Detroit Pistons

Philadelphia 76ers forward Tobias Harris may reunite with one of his former teams in free agency during the 2024 offseason.

According to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer, "several NBA executives" believe that Harris will sign with the Detroit Pistons as a free agent although other teams are expected to be interested.

Pompey also noted that the 31-year-old's time with the 76ers is "expected" to be over following the team's current 2024 playoff run.

Harris previously played in Detroit, starting in 121 games for the Pistons from Feb. 2016 until he was eventually traded in Jan. 2018. He's currently playing out the final season of a five-year, $180 million contract that he signed with the 76ers in 2019.

The veteran forward hasn't exceeded expectations in Philadelphia. After averaging 20.0 points per game during the season prior to his five-year deal, Harris has averaged just 16.3 points each night over the past three years.

Still, he's proven to be a consistent shooter that could provide value on a relatively less expensive deal for a team that lacks proper floor spacing. Harris hasn't shot below 35 percent from behind the arc over a full season since 2017.

The Pistons could be interested in a reunion due to his shooting as the team looks to build around 22-year-old guard Cade Cunningham. During the 2023-24 season, Detroit ranked No. 26 among all teams in overall three-point percentage (via NBA.com).

With the Pistons' win total decreasing in each of the previous three years, general manager Tory Weaver could target veterans in free agency to help the team compete in the Eastern Conference. Detroit is also in the process of searching for a new head of basketball operations, which could determine Harris' potential reunion with the organization.

Detroit Pistons general manager Troy Weaver will remain with the team in his current role as the organization searches for a new head of basketball operations, the Pistons announced Monday:

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowksi first reported the news.

Weaver has served as the Pistons' general manager since 2020, although the team has struggled throughout his tenure which included a league-worst record of 14-68 during the 2023-24 season.

Detroit decided to hire a new head of basketball operations on Monday and will begin the search process "this week," per Shams Charania of The Athletic.

The Pistons' head of basketball operations role has remained vacant since 2018, although the new executive is expected to operate over Weaver and head coach Monty Williams in order to oversee all basketball decisions, according to Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press (h/t Yahoo Sports).

Team owner Tom Gores previously hinted that the team may add to the front office during a Dec. 2023 interview.

"Change is coming, I'm just saying in terms of Monty, Troy, all of that stuff, there will be a place," Gores said, via Sankofa II. "But I'm all over them, and they'll tell you that too. There's a lot of accountability that has to be held. There might be additions to staff, but what's for sure is change is coming."

While the Pistons have accumulated several promising young players under Weaver such as guards Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey, the front office has also experienced several draft missteps. Detroit selected point guard Killian Hayes with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2020 draft, as All-Star Tyrese Haliburton was the No. 12 pick.

Hayes was released by the Pistons in Feb. and did not sign with another team.

Detroit's win total has decreased in each of the past three years, capped off by a dismal 2023-24 campaign in which the team set a new NBA record by losing 27 consecutive games in a single season.

While Weaver will maintain his current position, the Pistons' top decision-maker will be a fresh face for the 2024 offseason.

Detroit Pistons head coach Monty Williams will be under the microscope even if it is reportedly likely he will return to his position next season.

James L. Edwards III of The Athletic reported on the Eastern Conference team Sunday and noted Pistons governor Tom Gores may hire a new president of basketball operations who would oversee all basketball decisions. It is something Detroit has not had since 2018, and, in theory, could mean the new decision-maker may look to hire a new staff.

Yet Edwards noted "it appears as of now" that Williams will return in 2024-25 as long as "demonstrates that he can deliver significantly more progress in the development of its team and players" as the Pistons seek "total synergy from the top down."

Williams arrived in Detroit ahead of the 2023-24 campaign with plenty of fanfare considering he had just led the Phoenix Suns to three consecutive playoff appearances. One of those postseason appearances came in 2020 when he guided the team to the NBA Finals before a loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Some rebuilding was to be expected for the Pistons after they went 17-65 in 2022-23, but they have actually taken a step back in the standings with a 14-67 record this season. They also achieved some infamy by losing an NBA-record 27 straight games in a single season.

That losing streak finally ended at 28 on Dec. 30, which tied the 2014-15 and 2015-16 Philadelphia 76ers for the all-time record. Philadelphia set the mark across two different seasons.

There may be some reason for optimism in Detroit, as Cade Cunningham is an excellent player and building block at 22 years old. Jaden Ivey, who is also 22, has shown flashes of his potential, as has 20-year-old Jalen Duren.

Still, it is hard to feel too encouraged with the worst record in the NBA, which is why Williams will be facing pressure to help develop immediate improvement.

Otherwise the front office and perhaps a new president of basketball operations may look elsewhere.

Detroit Pistons head coach Monty Williams reportedly won't be open to a buyout of his six-year, $78.5 million deal, which he signed before the 2023-24 season.

Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports provided the report as the Pistons wind down a season that sees them sit last in the NBA standings with a 13-63 record.

"For now, at the bottom of the standings, there has been ongoing speculation among rival front offices about a potential change atop Detroit's organizational chart following the Pistons' strugglesome campaign. At this juncture, according to one source with knowledge of the situation, there is no expectation that Williams would be open to any buyout of his six-year, $78.5 million contract."

Detroit began the year by winning two of its first three games but proceeded to lose an NBA-record 28 straight.

It's been a rough season for Detroit, obviously. The team is in the middle of a massive rebuild, so the Pistons weren't expected to just start competing for the playoffs. But a 28-game losing streak to all but end the team's season before midpoint of the NBA season was certainly concerning. There have been plenty of lifeless games along the way as Detroit plays out this disastrous season.

The Pistons are also ending this year on a rough patch, losing 10 of 11 games.

Naturally, fingers are pointed at the general manager (Troy Weaver) as well as the coach. Weaver, who has been the Pistons' GM since 2020, shoulders more of the blame for the team's current state.

Some draft picks and additions have simply not worked out (e.g. Killian Hayes), although the roster has seen a rash of injuries that has in part led to 30 players taking part in games this year. Developing any sort of continuity and chemistry is a near-impossible task.

Williams, who has found success in past coaching stops (New Orleans, Phoenix), has struggled in his first year in Detroit. Perhaps he ultimately isn't the answer, but cutting him loose after just one year seems somewhat rash given the hand he was dealt.

As is, if he's not amenable to a buyout, then it's hard seeing him going anywhere, especially given how much money is left on his deal. So for now, the Pistons move forward in hopes of brighter days.

The Detroit Pistons will be without their 2023 first-round pick for the remainder of the season.

Per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, Pistons rookie forward Ausar Thompson will sit out the rest of the year while being treated for a blood clot.

Thompson was cleared by the Pistons team physician to resume conditioning and he will begin non-contact basketball activities toward the end of the season before gradually ramping up over the summer in preparation for a full return next season. In addition to losing Thompson for the season, center Isaiah Stewart was ruled out for the remainder of the year with a right hamstring strain, Detroit said in a press release:

Thompson appeared in 63 games this season with 38 starts and averaged 8.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists. He led the Pistons with 1.1 steals and 0.9 blocks per game.

The Pistons selected Thomspon with the fifth overall pick after he spent the previous two seasons in Overtime Elite. His twin brother, Amen, was selected by the Houston Rockets with the No. 4 pick.

Losing their first-round pick is just par for the course in a dreadful season for the Pistons. At 12-56, Detroit has the second-worst record in the league and set an NBA record by losing 28 straight games earlier this season.

Without Thompson in the lineup, the veteran forward Evan Fournier and first-year forward Simone Fontecchio will see more action in the frontcourt.

The Pistons will be trying to snap a three-game skid when they face the Indiana Pacers (38-31) on Wednesday night.

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Detroit Pistons guard Evan Fournier has been fined $25,000 after kicking a ball into the stands following a loss to the Miami Heat on Sunday, the league announced Monday.

The play came after Heat center Bam Adebayo hit a game-winning three-pointer to seal a 104-101 win over the Pistons. After the shot fell, Fournier picked up the ball and punted it into the stands out of frustration.

The Pistons tied the game with less than a minute to go on a layup from Cade Cunningham. Detroit then had a chance to take the lead with nine seconds to go, but Cunningham missed a three-pointer that led to Adebayo's shot.

Fournier had 18 points in the loss, marking his highest-scoring game since joining the Pistons in February. The 11-year veteran was traded from the New York Knicks to Detroit for Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks.

Since joining the Pistons, Fournier has taken on a much bigger role than he had in New York. He played in just three games for the Knicks before he was traded, and he now averages 16.9 minutes per game and is putting up 7.8 points.

Fournier, who averaged 19.7 points per game just a few seasons ago, is looking for a strong second act to his career, and he could be a valuable veteran for the Pistons to have as they continue their rebuild.

Fournier's frustration on Sunday was a fitting reaction for the season the Pistons are having. Detroit sits in second-to-last place in the Eastern Conference at an abysmal 12-55, showing few signs of improvement as the season has continued. A loss on a buzzer-beater just added salt to the wound.

The Detroit Pistons played in front of their home fans at Little Caesars Arena on Saturday, but that didn't stop a heated exchange between one of them and general manager Troy Weaver when the team was facing the Dallas Mavericks.

As Larry Lage of the Associated Press noted, Weaver "had an expletive-laced response to a heckling fan," which was captured on video and shared on social media.

The fan can be heard telling Weaver "you threatened me," and the general manager pointed him out to security. Security escorted the fan away from the seating area.

Lage shared comments from another fan, Jeffrey Calloway, which described the scene.

