Historically bad Pistons season sets up biggest offseason in a generation

SAN ANTONIO — Rather than meet with each player individually for exit interviews soon after the season ends — a customary practice league-wide — Monty Williams prefers to let time pass and emotions settle beforehand.

Over the next few weeks, the Detroit Pistons’ head coach will meet with general manager Troy Weaver, team owner Tom Gores and review statistics with his coaching staff. Then, armed with more data and clarity on where things stand, Williams plans to have substantive talks with his team concerning the offseason.

“It’s hard for me to turn the page and have a lucid thought about the season without getting too emotional about how I feel right now,” Williams said after the game. “I did it one time in New Orleans, and I felt like I cheated the guys.

“I’m not somebody who talks just to be talking, it’s just not my thing. I’m going to make sure I have something substantial to say when I do sit down with guys.”

There’s certainly much to review and discuss, and plenty of emotion involved.

The worst season in Pistons history finally drew to a close on Sunday, with a 28-point blowout road loss to the San Antonio Spurs. The 14-68 record is Pistons finished with two fewer wins than the previous worst, in 197980.

To say the team fell short of expectations would be an understatement.

Now, an offseason that requires shakeups in the front office and elsewhere has arrived. This was supposed to be the season — one that, after four years of trading and drafting, was supposed to reestablish the Pistons as a team to watch out for. It took less than two months for it to become clear that their entire process has been fundamentally flawed.

Twenty-eight straight losses in November and December. Thirty-one players appearing in at least one game thanks to trades, cuts and late-season signings. For the second year in a row, the lowest win total in the league.

What’s the fix? Sources say the Pistons are considering hiring a president of basketball operations who would be the new lead voice in the organization, ideally bringing unity to a fractured front office. That president would have final say, including on who fills the roles of general manager and head coach.

It’s also possible only a handful of players on the current roster will return next season. A sense of urgency, and a new direction, are necessary. And the first step is figuring out who will come along for the ride. A team ultimately is only as good as its players, and the Pistons need drastic roster upgrades.

“Anybody would be upset about the way this year has gone, but it doesn’t mean that’s a bad thing,” Williams said. “Sometimes anger can force you to get to your next step. I’m sure it’s anger, it’s passion, it’s an intentionality.

You wanna get back in the gym as soon as you can, but you also realize you need rest. I’m sure there’s a lot of passion that goes with any kind of season resembling this. Our guys, they know we’re better. They know we’re going to get better. I hope that passion drives them.”

In his postgame locker room speech, Williams thanked players for their engagement level and dedication this season. He has often noted this season that, despite the record, he never questioned the commitment of his players. It gives the team a starting point as it prepares to undergo a full autopsy.

“I told them in my opinion, we have dug the trenches for the foundation,” Williams said. “This summer we’ve gotta pour the cement, see whose fingerprints are going to be in it, and that’s something that we’re intentional about going forward.”

Only seven players who were on the opening night roster made it to the season finale — Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Jalen Duren, Ausar Thompson, Isaiah Stewart, Marcus Sasser and James Wiseman. The continued development of that group will help determine the team’s trajectory next season, but there’s also an awareness that only a handful of players from that group may make it through the summer with the team.

The Pistons have $60 million in salary cap space available — in addition to a top-five pick — to make the necessary roster changes.

If there are any positives this season, it’s that Cade Cunningham put together his best statistical stretch a season after missing 70 games with a shin injury. From Nov. 30 until he played his final game on April 1, he averaged 23 points, 7.7 assists (3.0 turnovers), 4.6 rebounds and a steal, while shooting 46.8% overall, 36.5% from 3 (on 5.2 attempts) and 85.9% at the line (on 4.5 attempts).

Those are star numbers, and it gives the team a rallying point as it figures out how to climb out of the muck. But after him, there are plenty of unknowns. The Pistons acquired Simone Fontecchio at the trade deadline, and the sharpshooter could sign an extension this offseason after entering restricted free agency.

We’ve reached another offseason rife with uncertainty — more than any other summer since Weaver was hired four years ago. Williams noted he has been through a similar situation before, as a player on the 20-62 San Antonio Spurs in 1996-97.

That offseason, the team drafted Tim Duncan first overall and David Robinson and Sean Elliott returned to full health. They made a 36game improvement the following year, finishing 56-26 and making the second round of the playoffs.

Things can change rapidly. There’s no Duncan in this draft awaiting the Pistons, though. It’s going to take a lot of work.

“I expressed that to them, the amount of work that’s in front of us,” Williams said. “The next step in sports is always a great step, and then when you get there it’s a bigger step. Just how it is. You just don’t go from where we are to where we want to be by just showing up. We’ve gotta be intentional.”