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Shane Battier, the former Michigan high school star and Heat analytics director, has dropped out of contention for the Pistons’ basketball operations job, leaving Nets assistant GM Trajan Langdon the leading candidate to get the job, according to various reports.
A decision is expected later this week. While there are other candidates, reporters in Detroit believe the job is most likely going to Langdon.
#Nets Trajan Langdon is still the name to watch here https://t.co/rK6PG066WM
— Rod Beard (@detnewsRodBeard) May 29, 2018
Langdon has reportedly been interviewed for the job whose title has yet to be determined. Under the most rumored arrangement, Ed Stefanski, the veteran NBA executive, would be president of basketball operations with Langdon as GM. Stefanski, 64, hired as a special adviser last week, would mentor Langdon, 42, and at some point, yield the top job to the former Duke and CSKA Moscow star.
The Pistons are also searching for a new head coach with fired Raptors coach Dwane Casey the leading candidate there. Stan Van Gundy, fired earlier this month, held both the basketball operations and coaching jobs. Despite one of the NBA’s highest payrolls, the Pistons failed to make the playoffs.
Langdon has a very good reputation and track record around the NBA ... first as a scout with the Spurs, then director of player administration and basketball operations for the Cavaliers. Sean Marks hired him as his No. 2 two years ago and his rep continued to grow as a big part of the Nets development scheme. He’s also general manager of the Long Island Nets.
The Nets already have two key jobs to fill. Lloyd Beckett, their trainer the past two years, is returning to his home state of Maine and Ronald Nored, the Long Island head coach, has agreed to join the Hornets as an assistant coach.
Whether the Nets would ask for compensation for Langdon is uncertain. A year ago, when Jeff Weltman, then Toronto’s GM, was hired by Orlando as president of basketball operations, the Raptors got a second rounder from the Magic.
- Pistons’ path to swiping Nets assistant GM gets clearer - Brian Lewis - New York Post