"The guy that was in the incident, with the Red Wings stuff on, came over and was pointing at the scoreboard earlier in the game," Calloway said. "Troy Weaver just shrugged his shoulders and said, 'OK,' and the guy went back to his seat.

"When (Jalen) Duren got ejected (midway through the fourth quarter), the guy came back and told him that he was terrible at his job. Then, Troy Weaver was telling the fan he had to leave and that's when ushers or security walked over."

As for the game in question, the Mavericks had little trouble in a 142-124 win.

Detroit fell to 10-53 overall and 5-26 at home this season, which is surely frustrating to the team's fans. Luka Dončić led the way with a triple-double of 39 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, three steals and two blocks.

Cade Cunningham also nearly missed a triple-double for the Pistons with 33 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds in the losing effort.

Detroit hired Weaver as the general manager ahead of the 2020-21 season, and things have not gone according to plan.

It is a combined 70-229 since he took over and hasn't won more than 23 games in a single season. Nobody in the NBA has a worse record than Detroit this season, although it will have an opportunity for a rare win against the 16-48 Charlotte Hornets on Monday.

Shake Milton has agreed to a contract buyout with the Detroit Pistons, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

The buyout comes ahead of the league's deadline for players to be postseason eligible, meaning a playoff contender could sign Milton for the rest of the season.

Milton, who was traded to the Pistons from the Minnesota Timberwolves ahead of the trade deadline, played just four games for Detroit. Milton is averaging 4.9 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game this season.

Milton, a late second-round pick in the 2018 draft, spent the first five years of his career with the Philadelphia 76ers, where he emerged as a valuable scoring option off the bench. In the 2020-21 season, Milton put up a career-high 13 points per game.

Since his time in Philadelphia, Milton's scoring has taken a dip, but with the right fit he could return to his former 76ers self.

With the playoffs nearing, it won't be a surprise to see Milton get picked up soon. While he isn't the type of player that can make or break a playoff run, his postseason experience—34 games with the 76ers—could be valuable for a team in need of an edge.

Detroit Pistons forward Isaiah Stewart spoke to reporters for the first time since he was arrested for punching Phoenix Suns forward Drew Eubanks, and he was apologetic toward his franchise.

"First and foremost, I apologize to my teammates, just the organization because I always want to represent the organization in great fashion, and I apologize to my teammates and my coaches just because we've been through a lot this season and I don't mean to bring nothing upon them," Stewart said.

Stewart added that he felt supported by his coaches and teammates throughout his situation.

"I also appreciate them having my back. They let me know that they have my back through tough and through great things. I'm glad to move past that and put it behind me," he said. "I appreciate, obviously, the fans and the city for sticking with me. I'm ready to just get back out here and compete and win these games."

The NBA handed Stewart a three-game suspension last week for the Feb. 14 incident in which he confronted Eubanks in the parking lot of the Footprint Center Arena and threw a punch before security intervened. A misdemeanor assault charge was dismissed by Phoenix Municipal Court followed by a motion filed by the prosecutor's office.

Stewart returned to action on Tuesday and had 11 points and nine rebounds in a win over the Chicago Bulls, which improved the Pistons' record to 9-49 and ended a six-game losing streak.

"It was a huge deal for us," Pistons head coach Monty Williams said of Stewart's return. "I thought it settled the rotation. We got to see [Simone Fontecchio] with the second unit and just let him come in the game and just fire. Do what he does. We're really happy about this kind of win. We want every win we can, but we're really happy about this kind."

In 36 games with 35 starts, Stewart has averaged 11.0 points and 6.9 rebounds. The Pistons will be back in action on Friday against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

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Playoff contenders looking for a player with size who can shoot are likely going to be keeping an eye on Mike Muscala.

Per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Muscala is finalizing a contract buyout with the Detroit Pistons that will make him a free agent.

Wojnarowski noted the 32-year-old has interest from a "few" teams in postseason contention.

The Pistons acquired Muscala from the Washington Wizards on Jan. 14 as part of a four-player deal that also included future draft considerations.

Muscala averaged 3.5 points on 38.2 percent three-point shooting in 13 appearances with Detroit. His most recent appearance was on Feb. 14 against the Phoenix Suns. He did make three consecutive starts from Feb. 7-10 before Simone Fontecchio moved into the starting five.

Pistons head coach Monty Williams has favored James Wiseman as his backup center behind Jalen Duren.

Muscala is making $3.5 million in 2023-24 in the final season of his two-year, $7 million contract originally signed in August 2022 when he was still with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Bucknell alum has played for four different teams since he signed that contract, including the Thunder and Boston Celtics.

While not a player who is going to shift the balance of power in a playoff race, Muscala can provide plenty of value for a team down the stretch. His shooting touch allows him to space the floor and get points away from the basket.

Muscala owns a 37.6 percent success rate from three-point range in his NBA career. There are no shortage of teams looking for size and depth right now. It shouldn't take long for him to land on his feet once his buyout with the Pistons is finalized.