Omari Sankofa II | Detroit Free Press
Detroit Pistons general manager Troy Weaver spoke with reporters Tuesday afternoon during a midseason news conference.
The Pistons are second-worst in the NBA at 10-26 after the first half, but the vibes are positive with the development of young players. The Pistons open the second half of the schedule Thursday at Charlotte.
Here are quick takeaways from Weaver’s media session:
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The rebuild has been right on schedule for the Pistons, for the most part. Hayes’ absence has been the only blight in what’s otherwise been a strong season for Weaver’s inaugural rookie class.
Hayes only played seven games before tearing his labrum in his right hip on Jan. 4. He’s rehabbing well, coach Dwane Casey said recently, and will be re-evaluated next week, exactly eight weeks after the Pistons announced his two-month rehab period.
“Next week we’ll have an update,” Weaver said. “That will be the eight-week mark. He’s progressing well. It’s been exciting to see him grow and come back from his setback. We say ‘setback,’ it’s a setup. He’s been working diligently and he looks great. We’ll have an update for you next week and excited to have him join the team.”
Pistons will get ‘long look’ at Dennis Smith Jr.
Dennis Smith Jr. closed the first half of the season on an upward trajectory less than a month after arriving in Detroit. The fourth-year point guard could hit restricted free agency this summer, meaning the Pistons will soon have to make a decision — keep him long-term, or move on?
They have 36 more games to continue the evaluation process, and Weaver said they will make the most of it.
“We’re excited about the prospects of him during the second half of the season, and going forward,” Weaver said. “He has a lot of traits that we look for in the new Pistons going forward. You’re right to assume that we’re going to take a long, long look at Dennis Smith Jr. I really like what I’ve seen thus far.”
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Weaver becoming a Lions fan
The last time Weaver addressed the media was on Jan. 14. He ended that availability with a parting message — “Go Lions.” It was the same day the Detroit Lions officially hired Brad Holmes as their general manager.
Weaver said Tuesday he sent a welcome text to Holmes and wants to get him to a Pistons home game. He appreciates there’s another GM in the city with a background in scouting. Weaver is from Washington D.C. and roots for his home teams, but he’s working to become a Lions and Tigers fan, too.
“I’m all in with the Lions ” Weaver said. “I used to tease friends and family all the time for having two teams. I never believed in that, you can’t have two teams. The last 10 days, I’ve been trying to learn the Tigers roster. I’m a huge Nationals fan, but Tigers, they’re in the American League so I can have an American League team.
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“I’m turning into a two-team guy,” Weaver, who is also a fan of the Washington Football Team, continued. “I’ll be a Lions fan as well as a Tigers fan.”