The Detroit Pistons have struggled for quite a while, but they’ve finally made a decision that’ll help them strengthen the ship and get consistently better for years to come.
Following Dwane Casey’s dismissal — or relocation — the team has decided to make a big-time, long-term investment to hire Monty Williams on a six-year deal worth $72 million, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
Breaking: Monty Williams and the Detroit Pistons have agreed in principle on a six-year, $72 million deal for Williams to become the franchise’s new head coach, sources tell me and @JLEdwardsIII. The deal is expected to be finalized in the coming days.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 1, 2023
The Pistons continue their recent trend of hiring former NBA Coach of the Year winners, albeit they’ll most definitely hope it works out better for them this time around.
Casey’s tenure in charge of the team was far from successful, and not because of the results but because of the seeming lack of player development.
Williams is a popular coach with players and a guy who’ll get in the players’ faces if needed, an elite motivator and a guy that has proven to be able to bring the best out of young players.
The fact that the Pistons hired him for a six-year deal also speaks volumes about their desire to build something consistent through time, which has been a major issue for young, rebuilding teams over the past couple of years.
Williams played a huge role in the Phoenix Suns’ culture turnaround, taking them from the bottom all the way to the NBA Finals.
And while signing Chris Paul and Devin Booker’s meteoric rise also played a big part in it, Williams proved to be up to the task of leading that group and many more for years to come.
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