Jalen Rose grades Detroit Pistons' busy offseason: 'A-plus'

Jalen Rose didn’t mince his words while reviewing his favorite team’s offseason. 

It’s been a summer of sweeping change for the Detroit Pistons, who hired a new president in Trajan Langdon and new head coach in J.B. Bickerstaff following a 14-win season. The new front office has fortified the young roster with more experience and shooting. Cade Cunningham has been extended through the 2030 season. 

The moves have generated optimism. And Rose, who held his 14th-annual Jalen Rose Leadership Academy Celebrity Golf Classic at the Detroit Golf Club on Monday, is on-board. 

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“I’m ride-or-die for the squad like we are for our home teams. You never root for anyone to lose their job or anything, but the changes that I feel like we made — A-plus,” Rose told the Free Press at the fundraiser, which raises money for his charter high school. 

“I give us an A-plus offseason for what we’ve done with Trajan, what we’ve done with J.B. Bickerstaff, whose father drafted me (with the Denver Nuggets), Bernie. So I’ve known him for a very long time, he’s like a young veteran that can grow with this group. 

The Pistons cleaned house after last season’s historically-bad finish, parting ways with general manager Troy Weaver and previous head coach Monty Williams. The new roster additions include Tobias Harris, who returns to the Pistons after previously playing for them from 2016-18, Michigan alumnus Tim Hardaway Jr. and Malik Beasley. 

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Rose, who maintained a frequent courtside presence last season in the midst of the losing, diagnosed last season’s issues as a byproduct of having a young team. It remains to be seen if Langdon’s offseason moves will substantially impact their record, but Rose said the team will improve as players get older. 

“There’s a saying called ‘youth is wasted on the young,’ Rose said. “Just more experience. Duren’s going to continue to grow into a version of Bam Adebayo, in my opinion, over the next couple of years. No one can stay in front of Jaden Ivey, he’s going to continue to get better. That’s how I see it, just continuing to grow and continuing to work to get better.”

It’s been a year of change for Rose, who has maintained a lower profile after being laid off from ESPN last June. He has served as head of player relations for sports apparel brand Fanatics since last summer, a role he says he’s proud of and has kept him busy. He anticipates getting back into media, as well.

During his 16 years at ESPN, Rose was an analyst on NBA Countdown and Get Up! and also co-hosted podcast and TV show Jalen & Jacoby with former ESPN broadcaster David Jacoby, who was one of many high-profile guests at the golf classic on Monday. Rose said to “stay tuned” on what’s next for him as he re-enters the space. 

“I’ve used this year to submarine and look to do many reinventions in a lot of ways,” Rose said. “I’ll be doing multimedia content again very soon, whether it’s the television and/or the podcast space. It’s only right since I’m the first former athlete and entertainer that had a podcast, now they’ve become commonplace. The pod godfather will be back in the game soon.”

Monday’s star-studded guest list included former Detroit Lions Calvin Johnson, Herman Moore, Joique Bell and Rob Sims, former Fab Five member Jimmy King, local singer Dwele and local rappers Sada Baby and Boldy James, actor and Saginaw native Algee Smith, journalist Roland Martin, former basketball players and metro Detroit natives Spencer Haywood, Terry Mills, Anderson Hunt and Antoine Jouber, former ESPN broadcaster and Detroit native Jemele Hill, and more. 

The Jalen Rose Leadership Academy graduated its 10th senior class this past school year, an accomplishment he’s proud of. The fundraiser, normally held toward the end of August, took place a month earlier than normal this year. 

“For this to now be our 14th golf outing, it’s just incredible to watch the growth and the tremendous amount of support that we’ve garnered from our sponsors, from the community and just watching our scholars grow and trying to support our staff,” Rose said. “It’s really a labor of love that I’m proud of.”

Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him @omarisankofa.