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Another last-place finish will bring changes to the Detroit Pistons.
To date, no one has lost their job, but Pistons’ owner Tom Gores did not rule that out after announcing the club has start a search for a head of basketball operations for the team.
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“I am committed to doing whatever it takes to build a winning team,” Gores said in a release. “Nothing is off the table.”
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Troy Weaver was hired with much fanfare in 2020, but the club has gone just 74-244 on the court for a .233 winning percentage during his tenure, which is the eighth-worst mark for a league executive in NBA history according to Basketball Reference.
The Pistons set an NBA record with a 28-game losing streak at one point this season en route to a league-worst 14-68 record.
“This past season has been incredibly difficult and frustrating for our fans, players and the entire organization,” Gores said.
The new hire will be the first of its kind since 20018 when Stan Van Gundy held the role of head coach and basketball operations for the Pistons. Whoever takes on the post will also operate above Weaver and have final say on front office and coaching hires while answering directly to Gores.
Weaver made Killian Hayes his first pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, but ended up waiving the former No. 7 pick overall this season. He’s also responsible for drafting Cade Cunningham first overall in 2021, Jaden Ivey and Ausar Thompson over the past two seasons. He was also responsible for the high-profile hiring of head coach Monty Williams this past season to replace Dwane Casey, but with no success on the court.
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Detroit will again have the best odds for the top pick in this year’s NBA Draft for the second-straight year, but with no Victor Wembanyama-like prospect available.
“We will continue to invest in our core group of young players and surround them with the right complimentary talent,” said Gores, who purchased the team in 2011. “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.”
Lions secure trio
The Detroit Lions have re-signed running back Craig Reynolds, linebacker James Houston and offensive lineman Kayode Awosika to exclusive right contract.
Undrafted out of college, the 27-year-old Reynolds spent time with Washington, Atlanta and Jacksonville before arriving in Detroit in 2021. The five-foot-11, 216-pound Reynolds finished last season with 179 rushing yards on 41 carries and one touchdown playing behind David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs.
A former sixth-round pick by the Lions in 2022, the six-foot-one, 245-pound Houston had eight sacks in his rookie season, but was limited to just two games last season due to injuries.
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Also undrafted into the NFL, the six-foot-three, 315-pound Awosika came to the Lions in 2022 after parts of two seasons with Philadelphia. He spent time at both guard positions last season while appearing in 15 games with three starts.
Tigers claim Adcock
The Detroit Tigers have claimed right-handed reliever Ty Adcock from the Seattle Mariners and placed him on the club’s 40-man roster.
The 27-year-old Adcock, who had been designated for assignment by the Mariners last week, has been assigned to Detroit’s Class AAA Toledo farm club.
The six-foot, 213-pound Adcock was an eighth-round pick by Seattle in 2019. He made his Major League Baseball debut with the Mariners last season and appeared in 12 games while posting a 3.45 earned-run average in 15 2/3 innings with 11 strikeouts.
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