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Grant Hill feels the Pistons can take it even a step further entering next season now that the young core has some playoff experience. “J.B. Bickerstaff, the job that he did, Trajan Langdon the general manager, some of the free agents they brought in last summer and then the young players, Cade Cunningham establishing himself as an All Star," says Hill. "It's just a remarkable season. They took a big step last year. I think they have a chance to take another step."
Coty M. Davis: Trajan Langdon on the addition of Caris LeVert: "The special thing about Caris, you can plug and play him with just about everyone... I am confident that J.B. (Bickerstaff) is going to find a good role for him." #Pistons
Trajan Langdon on Malik Beasley's legal issues: We were excited to get him back
Omari Sankofa II: Trajan Langdon said the Malik Beasley news left them "not much time" to pivot. "I was able to communicate with Malik and his agent Saturday, which was obviously right before we could start talking to free agents on Sunday. It was disappointing for us, because we were excited to get him back."
Omari Sankofa II: Trajan Langdon: “You’re going to see a different Ausar. He’s gotten bigger.” Referring to his frame, he’s filled out naturally and has been at the practice facility all summer.
Trajan Langdon on Pistons offseason plans: 'We're not going to be super aggressive'
Omari Sankofa II: Trajan: "We’re not going to be super aggressive this summer I don’t think, I don’t foresee any of that. It’s just developing from within and hopefully keep the guys we brought in last year."
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Omari Sankofa II: Trajan said the revamped East has "provoked thought" but hasn't changed the roadmap. "I don’t think we want to be locked in and push our chips in … we want to keep that optionality … I think we will see growth from this year to next year and that’s what’s important for us."
Omari Sankofa II: Trajan on Ausar: "He’s been working his butt off. He’s been here, been back home, he’s been in the gym. The thing he wants to do at some point is be Defensive Player of the Year. He's working on his strength, which he couldn’t do last year." Also working on his shot, running PNR.
Omari Sankofa II: Trajan on Jaden Ivey and Isaiah Stewart's injury status: "I wouldn't say there a full go but they’re coming along. They’ll be ready for camp."
Omari Sankofa II: Trajan Langdon will have a predraft media availability tomorrow at 1 pm, so mark your calendar. I'll have live updates on here, not sure if it's being live-streamed yet.
"I am happy where I am," Bickerstaff said. "For us as coaches, we are trying to figure out, 'What is my job? What are the expectations? And how do I continue to move those expectations forward?' The best organization in this league is the team that is the most consistent. When things get rocky, they hunker down on the things they believe in, the people they believe in and the players they believe in. ... I am truly blessed to be where I am with Trajan Langdon and Tom Gores. They are the type of people who, when things get tough, have my back and have shown that."
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Trajan Langdon, Detroit's president of basketball operations, illustrated how college NIL deals might influence the Pistons' draft strategy and the significance of second-round picks. "With all the money that's being thrown around in NIL, less players are putting their names in," Langdon said. "These NIL packages are starting to get up to three to four to five to six million dollars. These guys are not going to put their name in to be the 25th pick or even the 18th pick. They are going to go back to school in hopes of being a lottery pick next year. "With that pool of players decreasing, it decreases the odds of the level of player we get at No. 37, just off pure mathematics."
Trajan Langdon bets on continuity ahead of Pistons' offseason
Omari Sankofa II: Trajan Langdon: "The continuity piece is big. In my time with San Antonio, that was huge is having that continuity where you can go from one season to another ... knowing on day-one that there's no explanation of philosophy, expectations, what the environment and culture is going to be."
Michael Scotto: Pistons President Trajan Langdon: “Hell of a season for us. I don’t know another way to put it. Surprising. Gratifying. I guess it creates different expectations going into next year for us. You can see that both ways, positively and negatively. I think it’s way more positives.”
Omari Sankofa II: Asked Trajan Langdon about Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren becoming extension-eligible this offseason: "That’s TBD right now. I’m sure talks will be had in the summer, but we have a long time to make that decision."
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