After four years as the Phoenix Suns’ head coach, Monty Williams joined the Detroit Pistons ahead of the 2023-24 season. During the regular season, the Pistons finished with a 14-68 record. After finishing 17-65 the year prior, this marked the second consecutive season Detriot finished with the worst record in the NBA. Because of their historically bad performance this season, questions surfaced regarding the 2022 Coach of the Year’s job security. According to the most recent reports, there are answers to those questions.
Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Pistons have fired Williams after one season. Williams still had five years remaining on his six-year contract.
“ESPN Sources: After one season, the Detroit Pistons have dismissed coach Monty Williams — who leaves with five years and $65M-plus left on his deal. New President Trajan Langdon will move to make his own coaching hire now.”
Furthermore, Wojnarowski later noted that the decision to let Williams go “was directed from the ownership level with Tom Gores.” Wojnarowski also said that Vice Chairman Arn Tellem advocated for Williams’ dismissal.
“New Pistons president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon had been meeting regularly with Williams about the franchise’s future since his hiring a month ago, but the decision to dismiss Williams was directed from the ownership level with Tom Gores, sources told ESPN.”
“Gores and Pistons vice chairman Arn Tellem had been advocates of dismissing Williams, sources said.”
The decision to fire Williams comes just a few weeks after the team named Langdon as the new President of Basketball Operations.
Detroit Pistons Make Major Decision on Head Coach
Detroit Pistons Considering James Borrego
According to Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo! Sports, the Pistons are considering James Borrego as a candidate to replace Williams.
“One of the names I’m hearing the Pistons will strongly consider: James Borrego, who’s interviewed with the Lakers and Cavs on their coaching openings, sources tell @YahooSports”
Borrego began as an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs in 2003 and stayed with the team until 2010. With the Spurs, he won two championships as an assistant coach. After his Spurs run, he joined the New Orleans Pelicans as an assistant coach from 2010-to-2012. And then, from 2012-to-2015, Borrego was a part of the Orlando Magic coaching staff. In February 2015, Borrego became the interim coach of the Magic after the team fired Jacque Vaughn during the season. In 2018, Borrego began a four-year head coaching tenure with the Charlotte Hornets. With Charlotte, he had a 138-163 coaching record. The team fired him in 2022 and Borrego returned as an assistant coach for New Orleans in 2023.
The Last Word on Monty Williams
The decision to let Williams go after one season is controversial. Although it was clear the Pistons were not a good team, much of it had to do with the makeup of the roster. The team drafted Cade Cunningham with the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. However, the team has gotten progressively worse each season. While Williams may not have been the ideal coach, it is fair to believe he deserved at least one more season with the team.
