Trajan Langdon hinted that the Detroit Pistons would trade their 2024 first-round pick. Turns out, his best option was to stay put.
The Pistons selected Ron Holland II, a G League Ignite wing, with the fifth overall pick during the first round of Wednesday’s NBA Draft. It’s the first decision by a player in the Langdon era, and a surprise pick since Holland was widely projected to come in late in the lottery (he finishes 14th).
While the Pistons were open to moving down in exchange for assets, they ended up with one of the best athletes in the draft. Holland was the No. 1 recruit in the high school class of 2023.
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Holland, 18, is 6-foot-7 and weighs 206 pounds. He is considered one of the higher-motor players in this class and has a 6-11 wingspan that should help him defensively. He averaged 19.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 2.3 steals and nearly a block on 46% shooting and 24% from 3-point range for the Ignite, who went 2-32 this season. season.
Holland’s poor outside shooting was a significant factor in his draft slide heading into Wednesday. But after hiring Dr. Fred Vinson as an assistant coach, Langdon appears confident those percentages can improve and unlock more potential. Holland joins a group of big men that currently includes last year’s fifth overall pick, Ausar Thompson, and restricted free agent Simone Fontecchio.
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Raising assets is a priority for Langdon, as the Pistons still owe a future first-round pick to the New York Knicks. They have $64 million available in free agency, which begins Sunday night, and they will potentially use some of it to eat a bad salary in exchange for more draft picks.
“That’s something we’re looking at, with the cap space we have, is bringing in contracts from other teams and also putting together assets,” Langdon said last week. “Hopefully the players that come in can fuel the growth of our youth. If we can weave those two things together, those would be things that would make our summer a success.”
The Pistons also have the 53rd overall pick during the second round of the NBA draft on Thursday, which begins at 4 p.m.
Make “The Pistons Pulse” your favorite Detroit Pistons podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) or watch live or on-demand on YouTube. Tune in Thursday morning for live reaction to the first round.
Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. FOLLOW IT @omarisankofa.
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