After a three-year NBA career and playing pro internationally for nearly a decade, Trajan Langdon became a San Antonio Spurs scout in 2012. Fourteen years, three teams and three roles later, as president of basketball operations, Langdon has spearheaded a turnaround that saw a 14-win Detroit Pistons team blossom into a 44- and 60-win team in consecutive seasons with back-to-back postseason appearances.The Alaska native adopted a methodical, wait-and-see approach with the Pistons in hopes of giving the team’s core enough time to reach their potential.Langdon has prioritized internal growth while seeking to improve the team around the margins since arriving in Detroit in the summer of 2024. He’s yet to make a blockbuster trade with the Pistons. Detroit’s acquisition of forward John Collins marks the team’s biggest swing since Langdon took over.Why Jalen Duren is still a free agentHunter Patterson and Jeshua KiddHe has, however, surrounded franchise cornerstone Cade Cunningham with veterans such as Tobias Harris, Tim Hardaway Jr., Dennis Schröder, Duncan Robinson and Kevin Huerter. So while the offseason progresses and Jalen Duren’s contract negotiations remain at a standstill, let’s take a look at Langdon’s role in orchestrating the Pistons’ return to relevance.Signing Daniss Jenkins to a two-way contract (2024)Last season, Jenkins sat at the postgame podium after leading the Pistons to an early February win over the New York Knicks and spoke about being passed over at the 2024 NBA Draft.“Going undrafted is insanity to me,” Jenkins said. “Literal insanity. That burns inside of me every single day. That took something away from me.”Langdon identified Jenkins as a prospect and wasted no time signing him to a two-way deal, which eventually turned Jenkins into one of the biggest surprises with his breakout play last season. Jenkins earned a guaranteed contract shortly after that talk at the podium and carved out his role as the team’s backup point guard in the process.Signing Jenkins was one of Langdon’s earliest and best moves in Detroit.Signing Tobias Harris in free agency (2024)Considering Harris’ value in setting the culture alongside Langdon and head coach J.B. Bickerstaff — not to mention his play on the court — he’s arguably Langdon’s best free-agent signing.Langdon signed Harris to a reasonable two-year, $52 million deal that was well worth it. Before he departed for the Spurs this summer, Harris spent his first season back in Detroit as Cunningham’s second scoring option and reassumed that role during the playoffs last season. Harris’ impact on the team was felt across the board from the court to the front office.