Monty Williams was taken completely by surprise with his recent dismissal from the Detroit Pistons.
The news of his firing was first reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski during a “SportsCenter” segment on Thursday.
According to Wojnarowski, Pistons owner Tom Gores made the decisive call to part ways with Williams, leaving the veteran coach understandably shocked.
Williams had only recently signed a substantial six-year contract in 2023, valued at $78.5 million, setting a record for the organization. Despite this, he was let go with a significant portion of his contract, over $65 million, still unclaimed.
This abrupt termination comes after a notably challenging season where the Pistons ended with a league-worst record of 14-68, including a harrowing 28-game losing streak in the first half of the season.
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In the aftermath of Williams’ firing, the Pistons underwent more changes in their front office.
They appointed Trajan Langdon, formerly of the New Orleans Pelicans, as the new president of basketball operations in May, succeeding the ousted general manager Troy Weaver.
While Williams, a former Coach of the Year recipient, has expressed a desire to return to coaching at some point, Wojnarowski notes that he is not rushing into another coaching role immediately.
This comes at a time when head coaching positions are available with a few other NBA teams, namely the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Los Angeles Lakers, in addition to the Pistons.
The Lakers, for their part, have shown interest in former NBA player and ESPN analyst JJ Redick for their coaching vacancy, though no contract has been extended following their recent discussions.
As the Pistons prepare for the upcoming NBA draft, where they hold the No. 5 pick, and look forward to having over $60 million to spend in free agency, the organization is evidently aiming to rebuild and chart a new course after a disappointing season under Williams’ short-lived tenure.
