The Pistons are preparing to hire Trajan Langdon as their new president of basketball operations

The Detroit Pistons plan to hire New Orleans Pelicans GM Trajan Langdon as the franchise’s new president of basketball operations, and the teams are beginning work on a deal expected to be completed soon, sources told ESPN on Thursday.

Pistons owner Tom Gores is hiring Langdon with sweeping authority to make changes to the organization and set a course for the franchise’s future after a league-worst 14 wins and several straight years in the draft lottery, sources said.

The Pistons conducted a lengthy search, including coordinating with TurnkeyZRG managing director Billy King, before narrowing the list of candidates down to Langdon’s offer on Thursday.

Langdon comes armed with an impressive record and number of players during his five years under David Griffin with the Pelicans and three seasons under Sean Marks as Brooklyn’s assistant general manager.

The Pelicans and Nets are believed to have had great drafts with Langdon as part of those organizations, including Jarrett Allen, Caris LeVert, Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy, Herb Jones and others.

Langdon will have the opportunity to sit down with Pistons GM Troy Weaver and coach Monty Williams and discuss what it’s like to work with the Pistons.

The Pistons – who had the league’s worst record last season at 14-68 – have the fifth overall pick in the June 26 NBA draft, and plenty of salary cap space to make decisions in the coming months.

Langdon, 48, was an All-American at Duke and was the No. 11 overall pick in the 1999 NBA draft to the Cleveland Cavaliers. He spent three years with the Cavaliers before embarking on a decorated EuroLeague career that included two championships, a EuroLeague Final Four MVP, and being named to the league’s All-Decade Team in 2010.