Predicting New Pistons’ President’s First Off-Season
Trajan Langdon at his introductory presser, 2024- Shot by Zariq Turner
After the firing of Troy Weaver and Monty Williams, the Pistons have finally introduced their new President of Basketball Operations, Trajan Langdon, on Friday afternoon.
The Pistons new “CEO” has charisma, confidence, and it seems like he has a clear vision of what the Pistons need to do in order to return to respectability.
The plan in question seems to be focusing on the details, being patient, and building one unified culture from top down.
Langdon could have come out on Friday vowing to have the team back in the playoffs next season and promising ultimate aggressiveness with their cap space this summer.
That’s not what he did though. Langdon was clear, they want to see what they have within the young core with new leadership, and they want to help their growth with veterans and accumulating assets.
This sentiment may be discouraging to Pistons fans, who have suffered through terrible season after terrible season since 2020, and with their last playoff win predating Barack Obama’s presidency.
Fans have been promised change, and many understandably looked towards star players such as Brandon Ingram to be the catalyst for change in Detroit. However, an off-season of star-hunting doesn’t appear to be in the plans for the Pistons this year.
That doesn’t mean the Pistons are simply waiving the white flag and running back last off-season either. Make no mistake about it, the Detroit Pistons are looking to get better this off-season, as low as a bar that may seem to clear.
With the first round of the draft on Wednesday, let’s take a look at what I think Langdon could be looking at doing this off-season with the draft, free-agency, and coaching search.
Also, disclaimer, the moves in this piece are not intended to be declarations of the future. They serve as a rough blueprint of what aligns with what I perceive to be Langdon’s philosophy thus far.
THE DRAFT:
The Pistons were given the 5th pick in the NBA Draft for the third year in a row, despite being the worst team in the association for the second year in a row. Langdon hinted at the possibility of not ending up at 5 on draft night, “"whether we pick at 5 or somewhere else."
The Pistons are known to have worked out players such as Ja’Kobe Walter, Matas Buzelis, and Tidjane Salaun. Only one of those players is mocked to go in the top 5.
So for this section of this piece, let’s explore the trade down scenario that makes the most sense for Detroit.
DETROIT RECEIVES- 9th, Ziare Williams, 2026 first (via PHX,WAS, ORL)
MEMPHIS RECEIVES- 5th (Donovan Clingan), 54th
At 9th, Detroit selects Cody Williams.
I am projecting all of Salaun, Buzeilis, and Clingan to go before 9th leaving Detroit with a prospect they are known to have a lot of interest in at 5 anyways, while also collecting assets to acquire him.
Since Langdon has fully assumed the title of President, Detroit has increasingly begun to be linked to Colorado wing, Cody Williams. Williams has the physical tools you look for in a modern SF or PF, standing at 6’8 with a 7 foot 1 wingspan.
Williams gets a lot of attention because of who his brother is (Jalen Williams of the Thunder), but he is a prospect who deserves his own spotlight. Pistons fans will be familiar with Williams’ archetype, looking at someone like Jerami Grant as a player comparison for Williams.
Williams averaged 12pts, 3 rebounds, and shot 41% from three on two attempts per game.
FREE AGENCY:
The deal with Memphis has already allowed Detroit to acquire more assets with Ziare Williams and a 2026 first, but the trade market is not closed for Detroit.
THE LAVINE TRADE…TO SACRAMENTO
DETROIT RECEIVES: Kevin Huerter
SACRAMENTO RECEIVES: Zach Lavine
CHICAGO RECEIVES: Harrison Barnes, Quentin Grimes, Troy Brown Jr, and 2025, 2026 second round picks (via SAC)
As far as free agent signings:
Tobias Harris- 3 years, 90 million (team option for the final year)
Simone Fontecchio- 3 years 33 million
Eric Gordon- 2 year, 12 million (team option)
Javale McGee- 1 year, minimum
In addition, yes the Pistons sign Cade Cunningham to a 5 year, $225 million extension this summer. This shouldn’t be much of a talking point or point of contention to much of anyone, but Cunningham took on an impossible challenge last year trying to be the Hercules of a team designed to implode. Three head coaches in four years is not ideal for any young player’s development, but Cunningham has looked more and more like the number one pick of a stacked draft class with each game he plays.
