Detroit Pistons

The Detroit Pistons have been mired by a lengthy rebuild for the past few years, but it sounds like they're eyeing some veterans in free agency who could help turn things around next season.

The Athletic's James L. Edwards III reported on Wednesday that he believes Detroit "goes heavily after the likes of Malik Monk, Nic Claxton and Gary Harris" over the summer in hopes of improving its roster.

The Pistons are projected to have more than $65 million in cap space this offseason, which would be the most in the league. Newly-hired president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon will have to determine whether the team's best course is to continue focusing on youth and building for the future or to make bold moves to add proven talent.

Edwards went on to explain how each player fits on a Pistons team that is trying to bounce back from a 14-68 finish to the 2023-24 season, which was the worst record in franchise history and the team's fifth straight year with less than 25 wins.

"Monk feels like someone the Pistons will heavily prioritize due to the team's need for legitimate three-point shooting and off-the-dribble shot creation," Edwards stated. "Claxton would address the rim protection woes. Harris, despite usually missing several games a season due to injury, is the exact type of three-and-D role player the Pistons could desperately use."

Monk was a finalist for Sixth Man of the Year after averaging career highs of 15.4 points and 5.1 assists for the Sacramento Kings. Claxton established himself as a defensive force over his five-year tenure with the Brooklyn Nets. Harris spent the last four seasons with the Orlando Magic and helped the team reach the playoffs this year for the first time since 2020.

Pistons fans are surely hoping the team will make improvements this offseason to get them out of their perpetual rebuild, and adding any of those players would be a step in the right direction.

The Detroit Pistons are planning to part ways with general manager Troy Weaver after four seasons, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania and James L. Edwards III.

The news comes just over a week after ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported the Pistons were hiring former New Orleans Pelicans general manager Trajan Langdon as the team's president of basketball operations.

The Pistons are now speaking with Pelicans executive Michael Blackstone about a potential role as the team's "No. 2 decision-maker under Langdon," Charania and Edwards reported.

The Pistons hired Weaver in June 2020 after he served 12 years in the Oklahoma City Thunder front office.

Since Weaver was hired in 2020, the Pistons have added Cade Cunningham and acquired young talent including Jaden Ivey, Marcus Sasser and Ausar Thompson in the draft.

The franchise also used its sole draft pick of 2020 to select Killian Hayes with the No. 7 pick, a notable miss given that he was waived in February.

The Pistons additionally had yet to win more than 23 games in a season under Weaver's tenure, and finished the 2023-24 campaign with 14 wins and the worst record in franchise history.

When first reporting the news of Langdon's hiring last week, Edwards and Charania wrote that the Pistons' new front office leader would be given the power to move on from Weaver as well as head coach Monty Williams.

Williams has been with the team for just one season since receiving a six-year guaranteed contract from the Pistons last summer. He still has approximately $60 million remaining on that deal.

Pistons owner Tom Gores is reportedly open to buying Williams out if Langdon decides he wants a change on the sideline as well, according to Edwards and Charania, although Jake Fischer reported for Yahoo Sports last month that Williams could be opposed to the buyout.

The move away from Weaver could indicate changes coming for the coaching staff. The Pistons could be looking for a completely fresh start as the team heads into the offseason with $84 million in potential cap space, several talented young players looking to take the next step and the No. 2 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.

The Detroit Pistons are reportedly "finalizing a deal" to hire New Orleans Pelicans general manager Trajan Langdon to be the team's president of basketball operations, per James L. Edwards III and Shams Charania of The Athletic, a role that would allow him to make a decision on the future of head coach Monty Williams and general manager Troy Weaver.

According to that report, "Detroit's head coach has about $60 million remaining on his contract, and sources tell The Athletic that [team governor Tom Gores] will eat the rest of the money if the new president of basketball operations decides he wants to bring in someone else to walk the sideline."

Williams, 52, did not have a banner first year in Detroit, as the Pistons went an NBA-worst 14-68. The Pistons have an intriguing young core in Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Jalen Duren, Ausar Thompson and Isaiah Stewart, but Detroit didn't exactly surround them with a steady veteran cast.

Nobody expected the young Pistons to be a playoff team. But a second straight season with a regression in the wins column was hardly a desirable result. Detroit expected to take a step in the right direction; that simply didn't happen in Williams' first season at the helm.

Deciding where exactly that blame lies will be one of Langdon's first tasks.

Walking back on the Williams hiring after just one season wouldn't be an easy call to make. The Pistons signed him last season to an eight-year deal (with the final two seasons being club options) worth potentially more than $100 million, depending on what incentives are met.

Even back in April, Edwards was reporting that "it appears as of now that he will be back next season, assuming he demonstrates that he can deliver significantly more progress in the development of its team and players."

