The Detroit Pistons are now on the hook for $65 million to pay Monty Williams not to coach.
Detroit Pistons head coach Monty Williams was fired after just one horrific season in charge, according to Adrian Wojnarowski ofThe 2022 Coach of the Year has now been fired twice in each of the last two seasons, first for failing to bring the Phoenix Suns past the second round during the 2023 playoffs in a six-game loss to the eventual champion Denver Nuggets , and now for guiding one of the single-worst teams in the history of the league.
Williams, who had wanted to step away from coaching after being canned by Phoenix, inked a six-season, $78 million offer he couldn't refuse that helped totally re-set the market for head coach salaries. Ultimately, the choice stemmed from team owner Tom Gores and vice chairman Arn Tellem. Williams had been speaking with new president Trajan Langdon over the last few weeks about Detroit's big picture future. Per Woj, it was Langdon who told Williams he was gone on Wednesday morning.
The Williams firing spells trouble for Los Angeles, who still don't have a head coach after firing Darvin Ham. Now, with just over a week to go prior to the 2024 NBA Draft, a potentially more appetizing opportunity has just arrived. The Lakers' ceiling seems clear: the team boasts two aging All-Stars in LeBron James and Anthony Davis, some solid young talent, and some mediocre vets.
Detroit and the Cleveland Cavaliers, meanwhile, occupy the East's lesser conference, have two owners who are more than willing to spend big, and won't be weighed with the kind of exposure or championship expectations that arrives in L.A. The Cavs fired head coach J.B. Bickerstaff this summer, despite reaching the second round of the playoffs for the first time since James left town after the 2017-18 season.
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