Four names have emerged as top candidates for the Detroit Pistons' president of basketball operations job, sources tell Yahoo Sports.
Trajan Langdon, Scott Perry, Dennis Lindsey and John Hammond have all impressed in interviews, making them the frontrunners to meet with Pistons owner Tom Gores, and the team is looking ahead to next month's NBA Draft. hopes to fill that position.
The Pistons are using a search firm to vet candidates.
Langdon is currently the general manager of the New Orleans Pelicans. Perry most recently held the title of general manager of the New York Knicks and currently serves as an analyst for ESPN. Lindsay is an advisor to the Dallas Mavericks, and Hammond is a senior advisor to Orlando Magic GM Jeff Weltman.
The Detroit city president position has been vacant since Stan Van Gundy held the position from 2014 to 2018.
The Pistons could also be waiting to gauge interest from Tim Connelly, the Timberwolves' top executive who built both these Timberwolves and the majority of the current Nuggets' rosters – these two teams announced Sunday They will face each other in Game 7 of the conference semifinal series on Sunday night.
Connelly will opt out of the Timberwolves after this season after signing a five-year, $40 million contract in 2022. The Timberwolves' ownership situation is in flux, with current owner Glenn Taylor and future owners Mark Rohr and Alex. Rodriguez is headed to league arbitration and could look for both a raise and another team, but the Timberwolves are poised to be a championship contender for years to come with their core. .
The Pistons are far from that situation, having endured a franchise-record 28-game losing streak and a league-worst 14-68. They haven't won in the playoffs since 2008 and currently hold the No. 5 pick in next month's draft. Cap space and Gores' willingness to spend are attractive factors for the job.
Current general manager Troy Weaver will remain in his position, as will head coach Monty Williams, who joined the franchise in a record deal last summer. The next president is expected to make a decision, or at least make strong recommendations, about the future of both.
Langdon rose through the ranks, starting in San Antonio and Brooklyn, before moving to New Orleans for his current position. Arn Tellem was Langdon's agent during his playing days. Tellem currently serves as vice president of the Pistons, and the Pistons have acquired players over the years, most notably Tellem's sons.
Perry has been instrumental in cleaning up the Knicks' books since joining in 2017, and the Knicks have a surplus of draft picks after years of deficits. The Detroit native has been with the Pistons organization twice, including as an executive when the Pistons won the NBA Championship in 2004 and reached six consecutive Conference Finals.
Hammond was also Detroit's chief abyss during the Pistons' last run, before moving to Milwaukee and now Orlando. But Hammond, 69, and the Pistons may be in a different timeline here.
Lindsey was Utah's general manager until Ryan Smith relocated and later handed the top job to Justin Zanik and Danny Ainge became CEO and acting governor.
Lindsay was accused of racist comments in 2021 by former Jazz player Elijah Millsap during his 2015 exit interview. The league investigated Milsap's claim that Lindsay told him, “If you say one more word, I'll cut your nigger ax and give it to you.” He's going back to Louisiana.'' However, Lindsay denied that statement and spent the season with the Mavericks, who are one game away from advancing to the Western Conference Finals.
The Pistons just settled a lawsuit involving former assistant general manager Rob Murphy and former executive assistant Dejanay Laska, a year after Laska accused Murphy of inappropriate sexual conduct. Mr. Murphy was placed on leave in October 2022.
The director of basketball operations role is an important hire for the franchise as Cade Cunningham is eligible for a contract extension this summer and the Pistons have been down for some time.
