Remember when the Detroit Pistons were a powerhouse in the NBA? When the Bad Boys ran the league? Or when the greatest defense of all time knocked off the Lakers in 2004? Those were the times. The Pistons were actually a competent organization.
What they have now is an atrocity. Their 28 straight losses, spanning from October to December 30th, were an abomination to the game of basketball. The Pistons finished this brutal season 14-68, finishing with the worst record in the league in back-to-back years.
This franchise just can't get it right. Draft picks aren't developing rapidly enough; wrong draft picks were selected, and fans are fed up. This type of dysfunction stems from the top of the organization. This thing could get turned around with some fresh blood. The next president of basketball operations needs to have a keen eye for the salary cap, the ability to understand what type of players mesh, and the respect of everyone in the building.
Potential President of Basketball Operations
Bob Myers
The late 2010's Golden State Warriors is a perfect example of what the Detroit Pistons look to become. A lot goes into being a team at that level. You need a generational superstar like Steph Curry and high-level stars like Klay Thompson and Michigan State's Draymond Green.
It's not easy to acquire a talent like that, so the Pistons could look to add the man responsible for this dynastic run, Bob Myers. Myers was the general manager/president of basketball operations for 11 years. The Warriors saw their highest levels of success under Myers. He built through the draft and made pivotal moves such as trading for Andre Iguodala, Kevin Durant, and Andrew Wiggins. Those dynamic wings all contributed to Golden State's four championship run.
Acquiring talent has been an uphill battle for Detroit. They strike out in free agency annually, and when they do land players, these guys don't always contribute when they arrive. Myers has been around the NBA long enough to understand what type of players would gel together. He's the type of GM players develop under because of who he puts in place.
Chris Grier Luchey
There's nothing like hiring a man who embodies the culture of Detroit. None other than Chris Grier Luchey, who is a Detroit native. He's intrinsically motivated to help the Pistons steer this ship in the right direction because he is Detroit.
Luchey is a longtime NBA agent with connections that date back to Academic Betterment and Career Development camps.
Sonny Vaccaro founded and ran the ABCD camp from 1984 to 2006. The best high school players in the county attended the camp and competed relentlessly. It was a platform where stars showed off their unique skill sets in front of several coaches, including Jim Boeheim and Mike Krzyzewski. Players like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Kevin Garnett are camp alumni.
The relationships Luchey cultivated at these camps and during his time as an agent are invaluable. He has close ties with Vaccaro and assisted several players in landing life-changing deals. Wilson Chandler is forever indebted to Luchey.
He's the type of president who can relate to players because he's been around basketball all his life. He's been in those locker rooms. He picks up on body language and can read guys. You need that skill when trying to put together a competent team. You need talent, but ideally, these players' skills should complement each other.
Luchey doesn't have the experience Bob Myers has, but all he needs is a chance. I'm not sure the Warriors knew they were getting one of the best executives in the league when they signed Myers years back. He was also an agent turned front office member, and look at the success he achieved. Leon Rose of the Knicks is another excellent example of how these connections as an agent pay dividends in front-office roles. If Luchey can run the show, he'll turn the Pistons around.
Comments