Author: Monojit Mandal
Monty Williams, former coach of the Phoenix Suns, has reportedly agreed to become the next coach of the Detroit Pistons. Williams will join the Pistons just a few weeks after being fired by the Suns, according to sources cited by Shams Charania and James L. Edwards III of The Athletic.
The Detroit Pistons are rumored to be making a substantial commitment to Williams, offering him a six-year, $78.5 million contract. When team options and incentives are taken into account, the contract can last up to eight years and cost more than $100 million. This expensive contract is expected to make Williams the highest paid coach in the NBA, a position he will soon occupy, depending on the conclusion of the deal in the coming days.
This is Williams’ third NBA head coaching job, having previously managed the New Orleans Pelicans and the Phoenix Suns. Williams has a 194-115 record with the Suns and has made three playoff appearances during his time with the team. He led the Suns to their first NBA Finals appearance in 28 years in 2020-2021.
Despite his successes, Williams was let go by the Suns after a sad exit in this year’s playoffs. The club was beaten in the second round on its own court by the eventual Western Conference champions, the Denver Nuggets. The 51-year-old coach is now concentrating on rebuilding the failing Pistons club.
The Detroit Pistons have been out of the playoffs since 2019 and haven’t won a postseason game since 2008. Following Dwane Casey’s dismissal after five years as head coach, the club went 17-65 in the 2022-2023 season, its fourth consecutive season with fewer than 23 wins.
Williams will take charge of the Pistons with a collection of intriguing young players at his disposal. Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Jalen Duren and James Wiseman are among the promising players who give the club optimism for the future. In addition, the Pistons have the fifth overall pick in the upcoming 2023 NBA draft, which gives them the opportunity to add to their roster.
Williams, a native of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, offers a wealth of knowledge for his current position. Before becoming a coach, he had an excellent playing career with teams such as the New York Knicks, Denver Nuggets and Orlando Magic.