I guess any optimism around the Detroit Pistonsif there is one, is very slim after a 14-win season in the Motor City. Add to that 31 wins over the last two years and, well, what’s flatter than a razor?
However, after the worst season in franchise history, the Pistons have attempted to repair their mistakes, cleaning house this offseason at both the front office and coaching staff, bringing in new decision-makers and, believe it or not, spending money on functional positions. NBA players.
Not long ago, Detroit, even in the midst of defeat, had enthusiastic fans for its professional basketball team. Young players showed promise. Games were played hard. There seemed to be a plan. Then, in the blink of an eye, the narrative changed. Losses continued to pile up at a historically bad rate. Games were no longer played hard. Young players who once represented hope were judged harshly. Welcome to a rebuild.
Under the leadership of new president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon and new head coach JB Bickerstaff, The Pistons will try to pick up where the previous regime left off — just as that regime did and the regime before it — and create a picture worth investing in. Given the circumstances, Langdon started off on the right foot and, at least on paper, he’s improved Detroit’s roster in just a few months of work without sacrificing any of its young, talented prospects. It seems like a step in the right direction, but in these parts, it’s hard to believe it until you see it.
Soon, we’ll all be able to judge for ourselves, as the Pistons are just over a month away from training camp for the 2024-25 season. As we do every year here at The AthleticI want to check the temperature of the fan base before the season starts.
We’d like fans to voice their opinions on the state of the franchise moving forward as well as expectations for next season by polling you on 11 topics. Do you believe in what the Pistons are building? What is a good outcome for next season? You get the gist.
This is your chance to tell us what You I’ll think about it and find out what other fans think. The results of the fan survey will be posted later this week, along with a commentary on why I think the answers were given the way they were.
You will find the survey below.
(NOTE: Readers using our app on an Android device may need to use two fingers to scroll through the survey. If you have difficulty, use this link to take the survey.)
(Photo by Cade Cunningham(Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images)
