NBA coaching search: Pistons, Monty Williams agree to deal worth up to $100 million, per report

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By Webdesk


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After being fired by the Phoenix Suns after a disappointing playoff exit, Monty Williams becomes the new head coach of the Detroit Pistons. Williams signs a six-year, $72 million deal with Detroit that can extend to eight years and $100 million with incentives, according to Shams Charania and James Edwards of The Athletic.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski notes that Williams’ deal is the largest for a head coach in NBA history.

In recent days, rumors began to circulate that the Pistons were willing to offer Williams a deal worth $10 million a year, and this annual value significantly exceeds that. Williams now becomes one of the highest-paid coaches in the league, and he still owes more than $20 million over the next three years from the Phoenix Suns, who parted ways with Williams earlier this month after four seasons.

Williams had reportedly previously turned down an offer from Detroit and indicated to interested teams that he might want to take a year away from coaching, but the Pistons clearly presented an opportunity he couldn’t resist.

Williams appears to be a good fit in Detroit, as he has been praised for building an organizational culture and developing talent in his past stops, which is exactly what the Pistons need right now. They have young talent on the roster — including recent lottery picks Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey and James Wiseman — and an experienced, respected coach could certainly help make the team a playoff contender in the Eastern Conference again.

This situation is reminiscent of the last time the Pistons hired a head coach. In 2018, Dwane Casey thought about taking a year off from coaching after a long stint in Toronto, but the Pistons’ persistence and willingness to pay top dollar convinced Casey to take the job. Immediately following the conclusion of the 2022-23 season in April, Detroit announced that Casey would shift his role from the bench to the front office, paving the way for Williams to take over.

The Pistons are looking for a coach to transform their young talent into a contender, and they hope Williams is the leader to take them there.





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