The Detroit Pistons are finalizing a deal to hire the New Orleans Pelicans' General Manager Trajan Langdon as the new President of Basketball Operations.
Fans can breathe a sigh of relief as the team can now focus on what's next, which isn't as murky as it seems.
Langdon is entering the franchise with the freedom to build the organization he wishes, which likely comes with sweeping changes. The Pistons have had the worst 4-year stretch in franchise history, which is amazing when the collection of talent comes into play (this comes into play later).
This is not the same franchise as the one owned by Bill Davidson that won three NBA Championships and was a staple of winning basketball, and Langdon has his work cut out or him to return the team to prominence. With that in mind, these are a few moves that Langdon could make immediately.
1. Does Troy Weaver stay as GM, nothing or something else?
It's not personal, it's just business. Troy Weaver's time in Detroit has been an unmitigated disaster. There's been no growth from the franchise, questionable trades, and, despite drafting high quality players with top picks, there are major concerns that they don't fit together. Despite the return of Cade Cunningham and seven lottery picks in rotation, the Pistons set a franchise record in losses and the worst losing streak in NBA history.
Weaver is arguably the most responsible for the team's construction, and it's impossible for him to remain in a leadership role. He's shown to have an eye for talent, as many of our players are quite talented, but they don't have enough floor spacing or defense to be a modern NBA team. Outright firing Weaver is an option, but if he is brought back as a scout to help evaluate talent, that won't be the worst thing. Regardless of his skill, it's beyond obvious that he can't stay in his current position, but he's not the only person responsible.