Pistons Intend To Hire Trajan Langdon As Head Of Basketball Operations

[Laimbeer]

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[Texas Chuck]

I mean it can't be worse than it currently is (I don't think). So win for Pistons fans here. Of course part of that depends on the mandate. It could just mean Josh Smith/Ben Gordon 2.0. I'm really scared that is the actual plan.

[Kizz Fastfists]

I mean it can't be worse than it currently is (I don't think). So win for Pistons fans here. Of course part of that depends on the mandate. It could just mean Josh Smith/Ben Gordon 2.0. I'm really scared that is the actual plan.

They could take Filipowski at #5 to put a stretch 5 that struggles defensively next to Josh Smith 2.0 and get all your hopes of a competent front office out of the way immediately.

[HadAnEffectHere]

So this is a verrrrrry interesting hire as Langdon is another guy just obsessed with upside only.

Draft picks include

Jaxson Hayes
NAW
Kira Lewis Jr
Dyson Daniels

Now, he did take lower upside guys like Trey Murphy and Jordan Hawkins, but he's tended to take huge risks on elite athletes who were very raw.

This feels like a continuation of Troy Weaver (who drafted Jalen Duren, Jaden Ivey, and Ausar Thompson) which is surprising to me.

[HornetJail]

I mean it can't be worse than it currently is (I don't think). So win for Pistons fans here. Of course part of that depends on the mandate. It could just mean Josh Smith/Ben Gordon 2.0. I'm really scared that is the actual plan.

as a Hornets fan, it can always get worse

(btw my Ben Gordon/Josh Smith candidates are Tobias Harris, Buddy Hield, and D'Angelo Russell)

[GreekAlex]

So this is a verrrrrry interesting hire as Langdon is another guy just obsessed with upside only.

Draft picks include

Jaxson Hayes
NAW
Kira Lewis Jr
Dyson Daniels

Now, he did take lower upside guys like Trey Murphy and Jordan Hawkins, but he's tended to take huge risks on elite athletes who were very raw.

This feels like a continuation of Troy Weaver (who drafted Jalen Duren, Jaden Ivey, and Ausar Thompson) which is surprising to me.

Of those picks, how are they attributed to Langdon vs David Griffin?

[HadAnEffectHere]

So this is a verrrrrry interesting hire as Langdon is another guy just obsessed with upside only.

Draft picks include

Jaxson Hayes
NAW
Kira Lewis Jr
Dyson Daniels

Now, he did take lower upside guys like Trey Murphy and Jordan Hawkins, but he's tended to take huge risks on elite athletes who were very raw.

This feels like a continuation of Troy Weaver (who drafted Jalen Duren, Jaden Ivey, and Ausar Thompson) which is surprising to me.

Of those picks, how are they attributed to Langdon vs David Griffin?

Langdon was the main scouting guy during this time period so I assume he had significant input on picks.

[toooskies]

So this is a verrrrrry interesting hire as Langdon is another guy just obsessed with upside only.

Draft picks include

Jaxson Hayes
NAW
Kira Lewis Jr
Dyson Daniels

Now, he did take lower upside guys like Trey Murphy and Jordan Hawkins, but he's tended to take huge risks on elite athletes who were very raw.

This feels like a continuation of Troy Weaver (who drafted Jalen Duren, Jaden Ivey, and Ausar Thompson) which is surprising to me.

Murphy was absolutely an upside guy. He grew up as a guard and then had a late growth spurt giving him unusual skill for his size.

[GreekAlex]

So this is a verrrrrry interesting hire as Langdon is another guy just obsessed with upside only.

Draft picks include

Jaxson Hayes
NAW
Kira Lewis Jr
Dyson Daniels

Now, he did take lower upside guys like Trey Murphy and Jordan Hawkins, but he's tended to take huge risks on elite athletes who were very raw.

This feels like a continuation of Troy Weaver (who drafted Jalen Duren, Jaden Ivey, and Ausar Thompson) which is surprising to me.

Of those picks, how are they attributed to Langdon vs David Griffin?

Langdon was the main scouting guy during this time period so I assume he had significant input on picks.

Was that his MO under Marks in Brooklyn or during his stint with the Spurs?

[wemby]

Was that his MO under Marks in Brooklyn or during his stint with the Spurs?

No idea in Brooklyn, but only good pick for the Spurs in that entire time with the franchise (2012-2015) was Kyle Anderson. Rigth before: Kawhi. Right after: Dejounte & Derrick White. Make of it what you will

[HadAnEffectHere]

Of those picks, how are they attributed to Langdon vs David Griffin?

Langdon was the main scouting guy during this time period so I assume he had significant input on picks.

Was that his MO under Marks in Brooklyn or during his stint with the Spurs?

The Nets' main picks in that time period were Caris LeVert (broke foot twice in college) and Jarrett Allen (extremely raw teenage big man) and while those guys weren't very as super high upside, they were pretty high risk-high reward for where the Nets were drafting (in the teens).

So he seems to be extremely risk-seeking as an evaluator and cares about potential a lot more than floor and seems willing to wait years for development.

[GreekAlex]

Langdon was the main scouting guy during this time period so I assume he had significant input on picks.

Was that his MO under Marks in Brooklyn or during his stint with the Spurs?

The Nets' main picks in that time period were Caris LeVert (broke foot twice in college) and Jarrett Allen (extremely raw teenage big man) and while those guys weren't very as super high upside, they were pretty high risk-high reward for where the Nets were drafting (in the teens).

So he seems to be extremely risk-seeking as an evaluator and cares about potential a lot more than floor and seems willing to wait years for development.

How do you see his drafting style relating to the Piston’s 5th overall pick in the upcoming draft?

If going for upside prevents the Piston’s from taking someone like Dalton Knecht, I’ll be thrilled.

I can’t believe how many posters on our board want a 5th year senior.

[Kizz Fastfists]

How do you see his drafting style relating to the Piston’s 5th overall pick in the upcoming draft?

If going for upside prevents the Piston’s from taking someone like Dalton Knecht, I’ll be thrilled.

I can’t believe how many posters on our board want a 5th year senior.

I think the Thunder might take Knecht at #12. Entirely different situation and a 5th year senior with his shooting could be a rotation piece for the Thunder as a rookie for his shooting off the bench.

As for high upside, extreme risk, how about an extreme reach for Ulrich Chomche. I like Chomche's upside and he is the youngest player in the draft, but I also think he needs to spend a year or two in Europe after playing well in Africa. He performed well enough at the combine I've heard some nonsense about him going in the lottery. I think he might have moved up from 2nd round to late first, but I still see him as more of a draft and stash. Take him in the 20s and stick him in Europe for a year to develop more feel for the offensive side of the game and work on his shooting. A similar path to what the Thunder did with Ibaka. Other high upside, but risky picks, could include Missi, Salaun and Topic.

[shrink]

As a Wolves fan, as long as it’s not Tim Connelly, I’m happy.

[babyjax13]

I won't believe it is a good move until proven otherwise. We are at 15+ years of poor decisions.

[DetroitDon15]

Im not a fan or hate yet. Anything is better than Weaver. I’d prefer a leader with more experience. One who can rebuild the front office from top to bottom. My main concern here is a new guy coming in who doesn’t have the experience to do so. The problems in the front office are more than Weaver. I’m not sure Langdon has the experience to do so yet in his front office career.