The Detroit Pistons checked the first item off their summer to-do list by hiring Trajan Langdon as the new president of basketball operations.
Now focus will turn to the NBA Draft, which will be Langdon’s first big decision as the new franchise leader.
We’ve looked at some of his past drafts as GM of the New Orleans Pelicans, and Langdon does seem to have a type, but how will that translate to this draft?
Most of his recent picks have been later in the first round, so will Langdon stick with his previous draft strategy or just take the best player available? He has a lot of work to do this summer and it all starts with this pick, whether he ends up keeping it or not.
Here is a Pistons mock draft with Langdon at the helm, which ends in a different look for Detroit.
#1: Atlanta Hawks select Alex Sarr
Sarr is about as close to a consensus as you are going to find in this draft, though it wouldn’t be at all surprising to see Atlanta go with someone else or even to trade their pick.
If they keep it, Sarr makes sense as a versatile big who is a long-term fit with whichever guard they end up keeping this summer.
Sarr would allow the Hawks to pivot towards the future, possibly trade Clint Capela and start a soft rebuild around Trae Young (likely) and a young big who fits the mold of a modern center with his ability to protect the rim and eventually spread the floor.