Detroit Pistons send bold and clear message to the Red Wings amid playoff run

The Detroit Pistons will face off against the New York Knicks in Little Caesar's Arena for the first playoff series since 2019 against the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Bucks would sweep through the Pistons in 2019, but unlike the Red Wings at they'll be playing postseason sports in LCA. Trajan Langdon took over from Troy Weaver, who laid the foundation for the team's success in 2020-2024.

While this isn't meant as a low blow to the Red Wings organization and GM Steve Yzerman, the Wings are the lone wolf team in Detroit who aren't a competitive team.

Even the lowly Detroit Lions have reached the NFC Championship in 2024. A team that was thought to be perpetually down and out.

Where is Yzerman taking the Red Wings?

Of course, building through the draft is one surefire way of developing homegrown talent and a potential Stanley Cup-winning roster. Something he has won notoriety for in Tampa Bay, but in Detroit, the journey seems much, much slower.

But in recent years, the Detroit Tigers have gone to the playoffs recently, and lead the AL Central (earlier in the season), while the Pistons have gone from a bottom-dwelling 14-win team to a playoff berth.

This wasn't through the NBA's play-in rounds either.

Given the recent success of Detroit's big three-teams, with Red Wings having nothing to show for their peers, it is troubling for fans who spend their hard-earned cash on a team which fails to spend money on good veteran talent.

The team has decided that Justin Holl, Jeff Petry, and Erik Gustafsson were worthwhile placeholders in lieu of the development happening in Grand Rapids.