Weaver exits as Pistons turn task of turning Pistons around to Langdon (2024)

Once again, the Detroit Pistons are headed in a new direction.

The club mutually parted ways with general manager Troy Weaver after four unproductive seasons on Saturday just a day after announcing Trajan Langdon as the team’s new president of basketball operations.

“As much as we have struggled lately, we will look back and see Troy as an important person in the remaking of the Pistons,” Detroit owner Tom Gores said in a release. “He took the pain of rebuilding head on and he did the hard work to get us the flexibility we have today.”

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The 56-year-old Weaver was hired away from the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2020 after 12 seasons with the club that included three years as vice-president of basketball operations.

He began a rebuild of the Pistons, but refused to use that term and consistently referred to it as a restore.

In four seasons, things didn’t workout with the club going 74-244 (.233 winning percentage) and finishing with the worst record in the NBA the past two seasons.

That despite owning eight first-round draft picks over that stretch. Killian Hayes, who was the first player selected by Weaver in 2020, was waived last season and Saddiq Bey, who was also a first-round pick, was dealt to Atlanta. Guard Cade Cunningham, who was the first overall pick in 2021, along with Isaiah Stewart, Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Jalen Duren, Ausar Thompson and Marcus Sasser all show potential at times, but never enough combined to get the club into the playoffs.

“(Weaver) also assembled a great core of young men with tremendous skill and character to give us a path to the future,” Gores said.

The Pistons have not finished at .500 or made the playoffs since 2018-19 and the task of getting the club back into contention now falls to the 48-year-old Langdon.

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“What was important to me was finding someone who was a hands-on leader and effective communicator that could connect with people, motivate our front office and deliver results,” Gores said. “I knew Trajan was universally praised and respected around the league, but as I spent time with him, he articulated a thoughtful, detailed plan to create a culture of winning and getting the best out of the talented people we have in our organization.”

A former standout at Duke University, Langdon was a first-round pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1999.

After his playing career, Langdon became a scout for the San Antonio Spurs from 2012-15 before being named assistant general manager of the Brooklyn Nets in 2016. The New Orleans Pelicans hired him as general manager in 2019.

“I have spent considerable time with Tom over the past few weeks and am fully aligned with the expectations for the challenge ahead,” Langdon said. “The work starts immediately and I appreciate Tom giving me the opportunity to build on the foundation that has been laid and help this team compete at the level.”

Detroit is projected to have nearly $60 in salary cap space this summer and will have the No. 5 pick overall in the NBA Draft, which is scheduled for June 26 and 27, despite posting the league’s worst record.

“The young talent on the roster, along with the No. 5 pick, a second-round selection and salary cap space provide significant opportunity to enhance the team this off-season and in the future,” Langdon said. “I’m excited to get on the ground in Detroit and start preparation for the draft and our strategy beyond.”

jpparker@postmedia.com

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