New Beginnings: Pistons' Front Office Shake-Up Signals Fresh Leadership

Written by Published
Join the Debate

The Detroit Pistons are gearing up for some exciting changes even before officially introducing Trajan Langdon as their new president of basketball operations. Langdon hasn't wasted any time and is already making moves to strengthen the front office by bringing some familiar faces back into the fold.

Notable Additions to the Pistons’ Front Office:

  • J.R. Holden: Holden and Langdon share a rich history, having played together for CSKA Moscow, where they clinched EuroLeague championships in 2006 and 2008. Their on-court chemistry is undeniable, with both earning spots on the EuroLeague 2000–10 All-Decade Team. Now, they're set to reunite in Detroit, though Holden's exact role hasn't been disclosed yet.

  • Michael Blackstone: Langdon is also expected to bring Michael Blackstone, formerly the Pelicans’ vice president of basketball administration, into the Pistons' fold. Blackstone has already updated his X (formerly Twitter) profile to reflect his new role as "Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations @DetroitPistons."

Holden's impressive journey from an overseas basketball star to a seasoned scout and executive is noteworthy. After a stellar playing career across various leagues—including the Greek League, VTB United League, Russian League, Belgian League, and Latvian League—Holden joined the Pistons in 2014 as a college and international scout. By the time he left in 2018, he had risen to director of international scouting.

After his tenure with the Pistons, Holden continued to climb the ranks. He scouted for the Philadelphia 76ers and later moved to the Brooklyn Nets, where he served as the general manager for their G-League team, the Long Island Nets, and as their director of pro personnel.

Interestingly, Holden was on the Pistons' radar in 2020 for the general manager position, a role that eventually went to Troy Weaver. Weaver was recently dismissed, paving the way for Langdon's entry and these fresh changes in the Pistons' leadership.

Stay tuned, Pistons fans! With Langdon at the helm and these dynamic additions to the front office, exciting times are ahead for Detroit basketball.