The first step of a massive offseason for the Detroit Pistons has been taken: Trajan Langdon has been hired as the new President of Basketball Operations.
Now the fun begins, as the former New Orleans Pelicans General Manager has a grueling task ahead of him. The dumpster fire that is the Detroit Pistons is still wildly ablaze, therefore Langdon is going to have to come equipped with much more than a super-soaker, or even a loaded-up fire extinguisher.
Langdon will need to arrive in Detroit with a plan, a fire brigade, and even one of those planes that dumps water on a forest fire. What should that plan be? As soon as the hire was announced, I instantly thought to myself: What would I do if I was Trajan? What would my plan be? Four things came to mind.
4 Things Trajan Langdon needs to do for the Detroit Pistons right away
#1: Clean house and establish a new culture
Troy Weaver? Gone. Monty Williams? Gone. Assistant coaches? Gone forever. Anyone else involved in the atrocity that was last season? See ya! Trajan Langdon needs to touch down in Detroit and make a statement.
I don't expect a "Knee Cap Speech" like our Lions lord and savior Dan Campbell gave, but I need Langdon to show the Pistons Community that this is different. Change is coming. If I am Langdon, I walk in here, boot everyone out, hire my people, my scouts, my front office folk, as well as hire a coach who knows about establishing a culture.
When I think of culture in the NBA, I think of one team: The Miami Heat. Hmm, who's a guy who has been rumored in every coaching search for the last two years, including the Pistons, who would know a thing or two about Heat Culture? Chris Quinn.
If I am Langdon, I want to change the culture around here immediately. Showing up and being unafraid of tearing it all down would not only impress the Pistons Community, but it would show proactiveness and bring excitement. It would jump-start the crucial offseason ahead. Pair that with bringing in Chris Quinn, a former player and guy who has been with Miami since 2014? Sign me up.
#2: Draft for defense or trade the pick
While falling to 5th again was as predictable as the sun coming up tomorrow, the Pistons and Langdon still have a big opportunity here. If I'm Langdon, I am approaching this draft with two mindsets: Draft Donovan Clingan at #5 (if he is available) or trade the pick.
The Pistons need front-court defense. Clingan will instantly impact the defensive end, as the 7-footer is tough as nails and is an elite shot blocker. On the offensive side, he is everything you need in the modern NBA. He is a solid screener who will roll to the rim and catch lobs. He will grab seven or more boards a game and he is developing an outside shooting touch.
I love the Brooke Lopez comparison for Clingan. If I'm Langdon, I'm banking on Clingan developing and evolving to Lopez's level, becoming the Pistons franchise center for years to come. If Clingan is off the board, trade this pick for future draft capital and begin building a war chest of assets that can be used in future deals.
#3: Find the right role players in free agency
With a projected $64 million in cap space this offseason, Langdon and the Pistons have no excuses. This cannot be another Troy Weaver special, where we take on Joe Harris and Monte Morris and push it to next offseason.
The big question is who wants to take our money? If I'm a free agent, the Pistons are not on my list of dream destinations. This is why point number one is even more critical. Not only does Langdon need to hire his guys and establish a culture to show Pistons fans that this is different, he needs to put the league on notice.
Hiring Chris Quinn, having a whole new staff and front office, and changing the vibes in Detroit could be the swing factor for a free agent. If I'm Langdon, and I have Chris Quinn at the helm, I am looking to bring in Caleb Martin and trade for Duncan Robinson. Shooting, shooting, and more shooting. This team needs it, and these two would immediately bring it, along with hustle and winning attitudes from the Heat.
I also would poach Moritz Wagner from the Magic. All he does is work and do the little things. He's what Isaiah Stewart wants to be, except Wagner executes. I also would offer Kelly Oubre a sizable deal, as he brings scoring and a surprising amount of length and defense. If I'm Langdon, I focus on bringing in veteran players who play the right way, and who will complement the young core. The shooting that Martin, Robinson, and Oubre would bring, along with Wagner's winning and nasty attitude, would help Cade and this young core instantly.
They may not be the sexiest names on the free agency list, but this franchise is not primed to sign those sexy names right now. But are they primed to trade for a sexy name?
#4: Condense the core with a trade
The current Pistons roster is not an NBA roster. There are NBA players on the roster, but the pieces do not fit. Some of these players do not belong with one another.
Weaver's young core of Stewart, Cunningham, Ivey, Duren, Thompson, and Sasser has not worked at all and it would be a crime to trot them all out at LCA next season. As Langdon, my plan is to condense the young core and focus this entire offseason on the only flickering light on this roster: Cade Cunningham.
Every decision needs to be with Cade in mind, as he has proven that he can, at the very least, be a very good NBA player. Can he be a star? We don't know, as he's never had a competent roster around him.
Langdon comes from New Orleans, home of Brandon Ingram. Free agency is not going to bring us stars in Detroit, so trading for one is the only option. I am all in on brinigng BI to to the Motor City. Trade Duren, Stewart and a future pick, although I don't know it even takes that much, and put the Pistons back on the map.
Cut Wiseman, Fournier and all the other corpses that populate this roster, and trot out a lineup that looks something like below and I think the Pistons are back to relevancy instantly and establish a foundation that will finally restore the Pistons.