The Detroit Pistons have done a lot of work during the offseason. They’re fourth when it comes to making moves since the 2014-15 training camps. Only Boston (11) Philly (11) and Phoenix (8) has made more.
And the Pistons are not done. According to Adonis Thomas, who was undrafted in 2013 and has been rising up the ranks, going from D-League teams to pro teams and back to D-League teams. He is now currently with Detroit and was told personally by head coach and GM Stan Van Gundy that his future isn’t guaranteed.
Thomas gave the Pistons 18 roster players, three more than maximum, in what seems to reduce to a four-man competition for one spot.
Stan Van Gundy tried to ease the 6-foot-6 swingman’s mind with something the Pistons’ president of basketball operations and head coach uses liberally — the truth.
So while Thomas may face a tenuous numbers game, Van Gundy emphasized the flip side to him, that a guaranteed contract isn’t a roster guarantee.
“The day I signed my contract, he told me, ‘Hey, I know you’re looking at the roster, at 17 guaranteed guys, and you’re the only non-guaranteed guy or partially guaranteed guy.’ ” Thomas recalled. “He said that anything can change. He said, ‘We’re looking to make some changes soon. We’re not really focused in on who’s on the roster right now. We’re going to let go of maybe some guaranteed guys, or we’re making some changes soon, or trades could be made.’“
Now. Earlier in the week Brandon Jennings said that he’s willing to be 6th Man. I said that maybe he’s just saying that to be mature and knowing that he’s coming back from an achilles injury. Or maybe it’s a good thing that he should get eased back into the frame.
But now. With this popping up, there may be another possibility. SVG may have told the team that “some of you will go”. Maybe Jennings heard that and proclaimed his loyalty and willingness to take a step back and be a teammate.
There are a lot of ‘maybes’ when it comes to the short-term and long-term future of the Detroit Pistons. I think SVG has a vision, but it’s how they get there. That is what remains to be seen.
