VP of basketball operations Troy Weaver are among the top candidates for the Pistons’ opening, SNY sources confirm.
James Edwards III: I’m told that the #Pistons’ plan is still to hire a GM first and then allow that person to fill out his team. Unless things fall through, expect assistant GMs to be named after GM is hired.
Adrian Wojnarowski: ESPN Sources: Three serious candidates have emerged for the Detroit Pistons GM job: Clippers assistant GM Mark Hughes, Nets assistant GM Jeff Peterson and Thunder VP of Basketball Operations Troy Weaver. Those conversations are continuing this week.
Adrian Wojnarowski: ESPN Sources: Three serious candidates have emerged for the Detroit Pistons GM job: Clippers assistant GM Mark Hughes, Nets assistant GM Jeff Peterson and Thunder VP of Basketball Operations Troy Weaver. Those conversations are continuing this week.
Pistons eyeing Troy Weaver as GM?
Marc Stein: Longtime Thunder executive Troy Weaver has emerged as the top choice in Detroit’s search for a new GM, @NYTSports has learned, with the Pistons actively working to complete a deal to hire Weaver
Vincent Goodwill: Sources to @YahooSports: Major hurdles have been cleared to pave way for OKC’s Troy Weaver to become Detroit Pistons new GM. Both sides want to make this happen
Pistons eyeing Troy Weaver as GM?
Marc Stein: Longtime Thunder executive Troy Weaver has emerged as the top choice in Detroit’s search for a new GM, @NYTSports has learned, with the Pistons actively working to complete a deal to hire Weaver
Vincent Goodwill: Sources to @YahooSports: Major hurdles have been cleared to pave way for OKC’s Troy Weaver to become Detroit Pistons new GM. Both sides want to make this happen
Pistons interested in hiring Chauncey Billups as an assistant GM
The organization would also welcome a reunion with Chauncey Billups, who has maintained that he is interested in being hired only as general manager, according to a source. The Pistons would prefer to hire Billups, who has no NBA executive experience, as an assistant, where he could learn the ins and outs of working in a front office.
After hiring a general manager, the front office will begin its search for an assistant. The goal is to find someone light on experience who could eventually grow into a larger role within the organization. The timing of the decision to fill one or both positions shows that the organization is committing to change. Per a source, the team is prioritizing diversity in both searches. Former Pistons forward Tayshaun Prince, who is currently the vice president of basketball affairs for the Memphis Grizzlies, is a candidate for the assistant GM job.
The Pistons are in the market for their first general manager since 2018, but it remains to be seen if the role will be filled for the 2020-21 season. Sources told The Athletic that while the team’s focus is on hiring for that job, Detroit could consider hiring multiple assistant general managers instead. The timing of the hires and what roles will be filled will be dependent upon how the search pans out, per a source. Assistant GM Malik Rose left the team earlier this week for a role with the NBA.
Among those who could be on the consider list for the assistant GM job? Former Pistons forward Tayshaun Prince, now the Grizzlies’ vice president of basketball affairs. Prince has been working in Memphis’ front office only since 2017, so it appears the team would target him only for an assistant general manager position.
The Pistons also have had interest for many years in finding an assistant general manager job for former point guard Chauncey Billups. Per a source, Billups, to this point, has shown interest only in lead GM jobs if he is to make the leap from TV analyst to a team executive.
It appears the team would prefer an experienced candidate for the GM job, someone who can step in and make an immediate impact. With Detroit rebuilding and focusing on young talent, a decision-maker with an eye for player evaluation and drafting seems to be of the utmost importance. The Pistons are likely to hold high lottery picks for the foreseeable future, and building the organization through young, cost-friendly talent appears to be their best path back toward relevancy.
Eric Woodyard: As Detroit continues its GM search, multiple sources tell ESPN that the Pistons haven’t requested permission to interview former Piston Tayshaun Prince for the role. Prince is currently Memphis’ Vice President of Basketball Affairs and wasn’t on Detroit’s initial interview list.
