Troy Weaver news conference updates: Pistons 'had better offers last year' for Bogdanovic
The Detroit Pistons' roster is set for the rest of the season — they have one open spot after waiving five players Thursday. Troy Weaver's front office made four trades Wednesday and Thursday at the NBA trade deadline.
Now, Weaver meets the media Friday morning to discuss the transactions, the key additions being Simone Fontecchio and Quentin Grimes, and the disappointing season for the NBA-worst 8-43 Pistons in Weaver's fourth season as general manager. (The shorthanded Pistons did rally from 23 down to clip Portland in overtime, 128-122, overnight.)
ANALYSIS: Pistons trades should answer critical question: Can Cade Cunningham & Jaden Ivey co-exist?
This is Weaver's first availability since training camp at the start of October.
Follow along to be the first to read what Weaver said from the Pistons' Performance Center in Detroit.
THE COMEBACK: How Cade Cunningham inspired Pistons biggest rally of the season in Portland
And be sure to check out our trade deadline reaction show, below. Make "The Pistons Pulse" your go-to Detroit Pistons podcast, listen available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) or live on YouTube.
Troy Weaver news conference updates
On what went wrong this season: 'Starts with defense'
Weaver: "We’re working away at making sure that we continue to build a roster and complement our young core. That didn’t happen the first half of the season, for various reasons. But not going to cry over spilled milk. We didn’t get it done."
— Omari Sankofa II (@omarisankofa) February 9, 2024
Weaver on the poor start: "We just haven't been a cohesive unit, and it starts with out defense. Our defense started well, and then it took a nosedive ... it’s important that we gain some cohesion and momentum as we forge forward." Noted injuries as well.
— Omari Sankofa II (@omarisankofa) February 9, 2024
On the trade deadline: 'We had better offers last year'
Weaver on the deadline: "One was to, we obviously lost shooting with Burks and Bogdanovic, so we wanted to make sure we added that. But we want to improve our defense. I’ve said it ad nauseam, we’re not the Pistons until we learn how to defend."
— Omari Sankofa II (@omarisankofa) February 9, 2024
Weaver on Bogey: "We had better offers last year at the deadline. You can say that. This is where we are now and I like what we got in return for those guys. We got coveted players that we wanted ... all of that plays out on the floor and hopefully it plays out to our favor."
— Omari Sankofa II (@omarisankofa) February 9, 2024
Why didn't Killian Hayes work out: Shooting
Weaver on releasing Killian: "It was a numbers game. With the trades, we had to take in a certain amount of players. There was an amount of players we had to release, and Killian got caught in that … tremendous young man and still 22. Hopefully he can carry on his career."
— Omari Sankofa II (@omarisankofa) February 9, 2024
Weaver on Hayes: "It never worked with his shooting. The guy can really defend and we’ve seen his playmaking ability, but if you’re a guard in this league you have to make shots … that’s ultimately why he wasn’t as successful as he needed to be. Shooting is paramount."
— Omari Sankofa II (@omarisankofa) February 9, 2024
Weaver on the deadline haul: "We wanted to get premium value for our players, but I wouldn’t call it disappointing … the picks may add to us netting some other players. We needed seconds to get Sasser. You need that capital."
— Omari Sankofa II (@omarisankofa) February 9, 2024
Weaver: "Absolutely, I’m the right guy. I sat here in June 2020 and said we’re going to restore the Pistons, and that’s what we’re going to do. We have a plan in place, a young core that’s showing that they’re growing and have a chance to be special players."
— Omari Sankofa II (@omarisankofa) February 9, 2024
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Troy Weaver's Pistons news conference: Live updates post-trade deadline