Some of Williams' decisions this season were surprising, such as not only starting the incredibly inefficient Killian Hayes over second-year guard Jaden Ivey early in the season, but giving him more minutes overall. The Pistons ultimately cut Hayes on Feb. 8.

He also seemed slow to make adjustments, especially when the team was mired in a 28-game losing streak, setting a new NBA record in the process. The team didn't win more than two games in a row the entire season. It was rough.

This summer is a huge one, then, for Detroit. The team needs to figure out how to build a competitive team around players like Cunningham, Ivey and Thompson. A better supporting cast is crucial, not only for short-term improvement but also for the long-term development of the team's young prospects.

And deciding whether Weaver is the right man to make those adjustments—and if Williams is the right man to coach up the reworked roster—will be Langdon's first priority.

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.

The Detroit Pistons have narrowed down their choices for the vacant President of Basketball Operations position.

Jake Fischer and Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports reported that the Pistons had narrowed the field down to four candidates. The four names listed were Trajan Langdon, Scott Perry, Dennis Lindsey and John Hammond.

Fischer and Goodwill reported that the team has hired a search firm to assist with the hiring process.

Langdon is currently serving as the New Orleans Pelicans general manager. He has been with the franchise since 2019 and has built a roster that reached the postseason in 2021-22 and 2023-24. He has also been with the San Antonio Spurs and Brooklyn Nets in different roles.

Perry has been with the Pistons before, as he was a front office executive for the franchise from 2000-2006. He helped construct the roster that won the 2003 NBA Championship and reached the Eastern Conference Finals six times. He most recently served as general manager for the New York Knicks from 2017-2023 and currently works as an analyst at ESPN.

Lindsey is currently serving as an advisor for the Dallas Mavericks and Hammond is a senior advisor to Orlando Magic general manager Jeff Weitman.

Whoever Detroit hires to fill the role, which has been vacant since 2018, will have a difficult task ahead of them. The Pistons went 14-68 and had the worst record in the NBA. The team also had a fall in the draft lottery, getting the No. 5 pick despite having the highest odds at landing No. 1.

Troy Weaver's days with the Detroit Pistons may be numbered.

Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports reported Sunday that the franchise's search for a president of basketball operations does not include a stipulation that Weaver, the team's current general manager, must retain his position next season.

"Potential candidates for the position have been informed they will have the agency to dismiss Weaver from his post, league sources told Yahoo Sports," Fischer wrote.

Fischer also reported that the Pistons have had some difficulty filling the position, as the Milwaukee Bucks blocked general manager Jon Horst from interviewing for the position and others like former Portland Trail Blazers general manager Neil Olshey declined the Pistons' "outreach."

The team announced an intention to fill the position as opposed to parting ways with Weaver or head coach Monty Williams, but it appears that the new hire will have free reign to assemble the staff they prefer to take the franchise to the next level.

Detroit needs all of the help it can get.

The Pistons finished with a 14-68 record, which was the worst in franchise history and the worst in the NBA this season. It was rewarded with the highest lottery odds, but Detroit dropped to the No. 5 pick on Sunday in a situation that could further complicate the team's search for a new top basketball executive.

For the second consecutive season, the worst record in the NBA wasn't enough to earn the Detroit Pistons the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NBA draft.

During Sunday's NBA draft lottery, fortune favored the Atlanta Hawks as they were awarded the No. 1 pick despite having just a three-percent chance of getting the top selection. Meanwhile, the Pistons will be drafting with the No. 5 pick for the second year in a row despite having the best odds of landing the top pick.

Of course, fans on social media wouldn't let the Pistons off the hook after a second straight year in which their abysmal record didn't reap any benefits:

The Pistons went 14-68 in 2023-24, actually regressing from their 2022-23 campaign in which they posted a 17-65 record. Detroit was expected to turn things around under new head coach Monty Williams, but the veteran struggled to bring the best out of the young roster filled with former lottery picks.

This will be the fourth year in a row that the Pistons have a top-five pick. The team selected forward Ausar Thompson at No. 5 last year and point guard Jaden Ivey at the same spot in 2022, and used the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 draft to select shooting guard Cade Cunningham.

Luckily for Detroit, the sting of losing out on the No. 1 pick won't hurt as much as it did last year, as this year's draft class doesn't include a generational prospect like Victor Wembanyama, who was selected by the San Antonio Spurs and went on to be unanimously voted 2023-24 NBA Rookie of the Year. The team should have a shot at a talented player who can fill a hole on the roster.

In his latest mock draft, B/R's Jonathan Wasserman predicted that the Pistons would select French forward Zaccharie Risacher, the No. 9 player on his most recent draft big board.

Detroit is certainly hoping that whoever is chosen with the No. 5 pick in this year's draft is the right player to help lead the franchise out of its lengthy rebuild.

The Milwaukee Bucks reportedly denied general manager Jon Horst permission to interview for the Detroit Pistons vacant president of basketball operations position, per NBA insider Marc Stein.