WHO’S GOING TO BE THE NEXT PISTONS COACH?
With the Cavaliers hiring Kenny Atkinson as their next head coach, the immediate name that comes to mind is James Borrego. Detroit’s interest in Borrego predates Monty Williams’ firing, as Borrego was recently an assistant coach in New Orleans where Trajan Langdon served as GM.
However James Borrego is not the only candidate in mind for Detroit, Sean Sweeney, current Dallas’ assistant coach is an early favorite for the job as well.
Sweeney served as an assistant coach in Detroit next to Dwane Casey, who just so happens to be a member of the Pistons front office now. Sweeney is noted to already have a good relationship with Isaiah Stewart from their time together before Sweeney’s departure to Dallas.
This is a decision that could really go either way, but to go on the safe side for this piece, Detroit hires James Borrego as their next assistant coach.
Borrego is known as an “offensive guru” around the association, with noted fans such as Anthony Davis. A modern NBA offense would be music to the ears of Pistons’ franchise guard, Cade Cunningham, who has desperately been searching for one since entering the NBA in 2021.
Borrego also has the plus of familiarity on his side. Fred Vinson, Detroit’s new assistant coach, also came from New Orleans’ where he and Borrego worked together on Willie Green’s staff. Trajan Langdon knows what he’s getting in James Borrego. In a single offseason where the new POBO has had to fire a head coach, fire a GM, curate a new front office, evaluate the draft, and reconstruct a roster it’s not unfair to look on the side of familiarity.
In Borrego’s last season in Charlotte, the Hornets won 43 games and Lamelo Ball made his most recent All-Star appearance. Ball and Cunningham’s play style align as jumbo, crafty playmakers with elite scoring ability (Cade is better in this category, for what it’s worth).
Charlotte has not seen the play-in since Borrego’s departure in 2022.
THE TEAM:
HEAD COACH- James Borrego
PG- Cade Cunningham/Jaden Ivey
SG- Kevin Huerter/Eric Gordon/Marcus Sasser
SF- Ausar Thompson/Simone Fontecchio/Stanley Umude
PF-Tobias Harris/Cody Williams/Ziare Williams
C- Jalen Duren/Isaiah Stewart/Javale McGee
This team got better while also acquiring assets such as Kevin Huerter and a 2026 first round pick.
Tobias Harris is the elephant in the room, but it makes a lot of sense to give him a deal such as the one laid out in this piece. Harris is bar-none the best free agent available at the PF position, and will provide veteran presence that is sorely needed. Harris, 31, will provide veteran presence while also still being in the prime of his career.
Fans may overthink Tobias Harris. He is not a sexy name because he underperformed in the playoffs, and was formerly a Detroit Piston. The fact of the matter is, if a player of Harris’ caliber wants to come to Detroit in its current situation with a chip on his shoulder, you welcome him with open arms.
With the addition of Huerter, Detroit adds bonafide shooting to the lineup. who is only 25 years old. In 2022-2023 Huerter averaged 15pts/game on 40% from three. Red Velvet would be a great piece for Detroit to add, if they insert themselves as a third team in a possible Lavine trade.
As for the rest, Simone Fontecchio is a shoe-in to re-sign with Detroit. The second year wing shot the lights out, and was able to provide help on the defensive end as well. He has gone on record stating a mutual intention to re-sign in Detroit.
Eric Gordon would fill the veteran presence, while still being able to get buckets role perfectly. Gordon could serve as a teacher for guards such as Cunningham, Ivey, Sasser while still getting his. Gordon, 35, is on the older side hence the team option for the second year of his deal.
Javale McGee is a Flint-native and will, you guessed it, provide veteran presence to Detroit’s bigs. McGee is still able to play, always a good shot blocker and rim-runner which are both qualities Detroit wants in Duren. Specifically, Detroit would like to see Duren make strides on the defensive end in order to insure his long-term status with the team. McGee could be a teacher and also fill-in when one of Stewart or Duren goes down with injury.
Getting better doesn’t immediately look like making huge splashes with star-power. This is a foundation laid for a culture that will hopefully turn around Detroit’s perception. Each player with a defined role in a modern NBA system should no doubt show significant improvement over the last two disastrous seasons in the 313.