By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Rebuilding the front office on the way to the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season, the Detroit Pistons recently named Trajan Langdon as the new president of basketball operations. An arrival combined with general manager Troy Weaver relieved from his duties.
Among the next steps in reshaping the Pistons, J.R. Holden is set to assist his former teammate, as reported by Jake Fischer and Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports.
Langdon and Holden were longtime teammates at CSKA. Sharing the court generated success for the Moscow outfit, including winning the prestigious title of EuroLeague champion in 2006 and 2008. In 2008, Langdon was the Final Four MVP. Legendary overseas careers led to both featuring in the Euroleague Basketball 2000-10 All-Decade Team.
Langdon, 48, carries front office and scouting experience, focusing on those areas beyond playing days. From 2012 to 2015, he worked as a scout for the San Antonio Spurs. Switching to the Cleveland Cavaliers, he was hired as the director of player administration and basketball operations in 2015. Between 2016 to 2019, he was the assistant general manager of the Brooklyn Nets. Since 2019, his post-playing career expanded to the general manager position of the New Orleans Pelicans.
Holden, 47, was previously a scout for the Pistons. The same job description applied to his stint with the Philadelphia 76ers. Shortly after the departure of Langdon, he was named director of player personnel at Brooklyn in 2019. Reuniting with his former teammate, his role at the Pistons remains unclear.