It looks like New Orleans Pelicans General Manager Trajan Langdon will not be joining the Washington Wizards after all.
On Wednesday, it was announced that Los Angeles Clippers General Manager Michael Winger has agreed to become the President of Monumental Basketball. This means that he will be the President of Operations for the Wizards, along with the Washington Mystics (Washington’s WNBA team) and the Capital City Go-Go (Washington’s G-League team).
ESPN Sources: Los Angeles Clippers GM Michael Winger has agreed to become the President of Monumental Basketball, which delivers him full leadership of the Washington Wizards. Winger will also oversee the WNBA Mystics and G-League Go-Go. pic.twitter.com/3ldnt8DhtZ
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 24, 2023
There has been some speculation for weeks now that Langdon may leave the Pelicans to take the Wizards’ job after the team fired Tommy Sheppard in April.
According to reports about Washington’s search, Langdon appeared to be a prominent part of the Wizards’ process, as both he and Winger had substantial in-person meetings with the team’s ownership and organizational leadership. However, in the end, the team decided to go with Winger.
Langdon has been the Pelicans’ General Manager since May of 2019 (so roughly four years ago). Before that, he was the Assistant General Manager of the Brooklyn Nets from 2016 to 2019. And before that, he served as a scout for the San Antonio Spurs from 2012 to 2015.
He also spent some time in the NBA as a player, spending three seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers from 1999 to 2002. After that, he played overseas for a decade.
Meanwhile, Winger has been with the Clippers since August of 2017. However, in 2019 the Minnesota Timberwolves tried to snatch him up, but he declined their request for an interview. Winger also worked as the President of Basketball Operations for the Cavaliers from 2005 to 2010 and as the Assistant General Manager for the Oklahoma City Thunder from 2010 until he took the job with the Clippers.
Winger has experienced a great deal of success in his career – reaching a combined seven conference finals and two NBA Finals with the Clippers, Cavaliers, and Thunder.
While we always want the best for our Pelicans’ people, it is hard not to be happy about this news. By all accounts, Langdon is well-liked within the organization and has done a great job everywhere he has been, so it is in the team’s best interest to have him around.
Hopefully, missing out on the Wizards opportunity turns out to be a blessing in disguise for his career.