NBA rumors: Pistons’ Top 4 candidates for president job emerge

Detroit has whittled it down to four candidates.

The Detroit Pistons ownership group’s quest to restore the franchise back to respectability continues. Following an incredibly disappointing 14-win season, the Pistons are looking for a new executive to fill the role of president of basketball operations as the team continues its attempt to build a contending team. And it looks like owner Tom Gores and his confidantes won’t take too much time to come to a decision.

Four names have emerged as top candidates for the Detroit Pistons president of basketball operations position, per Vincent Goodwill and Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports:

“Trajan Langdon, Scott Perry, Dennis Lindsey and John Hammond have impressed in interviews and are front-runners to meet with Pistons owner Tom Gores, as the franchise hopes to fill the position before next month’s NBA Draft.”

The Pistons are using a search firm for vetting candidates.

Langdon currently serves as the New Orleans Pelicans’ general manager. Perry most recently was the general manager for the New York Knicks and is currently working as an ESPN analyst. Lindsey is an adviser for the Dallas Mavericks, and Hammond is a senior adviser to Orlando Magic GM Jeff Weltman.

Detroit’s president position has not been filled since Stan Van Gundy held the position from 2014-18.

They would very much like their new president of basketball operations to be with the team before the NBA Draft. But one of their main targets for the position did not end up being available. The Pistons were denied permission to interview Milwaukee’s Jon Horst last week and they have since decided to move on to other candidates.

One of the Pistons’ main targets to fill the role of president is Tim Connelly. Connelly is currently the Timberwolves’ president of basketball operations; he is an enticing option for the Pistons seeing how he helped architect the Denver Nuggets’ current championship-contending roster as well as the Timberwolves outfit that is giving the same Nuggets team plenty of problems.

Connelly could opt out of the final year of his contract with the Timberwolves; this would then pave the way for the Pistons to ramp up their pursuit of him. According to the rumors that are out there, an offer of about $15 million per annum might be enough to snag the 48-year-old executive.

Pistons struggled through 2024 season

© David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Detroit’s restoration process has not gone in the direction they originally hoped. Last season was the first of a six-year contract with Monty Williams as the head coach.

The Pistons’ regular season was flooded with injuries, a constantly changing roster, and difficult stretches of losing – including setting a new record for the fewest wins in a season for the franchise and a league-worst record of 28 consecutive losses that stretched from the end of October until the end of December.

Weaver originally said his hopes of seeing the Pistons play 82 meaningful games as a sign of growth for the young franchise. Detroit unfortunately was not in a position to fulfill that wish after struggling to build any positive consistency over time.

The Pistons’ front office has failed to deliver on surrounding their franchise point guard Cade Cunningham with proper help to establish winning habits. Cunningham averaged career-high numbers of 22.7 points, 7.5 assists, 45% shooting from the field, and 36% from three. However, those numbers were highly overshadowed by the plaguing losses by the team.

Detroit has also failed to capitalize on resources to grow, such as developing their high draft picks or surrounding their young foundation with proper role players that fit around them.

The Pistons have the fifth pick in the 2024 NBA Draft next month.