The Detroit Pistons officially declared that they were searching for a president of basketball operations to manage all basketball-related decision-making around five weeks ago. The group contracted with TurnkeyZRG, a well-known search company, to handle the search, and the best prospects have started to emerge.
Now that it seems like a choice is about to be made, it might, paradoxically, give even more insight into the organization’s goals if the club is unable to designate a president soon.
Let’s stand back and examine our current situation.
The most recent names to surface as finalists for the presidency are provided by Yahoo Sports, and they often correspond with other publications’ reports on the leading candidates.
It seems like Trajan Langdon is the front-runner for the position. Langdon is ranked first among the candidates by Yahoo Sports, and others close to the squad tell me he is a “strong candiate” among them, though they would not identify names.
In addition, Yahoo lists John Hammond, another top executive in Detroit during its title contention era who is currently with the Orlando Magic and was previously with the Milwaukee Bucks; Scott Perry, who worked in Detroit’s front office during the Going to Work era and spent many years with the New York Knicks; and Dennis Lindsey, who had a lengthy tenure with the Utah Jazz.
Of course, there’s also an elephant in the room the size of Tim Connelly. Behind Nikola Jokic, Connelly assembled a championship squad in Denver. Currently leading the Minnesota Timberwolves, who defeated the reigning champions and are capable of winning a championship as well, is his vision.
Connelly’s contract contains an opt-out option, and rumors have it that the Pistons may make a move to get him away from Minnesota. It’s unclear what Connelly will actually do or whether the Wolves are deliberately threatening to let him go in order to give him a big pay boost.
But ownership drama exists, and it exists very much. Glen Taylor and Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore, the likely future owners, are at odds. Although both parties had agreed to sell the team, Taylor removed it from the market on the grounds that Rodriguez and Lore had failed to fulfill their end of the bargain.
Even though it is embarrassing, Connelly may have to start planning for life beyond the Timberwolves due to financial constraints. Connelly allegedly signed a deal with bonuses linked to the Wolves’ worth at the time of his signing. The worth of a team is made clear when it is sold, and bonuses may be distributed. These bonuses might be at risk if a team is taken off the market.
The Western Conference finals are set to get underway for the Timberwolves. The series would last seven games, ending on June 3. Connelly’s season ends on June 23rd if the Wolves advance to the Finals.
The Pistons appear to be serious in pursuing Connelly if they maintain their position and don’t make a hire anytime soon. Furthermore, you only hold off on making a significant hire for so long if you have a hunch that the other party is ready to accept.
The new Detroit president would have one day to get ready for the NBA Draft if the Wovles win game 7 of the NBA Finals on June 23 and Connelly opts out on June 24 and gets hired by a new team—let’s use the Pistons as an example—on June 25.
Even by the norms of how significant the draft is for a franchise that is frequently in the lottery, this year’s selection is crucial for the Pistons. In order to add a significant experienced talent to the squad, Detroit needs to choose whether to select the player at No. 5 or try to use him in a package for a longer deal.
The future president will also need to make decisions about the use of present resources, which include Ausar Thompson, Jalen Duren, Isaiah Stewart, and Jaden Ivey. Not to mention the necessity of making a definitive decision on Detroit’s current general manager, Troy Weaver, and the entire basketball system that has let them down thus far.
That’s the reason it seems so improbable that Connelly will be pursued seriously. The current contenders for Detroit president, ranked in order of probability of winning, are Trajan Langdon, Dennis Lindsey, John Hammond, Scott Perry, and Tim Connelly.
Okay, so I’m prepared to press the publish button now, fully expecting that this would result in the formal announcement of the Pistons’ president and allow this tale to mature like milk. Moreover, PUBLISH.
