East Notes: Pistons, front office, Hornets, Gordon Hayward, Knicks

Pistons

It does not appear that the Pistons are ready to hit the panic button just yet, per Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press. This despite Detroit’s 17-game losing streak and 2-18 start.

“Sources say Pistons brass is reluctant to hit the panic button — meaning a sweeping front office change looks unlikely for now,” Sankofa wrote. “With three-fourths of the season remaining, there’s time for the roster to gel, and fortunes to turn. (Bojan Bogdanovic’s) return, at the very least, should make (Cade Cunningham’s) life easier and give the team the firepower needed to be more competitive in tight games late.”

That said, there is “concern” about the team’s direction under GM Troy Weaver, Sankofa added.

“This has been a worse start to the season than anyone could have imagined. It will take a significant improvement for them to just crack the 20-win threshold they reached two seasons ago,” Sankofa wrote. “Clearly, there’s substantial work ahead to right the ship.  There’s no clear path out of the mud they’re stuck in, but they will soon have to forge one. Depending on which way the Pistons are trending a month from now, they could look to upgrade their roster by swinging a trade for a talented veteran.”

• In case you missed it, the start of coach Monty Williams‘ tenure has been an absolute basketball disaster, wrote our Gary Sheffield Jr.
• The Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets are two teams believed to have an interest in Pistons veteran wing Alec Burks, as we relayed here.

Hornets

Small forward Gordon Hayward says he’s had an “up and down” tenure with the Hornets thus far.

“There have been moments where it’s been really fun with big-time wins,” Hayward told Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. “There have been a lot of moments where I was injured my first two years at the beginning of the year. They were unfortunate injuries. Those suck. There’s nothing you can do about that. It’s sports, and it happens.”

• Meanwhile, Hayward offered high praise for rookie teammate Brandon Miller. “I think the thing that impressed me the most about him was his poise in the pocket, especially with the ball in his hands, not only making plays for himself but being able to see over the defense,” Hayward told Scotto. “In practice, he makes passes across the court. That’s stuff that usually takes time to develop. A lot of guys can play with the ball and score. That’s how they get to the NBA, but that’s what has impressed me about him. He should be All-NBA if he wants to be because of his length, size, quickness, and instincts. He obviously has a bright future.”

Knicks

• It’s been a nice start for the Knicks, who have won 12 of their first 19 games. But the schedule in December will provide quite the challenge, wrote Stefan Bondy of the New York Post. Of their 12 remaining games, nine are on the road, Bondy noted. They also hit the West Coast — a trip that includes a visit to the Lakers, Clippers and Suns.