Trajan Langdon’s best moves and how his decisions helped transform the Pistons

After a three-year NBA career and playing pro internationally for nearly a decade, Trajan Langdon became a San Antonio Spurs scout in 2012. Fourteen years, three teams and three roles later, as president of basketball operations, Langdon has spearheaded a turnaround that saw a 14-win Detroit Pistons team blossom into a 44- and 60-win team in consecutive seasons with back-to-back postseason appearances.

The Alaska native adopted a methodical, wait-and-see approach with the Pistons in hopes of giving the team’s core enough time to reach their potential.

Langdon has prioritized internal growth while seeking to improve the team around the margins since arriving in Detroit in the summer of 2024. He’s yet to make a blockbuster trade with the Pistons. Detroit’s acquisition of forward John Collins marks the team’s biggest swing since Langdon took over.

He has, however, surrounded franchise cornerstone Cade Cunningham with veterans such as Tobias Harris, Tim Hardaway Jr., Dennis Schröder, Duncan Robinson and Kevin Huerter. So while the offseason progresses and Jalen Duren’s contract negotiations remain at a standstill, let’s take a look at Langdon’s role in orchestrating the Pistons’ return to relevance.

Signing Daniss Jenkins to a two-way contract (2024)

Last season, Jenkins sat at the postgame podium after leading the Pistons to an early February win over the New York Knicks and spoke about being passed over at the 2024 NBA Draft.

“Going undrafted is insanity to me,” Jenkins said. “Literal insanity. That burns inside of me every single day. That took something away from me.”

Langdon identified Jenkins as a prospect and wasted no time signing him to a two-way deal, which eventually turned Jenkins into one of the biggest surprises with his breakout play last season. Jenkins earned a guaranteed contract shortly after that talk at the podium and carved out his role as the team’s backup point guard in the process.

Signing Jenkins was one of Langdon’s earliest and best moves in Detroit.

Signing Tobias Harris in free agency (2024)

Considering Harris’ value in setting the culture alongside Langdon and head coach J.B. Bickerstaff — not to mention his play on the court — he’s arguably Langdon’s best free-agent signing.

Langdon signed Harris to a reasonable two-year, $52 million deal that was well worth it. Before he departed for the Spurs this summer, Harris spent his first season back in Detroit as Cunningham’s second scoring option and reassumed that role during the playoffs last season. Harris’ impact on the team was felt across the board from the court to the front office.

Harris undoubtedly helped usher the Pistons back to the top of the NBA, and it wouldn’t have been possible without Langdon envisioning him as Detroit’s stretch four.

Waiving Paul Reed to re-sign him to a more team-friendly deal (2024)

Langdon waived the veteran big in December 2024 before his $7.7 million non-guaranteed contract became guaranteed, putting the Pistons $1.4 million under the salary floor. Detroit then signed Reed back to the roster on a prorated veteran minimum for $1.44 million. It was a savvy move that allowed the Pistons to enter the trade deadline with $14 million in cap space as opposed to $10 million.

Inking Reed to a new deal led to Detroit being able to trade for Dennis Schröder at the deadline (see below).

Once the 2025 offseason rolled around, Langdon retained Reed on a two-year, $11 million deal that could be arguably the best value of any center in the association. Reed will step into a more featured role next season as the Pistons’ backup center, making Langdon’s discernment and handling of Reed’s contract situations so impressive.

Acquiring Dennis Schröder from the Utah Jazz (2025)

Detroit knew it needed another quality ballhandler once former Piston Jaden Ivey went down with a fractured fibula. Schröder was the solution. His postseason experience was invaluable and nearly helped push Detroit past the Knicks and into the second round. Cunningham was vocal about Schröder helping him with the nuances of the game that can only be taught by time.

Jenkins essentially assumed Schröder’s role as the backup point guard, but in the playoffs, he couldn’t replicate Schröder’s impact.

Langdon later traded Schröder in a sign-and-trade with the Sacramento Kings that created a $14.2 million trade exception. He began with KJ Martin, Josh Richardson and a second-round pick, turned that into Schröder — who contributed during the playoffs — and flipped Schröder for the exception, though Detroit never used it.

Signing-and-trading for Duncan Robinson from the Miami Heat (2025)

This sign-and-trade felt like a heist in the moment, favoring the Pistons.

Simone Fontecchio was fresh off an abysmal season that saw him average career lows in points (5.9). Robinson, on the other hand, had averaged 11 points on 39.3 percent from 3 the season prior. Robinson slotted in as Cunningham’s starting backcourt mate for each of his 77 games, while Fontecchio didn’t manage to start a single one of his 75 games in Detroit in 2024-25.

Robinson’s 220 made triples last regular season were more than Fontecchio made during his two seasons with the Pistons, and were tied for the 12th-most makes in the league. Robinson’s 41 percent shooting from long range ranked fourth among that group. This was just another example of Langdon swapping a negative for a positive without having to overpay.

Acquiring Kevin Huerter, pick swap used to trade up to draft Ebuka Okorie (2026)

Sending Ivey to the Chicago Bulls in a three-team deal that brought in Huerter and a pick swap with the Minnesota Timberwolves was likely Langdon’s most polarizing move.

Unfortunately for Ivey, he was unable to return to form in time for a surging Detroit. The move was scrutinized by Pistons fans, but resulted in a shooter off the bench in Huerter — who was signed to a three-year, $27 million deal this offseason. The Pistons also moved from pick No. 28 to 21 in the deal. That pick was then used to trade up to select Okorie. It was yet another Langdon win.

The Bulls have since waived Ivey, who remains a free agent, while Detroit received Huerter and Okorie, who could blossom into a long-term backup point guard and potentially a fringe starter.

Though Langdon has yet to pull off a blockbuster, his track record at identifying players who fit well and his unwillingness to accept a deal unless it’s in the Pistons’ favor has paid off thus far.