Embattled Pistons general manager Troy Weaver had a verbal altercation with a heckler during their 142-124 home loss to Dallas on Sunday, according to multiple reports.
A video posted online and relayed by The Detroit Free Press’ Jared Ramsey showed a fuming Weaver stating to the fan, “I don’t give a (expletive), you’re lucky I don’t beat your (expletive).” The heckler retorted to Weaver, “You suck at your job.”
Another fan seated near Weaver said the heckler approached Weaver twice before arena security removed him.
“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,” season ticket holder Jeffrey Calloway told Larry Lage of The Associated Press. “Troy Weaver just shrugged his shoulders and said, ‘OK,’ and the guy went back to his seat. When (center Jalen) Duren got ejected (during 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.”
Weaver declined to comment about the incident, Lage added.
As the Free Press story noted, it’s a another low moment for the franchise in a season filled with them. The Pistons were hoping to show significant improvement this season with the return of Cade Cunningham from a shin injury that sidelined most of last season.
Instead, the team set an NBA single-season record with 28 consecutive losses. Detroit has won only 10 games and is on pace to have the franchise’s worst single-season record.
Weaver has been in charge since 2020, completely overhauling the roster during the time. However, save for perhaps Cunningham, he’s been unable to find All-Star level talents despite repeated trips to the lottery.
Weaver made numerous trades prior to this February’s deadline, mainly designed to open up more cap space for this summer and expand court time for younger players. The Pistons could have as much as $60MM in cap room.
Weaver, who received a four-year contract when he was originally hired away from the Thunder front office, signed a contract extension in December 2022.
Owner Tom Gores expressed support for Weaver last month despite the team’s miserable performance.
“I think we just came together and the first thing we did is take accountability for the mistakes we made,” Gores responded when asked about Weaver. “As an organization, you really can’t go forward until you acknowledge what didn’t work. That was the first thing. And being honest about that provides you the future. If you don’t look in your past for a little bit and what was right and what was wrong, it’s very hard to go to the future. We did that along the process. I have confidence in Troy. I have confidence. We leaned on each other through this process, but we also didn’t avoid the idea of what were we accountable for? It gave us a pathway to go forward.”
I think Weaver’s biggest issue is he made Detroit feel directionless the past couple years. He needed to lean hard into draft pick accumulation since draft day 2020 when he chose the youth route by drafting 4 players. It actually felt like he was doing that for awhile but then he traded a bunch of picks for Bagley III and some others when Detroit clearly wasn’t ready.
I think he needs to choose their core, then make some shrewd trades and sign a star in the offseason. He can’t waste anymore time being wishy washy and the rebuild can’t last forever.
If he traded draft picks for Marvin Bagley what makes you think he can make shrewd moves goin forward? Weaver has been there for 3 years and the team has shown zero signs of life, the fan was right and Weaver should have to face real criticism for how inept he has proven to be, any real organization would’ve fired him already
“If he traded draft picks for Marvin Bagley what makes you think he can make shrewd moves goin forward?”
Nothing. I never suggested I have confidence in him. I simply stated how I feel he has to operate and the success he has to reach in order to give Detroit a glimmer of hope.
Detroit needs to look and see if the direction under Weaver is going in the right path. Franchise rebuild has been pretty rough. Might be best for someone new to come in and bring a different vision for success.
To be fair, he does kinda suck at his job.
In the three years since Weaver became GM, Detroit has a record of 70-222. The heckling fan may have struck a nerve. The heckling fan was correct.
It’s hard to loom directionless as a franchise when you suck this bad. Usually it’s planned so as to rebuild. Weaver’s Pistons suck and seem to still have no plan.
Hard to imagine this guy can make someone like SVG look good. Acquiring Grimes was a good move, however. Bogs and Burks look horrible.
Simone balling out
Poise
Then the heckler puts his palms up like he’s the victim… typical wp entitled behavior. Smh
Ok, sure. Let’s make it about race.
Is he wrong?