The Detroit Pistons are reportedly “finalizing a deal” to hire New Orleans Pelicans general manager Trajan Langdon as the team's president of basketball operations. James L. Edwards III and Shams Charania He was the editor-in-chief of The Athletic, a position that allowed him to make decisions about the future of head coach Monty Williams and general manager Troy Weaver.
According to the report, “Detroit's head coach has about $60 million remaining on his contract, sources tell The Athletic: [team governor Tom Gores] If the new president of basketball operations decides to have someone else walk the sidelines, he will be responsible for the remaining funding.”
The 52-year-old Williams had a less-than-stellar first season with Detroit, leading the Pistons to an NBA-worst 14-68 record. The Pistons have some intriguing young players in Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Jalen Duren, Orsir Thompson and Isaiah Stewart, but Detroit lacks a stable veteran roster.
No one expected the young Pistons to be a playoff contender, but two straight years of declining win totals is hardly a good sign. Detroit was hoping for a step in the right direction, but that didn't happen in Williams' first season as coach.
Determining where exactly that responsibility lies will be one of Langdon's first tasks.
It would never be an easy decision to relinquish Williams after just one season – the Pistons signed him last season to an eight-year contract (with club options for the final two) that could exceed $100 million depending on incentives.
Edwards was also reported in April to be “expected to return next season if he can demonstrate he can make significant progress with the team and player development.”
Some of Williams' decisions this season were surprising, including not only starting the highly inefficient Killian Hayes over second-year guard Jaeden Ivey early in the season, but also giving Hayes more playing time overall. The Pistons ultimately waived Hayes on Feb. 8.
He also seemed slow to adjust, especially as the team fell to a 28-game losing streak, setting a new NBA record. The team hadn't won more than two games in a row all season. That was tough.
This summer is a big one for Detroit, as the team must figure out how to build a competitive team around players like Cunningham, Ivey and Thompson, and a better supporting cast is essential not just for short-term improvement but for the long-term development of the team's young prospects.
Determining whether Weaver is the right person to make those adjustments, and whether Williams is the right person to coach a rebuilt team, will be Langdon's top priority.