"The Bucks this week declined to grant permission to the Pistons to interview Michigan native Jon Horst in Detroit's search for a new president of basketball operations, league sources say," Stein wrote.

Stein noted that Horst was interested in speaking to the Pistons, but did not get the opportunity.

"It is believed that Horst, who won Executive of the Year honors in Milwaukee in 2018-19 and more recently made the trade that brought Damian Lillard to the Bucks in September, was indeed interested in speaking to the Pistons," Stein wrote. "Horst signed a multiyear contract extension with the Bucks in October 2021 with two years left on his deal at the time."

Since Horst took over in 2017, the Bucks have reached the playoffs in each of their seasons and were crowned NBA champions in 2021. Horst was also recognized as the league's Executive of the Year in 2019 after Milwaukee finished 60-22.

The Bucks have now faced back-to-back first-round playoff exits, losing to the Indiana Pacers in six games this year after injuries plagued stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard.

As Stein noted, Horst signed a multi-year deal with the Bucks in 2021, and it seems Milwaukee is going to do its best to keep him around.

It is unclear whether Detroit will continue to pursue Horst or not, but it's fair to assume Horst is interested in the position. A Sandusky, Michigan, native, Horst grew up near Detroit and played basketball at Rochester Christian University.

He has also spent time with the Pistons organization, serving as an assistant from 2005 to 2007 before taking over as Manager of Basketball Operations from 2007 to 2009.

Detroit needs a change after its worst season in franchise history, and Horst could be the answer, but for now, he is barred from exploring that opportunity.

The Detroit Pistons are reportedly interested in hiring Milwaukee Bucks general manager Jon Horst as the team's new president of basketball operations, according to Eric Nehm of The Athletic.

Nehm noted that the Pistons "may not" choose to lure Horst away from Milwaukee, although they're expected to ask for permission to interview the general manager after the Bucks' season ended on Thursday night.

Horst has two years remaining on an extension that he signed in Oct. 2021.

While Detroit has operated without a president of basketball operations since 2018, it recently became clear the team was changing directions.

After the Pistons wrapped up a dismal year by finishing with a league-worst record of 14-68, Shams Charania of The Athletic revealed that the organization would begin the search for a new president on April 15.

Although general manager Troy Weaver and head coach Monty Williams are expected to remain with the team, they'll operate under the incoming top executive, according to Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press (h/t Yahoo Sports).

Horst took over as general manager of the Bucks in 2017, winning the 2019 NBA Executive of the Year award. He helped build a Milwaukee roster that won a championship in 2021, making key free-agent additions such as Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis to complement superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Horst also has previous experience with the Pistons, briefly serving as Detroit's manager of basketball operations from 2007 to 2008 before heading to the Bucks.

Milwaukee will be thorough in its search for a president of basketball operations, with NBA insider Marc Stein reporting on Tuesday that former shooting guard and current ESPN analyst JJ Redick is "a name to monitor in Detroit in the event he has any interest in a move to basketball operations."

Horst also appears to be a top candidate for the role.

JJ Redick could reportedly draw interest from the Detroit Pistons amid their ongoing search for a top executive.

NBA insider Marc Stein reported Tuesday that the former player and current ESPN analyst is "a name to monitor in Detroit in the event he has any interest in a move to basketball operations. Pistons chairman Arn Tellem, who represented Redick in his days as a player agent, is known to be a strong admirer of the prominent player-turned-broadcaster."

This comes after Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported earlier this month that the Charlotte Hornets interviewed Redick for their head coaching vacancy.

While Redick has never been an NBA coach, he has more than established his basketball bona fides through his work in the media.

He started as a studio analyst with ESPN and worked his way into an in-game analyst this season in addition to his work as one of the co-hosts of the Old Man and the Three podcast. What's more, the Duke product has worked alongside Mike Breen and Doris Burke as part of ESPN's No. 1 broadcast team since Doc Rivers left to become the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks.

Redick also co-hosts the Mind the Game podcast alongside LeBron James, who is renowned for his own basketball IQ.

His ability to recognize what works on the floor would serve him well in both the coaching and front office worlds, which may be one reason the Pistons could be interested in addition to the Hornets.

Detroit could certainly use some innovation considering it hasn't finished with a winning record since the 2015-16 campaign. It hasn't even finished with more than 23 wins in any of the last five seasons and just went 14-68 in 2023-24.

It was the worst record in the NBA.

There is some reason for optimism with Cade Cunningham as a young building block, but the Pistons need to find the right supporting cast around him in the coming years. Redick was largely a role player himself during his 15-year career that included stops with the Orlando Magic, Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers, New Orleans Pelicans and Dallas Mavericks.

Perhaps he can fall back on that experience and unlock the right ingredients to find successful role players for the Pistons if he takes this job.