Ryan McDonough about Pistons GM candidates
Malik Rose leaving Pistons
Stefan Bondy: Detroit assistant GM Malik Rose is leaving the organization to take a job with the NBA, according to multiple sources. The Pistons are searching for a new GM to work with Ed Stefanski.
A league source confirmed Tuesday to The Detroit News that the Pistons are looking to add a general manager, who will report to Stefanski. It’s an opportunity to add another voice to the front office who will assume more of the day-to-day responsibilities.
A league source confirmed Tuesday to The Detroit News that the Pistons are looking to add a general manager, who will report to Stefanski. It’s an opportunity to add another voice to the front office who will assume more of the day-to-day responsibilities.
Rod Beard: The #Pistons still are working on their list of candidates for their GM opening. One would have to think that Tayshaun Prince would be on that list, along with possibly Chauncey Billups.
Vincent Goodwill: Ed Stefanski will remain at the top of basketball operations for the Pistons, if they hire a GM, a source tells Yahoo Sports. Pistons have been quietly vetting candidates since before the league shutdown, according to sources. @Adrian Wojnarowski first on official news of search
Rod Beard: A league source confirms the #Pistons are opening a search for a general manager, but there is no timeline to complete the process.
Pistons looking for a GM to work with Ed Stefanski
The Detroit Pistons are opening a search to hire a general manager to work with senior adviser Ed Stefanski, sources told ESPN. Detroit plans to begin contacting potential candidates to start an interview process this week, sources said.
Stefanski will be working with Pistons and Palace Sports vice chairman Arn Tellem on the process to hire a GM, sources said. The new GM will work closely with Stefanski and coach Dwane Casey on personnel matters. Stefanski and Casey were hired in 2018.
Vincent Ellis: But some #Pistons tidbits. Everyone is expected back from coaching, front office. Coaching consultant Corey Gaines was on a one-year deal, but could return.
Rod Beard: #Pistons Ed Stefanski: “This is a plan. We’re not going at warp speed because we don’t have the flexibility to go warp speed. Would I want to go warp speed? Yes. We have to make good decisions. We can’t bring in players that we’re not sure of on pretty expensive contracts.”
Rod Beard: Senior adviser Ed Stefanski on #Pistons Wired podcast: “I will tell the fans I’m not going to make a deal that could hurt us going forward that could be instant relief but could be only for this season and then we could have issues going forward. That makes no sense to me.”
Rod Beard: Senior adviser Ed Stefanski on #Pistons Wired podcast on whether they’re buyers or sellers at the deadline: “Neither. We’re in a hold (position).” He said he’ll likely wait until the trade deadline on Feb. 7 to make a decision.
DFP: Going into trade season, what are you trying to get accomplished? Ed Stefanski: “We as a front office, we talk to the league on a regular basis, finding out from teams what their philosophy may be right now, but the thing is, it always changes. A lot of teams — trying to make the playoffs — will wait to see where they are at the trade deadline in February to discern whether they are buyers or sellers. The majority of teams are waiting. Teams that are struggling mightily may be sellers right now and if there’s a deal out there, they’ll pull the trigger, but like every year, more trades are going to occur closer to the deadline.”
DFP: Besides the obvious issue of creating a future problem to solve a current one, can you further explain the reluctance to create a better cap situation at all costs? Ed Stefanski: “We’re in cap restrictions right now. We were this past free agency and we will be again the next free agency. If we had to get off assets for cap relief, with our cap situation it really wouldn’t improve more than what we already have — the midlevel exception — for next year. We wouldn’t improve substantially so to use assets to get off some of the contracts you may want to get off — I’m not saying we want to — but to do something like that? It still wouldn’t create a lot of room.”
DFP: Has Blake Griffin exceeded expectations? Ed Stefanski: “I didn’t know what to expect from Blake. In talking to him this summer, he mentioned this is the first summer in a while he’d been totally healthy and I think it’s shown. He’s very difficult (to defend), he’s a force out there, he’s playing at an All-Star level. I enjoy watching how the other teams want to come out and play him. A lot of teams get physical with him, … teams bring double teams, teams bring triple teams and he’s been real good at finding the open man. … Most of this year he’s found the open man and we run a lot of our offense through him.”
