The Detroit Pistons failed to live up to the expectations this season.
It’s not like people expected them to be a contender, but most predicted they would at least be in the mix for a spot in the Play-in Tournament.
Instead, they traded one of their young players in Saddiq Bey and were bottom-feeders for the better part of the season.
Of course, losing Cade Cunningham early in the year was a deadly blow for them, but there weren’t many signs of improvement or development from the group as a whole.
That’s why it’s not surprising to see that Dwane Casey is out as their coach.
However, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Casey will continue to serve the organization, albeit in a front-office role.
“Dwane Casey went out on his own accord, he’s gonna join the front office and I think this was more of a mutual thing,” Charania said on FanDuel TV.
“Dwane Casey went out on his own accord, he’s gonna join the front office and I think this was more of a mutual thing”@ShamsCharania on #RunItBack with the latest on #Pistons head coach and reveals 2 guys to keep an eye on to potentially take over:
Charles Lee
Ime Udoka pic.twitter.com/fBfWMDuBSO— FanDuel TV (@FanDuelTV) April 11, 2023
That’s similar to what happened with Brad Stevens and the Boston Celtics a couple of years ago, so it’s not new in this league.
Casey is a former Coach of the Year, but he was always a questionable fit for this young team.
The Pistons need someone who focuses on player development and who can make the most out of their promising core of players.
That becomes even more relevant now that they’re tied for the highest odds to get the first-overall pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, a pick they could use to land French star Victor Wembanyama.
So, the Pistons need to be extremely cautious about whoever they choose to take the reins of their project for the next couple of years at the very least.
NEXT: Pistons GM Releases Statement After Disappointing Season
