DETROIT >> Trajan Langdon was surrounded by reminders of the standard of excellence once set for the Pistons Friday afternoon during his introductory press conference.

Straight in the line of Langdon’s vision hung three large blue-bordered championship banners that overlook the Pistons’ practice courts. On the wall to his left were placards paying homage to some of the Pistons’ most iconic players — from Isiah Thomas, Bill Laimbeer and Richard Hamilton to Chauncy Billups, Ben Wallace and Joe Dumars.

“Since I left San Antonio, I haven’t seen this many banners in a facility like we have here,” said Langdon, the Pistons’ new president of basketball operations. “It’s [an] inspiration for all of us to come in here, knowing the history of this franchise and trying to build every day to get it back there.”

The Pistons have spiraled into becoming the butt of jokes over the past several seasons. There was promise, though, heading into last season that the worst days of the team’s rebuild were behind it. Cade Cunningham was healthy and the Pistons hired Monty Williams and signed to a record-setting contract that made him the highest paid coach in the league at the time.

What followed, though, was unthinkable. A historic 28-game losing streak. Questionable rotation decision. And as the season went on it became more evident that the roster lacked shooting and didn’t have enough veteran leadership and experience to supplement the youth. That all played a part in what ended up being a franchise-worst 14-68 record.

“We have gone through some tremendous pain,” team owner Tom Gores said. “Losing a lot wasn’t nice for the players.”

It surely wasn’t pleasant for fans either.

All that disappointment forced Gores after the season to reckon with the mistakes of the franchise’s past and find a pathway forward. Gores has been willing to spend top dollar to bring people to Detroit, but the results haven’t followed.

“One of the things that I think we really miss — and I’ll take some responsibility for that — is a leader who can lead everyone,” Gores said. “Not in pieces, not a part of the front office, not just the stadium, that can truly thread together and align people.”

Gores and Langdon’s first meeting lasted for at least six hours. The first three hours were spent on basketball; the rest was focused on their philosophies of business. Langdon’s leadership and vision for the Pistons are why Gores picked him to be the team’s first team president since it parted ways with Stan Van Gundy following the 2017-18 season.

Langdon is now tasked with an ambitious, hefty project: To restore this historic franchise to an elite level.

“Our goal is to compete night in and night out,” Langdon said, “put a product on the floor and build a team that the city is proud of, that the city wants to support because that’s the kind of city this city deserves.”

Langdon believes he can do it, too. But he warned it won’t happen overnight.

“We can’t skip steps in terms of the development of this team,” Langdon said.

The Pistons, in essence, are to reestablish a winning culture, and Gores doesn’t want to get this wrong again. It’s why he and Langdon have already discussed for hours, sometimes into the early morning hours, what needs to happen to make the Pistons competitive once again.

“I really felt that the best choice for the organization was a fresh start,” Gores said.

Over the past three weeks, the Pistons have done some spring cleaning. They parted ways with former general manager Troy Weaver and ultimately fired Williams this week after one season, despite still owing him $65 million.

With the NBA draft next week and free agency opening shortly after, there’s no time to waste.

Langdon, whom Gores said will act like a CEO, has a long list of duties. Not only is he on the search for the Pistons’ next general manager and head coach, but he also has to look ahead at the roster changes that need to happen for Detroit to get better.

The latter could start next week with the NBA draft. The Pistons have the No. 5 overall pick, which they could look to trade.

As for the team’s coaching search, Langdon said the Pistons are looking for a candidate who has strong leadership qualities and is on the same page as Gores and the front office. He wants a coach who is a strong communicator and collaborative. They have to be passionate about development and willing to be patient with the process.

The Pistons have already received permission to interview former assistants, Sean Sweeney and Micah Nori, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Thursday. Sweeney was on Dwane Casey’s staff but currently serves as an assistant for the Dallas Mavericks, who went to the NBA Finals. Nori, on the other hand, is currently with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

As for the roster, Langdon plans to build around Cunningham and put him in a better position to reach his full potential. The Pistons will look to add floor spacers and high IQ experienced players. He also noted that Detroit’s cap space gives him the opportunity to look at taking on contracts and adding assets.

“We might not win every night, but we’ll be playing winning basketball every night,” Langdon said.

That mindset change will be important moving forward, especially after a season where losing became an expectation. Langdon also said there will be an emphasis on accountability and competition from the practice court to the weight room.

“This has to be an organization where we compete at the highest level and the expectations are going to have to be that every day,” Langdon said. “And so the head coach we’re going to bring in is going to have to be somebody who inspires our players to do that as well… that’s the only way we’re going to get to a championship level.”

When Langdon accepted the job last month, Gores warned him it was “going to be difficult.” But Langdon ensured he was ready for the challenge.

Langdon has already made several hires, including within the scouting and cap department. He also recently hired well-respected shooting coach Fred Vinson from the Pelicans.

“We are all the ones that are going to elevate this organization from where it is now and hopefully create sustainable success,” Langdon said. “This isn’t about one run. This is about being successful, creating a system, creating processes in this organization which is going to allow the Detroit Pistons organization to be successful for a long time.”