The Detroit Pistons announced today that Sachin Gupta has been named assistant general manager. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.
Vincent Ellis: The Detroit Pistons announce Sachin Gupta has been named assistant general manager. He will oversee analytics, source tells the Free Press.
James Edwards III: The Detroit #Pistons have announced the hiring of Gregg Polinsky as director of player personnel. He’s been with the Nets since 1999 in various scouting and personnel positions.
The Pistons have hired Gregg Polinsky as director of player personnel, a league source confirmed to The Detroit News on Thursday. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski first reported the hiring. In his new role with the Pistons, Polinsky he will oversee the scouting department and report to senior adviser Ed Stefanski. The two worked together previously with the Brooklyn Nets.
Vincent Ellis: Aside from Nets exec Gregg Polinsky joining #Pistons front office, Pat Garrity and Andrew Loomis, holdovers from SVG staff, are here in Vegas and are likely to remain.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Detroit has hired Brooklyn’s Gregg Polinsky as Director of Player Personnel, league sources tell ESPN. Ed Stefanski and Polinsky worked together for years with the Nets. Polinsky will take on a larger front office role with Pistons.
February 1, 2023 | 8:59 am EST Update
Matisse Thybulle drawing interest from Warriors, Kings
Multiple NBA sources said the Golden State Warriors have had internal discussions about Thybulle and that they do like him as a defensive stopper. The Sacramento Kings are also reportedly monitoring his availability. A league source confirmed the interest, saying Kings coach Mike Brown is a fan of Thybulle, who would add a defensive presence to Sacramento’s starting lineup. The Kings (28-21), who surprisingly sit at third place in the Western Conference, are pondering upgrades for a postseason push after an NBA-record 16 straight seasons without a playoff appearance. The Kings’ and Warriors’ interest makes sense and is something to pay attention to.
So Thybulle was shopped last summer. Sources said the Sixers even attempted to trade him to the Portland Trail Blazers on draft night as part of a three-team deal that would have brought the Houston Rockets’ Eric Gordon to Philly.
HoopsHype: LeBron James on the scoring record 👂 pic.twitter.com/ZsF6oRp0kA
James was asked if he thought the achievement — a hallowed record in not just basketball but across all professional sports — was now “heavier” with it being so close. “It’s not getting heavier,” he said. “I’m going to do it. I mean, it’s just a matter of time when I’m going to do it. It’s not heavy. I’m not going anywhere. I’m going to be in this league for at least a few more years. “I’m going to do it. It’s not heavy at all.”
James’ ability to sustain at such a high level remained otherworldly, as the 38-year-old star is now 89 points away from passing Abdul-Jabbar’s record scoring mark that has stood for nearly 39 years. “He’s just a kid who’s grown before our eyes, the last 20 years at this level, has done nothing but play the right way and make the play that’s in front of him,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said. “Regardless of how much he’s been criticized for a while for not taking the last shots and the overpassing, he’s just making the right plays. You saw that again tonight.”
The question is how much more can he pad his soon-to-be scoring record? James hasn’t played more than 67 games in a season since 2017-18, but even if he plays 60 next year and sees a modest dip in his scoring average to 25 points per game, we’re looking at 1,500 more points, which would make him the first player to clear the 40,000 barrier. If he plays one more year after that to get in his run with Bronny, that would likely add another 1,500 or so and set the record at 42,000 points.
In other words, breaking LeBron’s record will probably require averaging more points per game than he did, because playing as many games in this era will be extremely difficult. (It’s also possible the league shortens the schedule at some point.) Additionally, James got an extra year at the beginning of his career relative to today’s players because he came to the league straight from high school, which is not possible at the moment. The league could potentially reverse its position, of course, but for now it’s another impediment to any potential record-breaker. James got a 1,654-point lead on the field in that 2003-04 season in Cleveland.
