The Detroit Pistons have a new president of basketball operations, about a month after the team announced it was opening a search to fill the position. Trajan Langdon, general manager of the New Orleans Pelicans for the past five seasons, is currently negotiating a deal with Detroit. according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Langdon has been the Pelicans’ general manager since 2019, working under executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin.
During his tenure, New Orleans selected Zion Williamson No. 1 overall in the 2019 NBA Draft and acquired Trey Murphy III in 2021 as part of a three-team deal with the Memphis Grizzlies and Charlotte Hornets. But his best pick might be Herb Jones as a second-rounder in 2021 out of Alabama. Jones was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team this season.
The Pistons are coming off the worst season in franchise history, finishing with a 14-68 record and an NBA record-tying 28-game losing streak. Once Langdon takes over as president of basketball operations in Detroit, the question is whether he will decide to keep general manager Troy Weaver and head coach Monty Williams.
Before accepting the job in New Orleans, Langdon was assistant general manager of the Brooklyn Nets under Sean Marks. He joined the Nets after three years as a scout for the San Antonio Spurs.
Langdon played three seasons in the NBA with the Cleveland Cavaliers, as the team’s first-round pick (No. 11 overall) in the 1999 draft. He also played eight years internationally in Italy, Turkey and Russia.
This story will be updated.