NBA Rumors: Pelicans GM Trajan Langdon Working on Contract to Be Pistons President

The Detroit Pistons are reportedly close to hiring New Orleans Pelicans general manager Trajan Langdon as their president of basketball operations.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported the two sides are "beginning work" on an agreement.

Langdon has served as the second-in-command under David Griffin in New Orleans since 2019. He previously worked as a scout with the San Antonio Spurs and assistant general manager of the Brooklyn Nets.

This will not be an easy job for Langdon, who takes over a Pistons roster devoid of elite talent and coming off a 14-68 season. Detroit also fell to No. 5 in the draft lottery in what is considered a weak draft.

Langdon also has decisions to make at coach and general manager. Troy Weaver led basketball operations for the Pistons since 2020 and will ostensibly be demoted under Langdon. It's possible, if not likely, that Langdon fires Weaver and looks to install someone with whom he has a prior working relationship.

Coach Monty Williams is a far more difficult—and potentially expensive—call. Williams signed a six-year, $76 million contract with the Pistons last offseason but did not do an impressive job improving the young roster this season. It would cost the Pistons roughly $60 million to get out from under Williams' deal.

James Edwards III and Shams Charania of The Athletic reported Pistons governor Tom Gores is willing to eat the cost to fire Williams if that's what Langdon wants.

Lead basketball minds typically want their own people in place, but it feels more likely than not that Williams gets at least one more season to sort out his working relationship with Langdon.

The Pistons could open up around $64 million in cap space this summer to improve the roster.