Langdon likely gone from Nets front office

Brooklyn Assistant GM closing in on executive position with Pistons

May 30, 2018 By John Torenli, Sports Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle

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An invaluable asset to Nets general manager Sean Marks since joining him in the front office back in 2016, former Duke standout Trajan Langdon appears to be closing in on an executive position in the Detroit Pistons’ front office.

Langdon, dubbed “The Alaskan Assassin” for his amazing 3-point shooting acumen during a standout playing career with the Blue Devils in the 1990s, was a scout in San Antonio from 2012-15, where he worked alongside Marks.

When Marks was hired to lead Brooklyn back to NBA relevance on Feb. 18, 2016, he quickly added Langdon as his second in command to undertake what is an ongoing rebuilding project with the Nets.

Langdon emerged as a candidate for the vacant team president/GM job in Detroit following the organization’s decision earlier this month to part ways with Stan Van Gundy, who was also the Pistons’ head coach.

Though the Nets are remaining mum on the matter, the New York Post reported Tuesday that Shane Battier, another Duke alum, had withdrawn from the race to take over the helm in Detroit, where the Pistons went 39-43 this past season, falling four games shy of the final Eastern Conference playoff spot.

Pistons owner Tom Gores has already brought in former New Jersey Nets GM Ed Stefanski as a special adviser, and a decision regarding the future of the front office is expected as soon as this week.

Detroit still has not hired a new head coach, something Langdon will be expected to do if he gets the job.

Though his formidable skills in college never quite translated into a big NBA career — Langdon averaged 5.4 points per game over three seasons with Cleveland, which selected him 11th overall in the 1999 Draft — he did enjoy success on the international scene as a sharp-shooter for CSKA Moscow, a team once owned and operated by current Nets majority owner Mikhail Prokhorov.

Langdon worked in player administration and basketball operations with the Cavaliers before joining forces with Marks in San Antonio in 2012.

“Trajan is someone I worked with closely at the Spurs, and he brings a unique combination of NBA and European experience to the position,” Marks said two years ago upon hiring Langdon.

“Trajan’s recent front office post with Cleveland added to his professional resume, and I want to thank the Cavs for their cooperation in this effort. The Nets look forward to Trajan’s contributions.”

And it appears more than likely that the Pistons will be looking forward to Langdon’s contributions as well.

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In local college sports news, senior high-jumper Kareem Roberts represented Long Island University Brooklyn at last weekend’s NCAA Division I East Preliminaries in Tampa, Florida.

Roberts, the reigning two-time NEC champion in the event, managed a leap of 2.06 meters, which is three inches shy of seven feet if you are not up on your metric system.

The Bay Shore, N.Y., native was the only Blackbird to qualify for the weekend event, which featured some of the best track-and-field athletes in the region.

Roberts, who cleared a career-best 2.16 meters (7-feet, 1-inch) at last month’s Penn Relays, finished 25th out of 48 participants in the high jump, leaving him out of the Field of 12 that advanced to the National Championships.

Over on Remsen Street, freshman tennis sensation Jean-na Koo was named to the Northeast Conference’s All-Rookie team earlier this month after completing her first campaign in Brooklyn with a sparkling 12-6 mark, including 7-1 in No. 2 singles.

Koo, who came to Brooklyn Heights from Lewisville, Texas, also went 4-3 in No. 3 singles and paired to win three out of four matches alongside doubles partner Ana Orozco.

“It feels really good to be named to the NEC All-Rookie Squad,” Koo said on the St. Francis College Athletics website.

“It feels nice to be recognized for the hard work and dedication I’ve put in training here and also the amount of training I have done to get here. I think I’ve put in the same amount of practice I always have to achieve this, I just mentally focused more before going into a match.”

Though they are still well behind perennial tennis powerhouse Long Island University Brooklyn, the Terriers, who went 4-14 this past season before losing the Blackbirds in the NEC Tournament, are beginning to make some waves as an up-and-coming team in the conference, thanks to the contributions of Koo and her teammates.