More than four dozen players were nominated by PBWA members. Twenty-five finalists were selected by a PBWA subcommittee to create the official ballot, which was voted on by the entire membership. Players received two points for every first-team vote and one point for every second-team vote. The other 15 finalists, in alphabetical order, were: Paolo Banchero (Orlando Magic), Cade Cunningham (Detroit Pistons), DeMar DeRozan (Sacramento Kings), Donte DiVincenzo (Minnesota Timberwolves), Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves), Rudy Gobert (Minnesota Timberwolves), Al Horford (Boston Celtics), Kyrie Irving (Dallas Mavericks), C.J. McCollum (New Orleans Pelicans), Tyrese Maxey (Philadelphia 76ers), Georges Niang (Cleveland Cavaliers/Atlanta Hawks), Kristaps Porzingis (Boston Celtics), Austin Reaves (Los Angeles Lakers), Fred VanVleet (Houston Rockets) and Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs).
Detroit Pistons Rumors
Trajan Langdon, Detroit’s president of basketball operations, illustrated how college NIL deals might influence the Pistons’ draft strategy and the significance of second-round picks. “With all the money that’s being thrown around in NIL, less players are putting their names in,” Langdon said. “These NIL packages are starting to get up to three to four to five to six million dollars. These guys are not going to put their name in to be the 25th pick or even the 18th pick. They are going to go back to school in hopes of being a lottery pick next year. “With that pool of players decreasing, it decreases the odds of the level of player we get at No. 37, just off pure mathematics.”
Trajan Langdon bets on continuity ahead of Pistons' offseason
Omari Sankofa II: Trajan Langdon: “The continuity piece is big. In my time with San Antonio, that was huge is having that continuity where you can go from one season to another … knowing on day-one that there’s no explanation of philosophy, expectations, what the environment and culture is going to be.”
Michael Scotto: Pistons President Trajan Langdon: “Hell of a season for us. I don’t know another way to put it. Surprising. Gratifying. I guess it creates different expectations going into next year for us. You can see that both ways, positively and negatively. I think it’s way more positives.”
Omari Sankofa II: Asked Trajan Langdon about Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren becoming extension-eligible this offseason: “That’s TBD right now. I’m sure talks will be had in the summer, but we have a long time to make that decision.”
Omari Sankofa II: Trajan Langdon said there’s still more to learn about the roster, when asked if it’s time for a big swing. Mentioned Ausar Thompson not having an offseason while dealing with blood clots, Jalen Duren improving after the first 25 games, players getting healthy. “If those guys take steps, we get better.”
Omari Sankofa II: Trajan Langdon on Cade Cunningham: “He had an incredible year. Stats wise he was fantastic, he got better, but … he hadn’t driven winning and he was the driver of winning for us this year. That’s the biggest and hardest step to take, turning your stats into being meaningful and driving winning.”
4d
Malik Beasley staying with Pistons?
After taking a one-year deal with Detroit and betting on himself, Pistons guard Malik Beasley is set to cash in this summer during free agency after becoming a locker room leader and finishing second in Sixth Man of the Year voting and total three-pointers made this season (319). Heading into the offseason, the Pistons and Beasley have mutual interest in agreeing to a new contract, league sources told HoopsHype.
During Detroit’s first-round series against New York, members of the Pistons spoke well of veteran point guard Dennis Schroeder’s positive impact on the team as a veteran leader and floor general. Heading into the offseason, Detroit is interested in re-signing Schroeder, league sources told HoopsHype.