| Detroit Free Press
Five months after his hiring, Detroit Pistons general manager Troy Weaver finally got his chance Monday to put his stamp on the roster.
Weaver gets another gigantic opportunity Wednesday night, when the 2020 NBA draft gets underway after it was postponed five months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Weaver wasted no time once the NBA’s trade moratorium lifted Monday, shipping shooting guard Bruce Brown to the Brooklyn Nets for wing Dzanan Musa, a future second-round pick and cash. The move seemingly has a domino effect on the team’s draft and free agency plans, and is our first clue of Weaver’s vision for the franchise.
The draft is Weaver and his new staff’s big opportunity to move the team forward, as they own the No. 7 overall pick — NBA draft history says No. 7 can be heavenly. That’s the highest pick the franchise has held since 2010, when Greg Monroe was drafted.
And remember, free agency negotiations can begin 6 p.m. on Friday, and the start to the 2020-21 NBA season is Dec. 22, a month from Sunday. Buckle up!
[ Live updates: NBA trades galore ahead of draft, free agency ]
NBA draft info
When: Wednesday.
Where: Bristol, Conn.
Time: 8 p.m.
TV/streaming: ESPN, Watch ESPN App.
Picks 1-7: Minnesota, Golden State, Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Atlanta, Detroit.
Top prospects: LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards, James Wiseman.
Make sure you’re following our Pistons beat writer Omari Sankofa II: He’s on Twitter at @omarisankofa.
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Catch up on the Pistons and the draft, with a curated list of our best recent stories:
• 3 observations as Pistons get set for 2020 NBA draft
• Mock draft roundup: Pistons leaning to Patrick Williams?
• Pistons stick with Killian Hayes in our final mock draft
• Why Pistons should select Killian Hayes in draft
• Should Pistons draft for fit, upside or impact? Here’s a pick for all three
• What Pistons’ trade of Bruce Brown tells us about their offseason plan
• Trades to consider: Pistons would boost rebuild with any of these deals on draft night
• Draft prospects Pistons have interviewed and worked out, and those they haven’t
• What Pistons should do this week to earn an ‘A’ for their offseason
• How might Troy Weaver approach draft? Here are some clues from OKC
• Here’s what GM Troy Weaver said in his final predraft news conference
• Pistons have the assets to trade for Westbrook or Oladipo. They must pass
• The Pistons’ Christian Wood conundrum: Evaluating the options
• These 3 prospects might be perfect dark horse picks for Pistons
• A Pistons selection if they trade up, down or stay put in draft
• Tyrese Haliburton, ‘a Midwest guy,’ sees a fit with Pistons
• Ex-Piston Will Bynum, now a trainer, sees greatness in Killian Hayes
• LaMelo Ball has been working out in Detroit since March. Here’s why
• Why the Pistons might look to New Zealand for a draft steal
• Hey, Pistons: No. 7 pick in NBA draft can be heavenly
Follow the Free Press’ Pistons editor Marlowe Alter on Twitter: @Marlowe Alter.
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