https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nba/pistons/2020/09/18/detroit-pistons-retooling-dwane-casey/3487108001/
After being hired as general manager in June, Troy Weaver rejected the term “rebuild,” instead referring to it as a “restoring.” Last month, Blake Griffin said his conversations with head coach Dwane Casey gave him the impression that the Pistons want to compete next season. Casey said something similar a day before the draft lottery, noting that the Pistons will “compete to win” in 2020-21.
On Wednesday, Casey gave a bigger hint as to what the Pistons are planning. “We’re not really rebuilding here in Detroit,” Casey told reporters. “I think our basketball fans deserve a lot. We like to use the word ‘retooling,’ ‘restoring’ as much as 'rebuilding.' It doesn't have to take a long time because if our young guys are making the progress we expect them to make, it shouldn’t be a long-term restoring. How the Pistons will go about "retooling" the roster remains to be seen. The organization hasn’t had much luck with the “rebuild-on-the-fly” strategy this past decade, producing just two playoff berths and zero playoff wins despite multiple lottery picks and big contracts. ”
As for free agency, Casey said that the Pistons want to be smart and aggressive. They’re one of just six teams projected to have cap space, positioning them as players in free agency and the trade market. It’s not a marquee free agent class, but players such as VanVleet and 2019-20 Sixth Man of the Year Montrezl Harrel would certainly boost the Pistons' overall talent.