The Detroit Pistons are looking to build a roster that can compete for many years to come, and on Friday, they announced that former Suns head coach Monty Williams, who turned the Suns around, would be the team’s head coach.
Detroit invested heavily in Williams. According to Shams Charania, it’s a six-year, $72 million deal, which could reach $100 million based on team options and incentives.
Williams will be introduced at a news conference next week.
According to the team, Williams had already initiated the transition and begun scheduling player meetings and staff development.
The 51-year-old Williams spent Memorial Day Weekend meeting with Pistons owner Tom Gores and GM Troy Weaver, and ultimately they came to an agreement.
“I couldn’t be more proud to have Monty joining us at this important time to lead us into the next decade of our future,” said Pistons owner Tom Gores via a press release. “He embodies all of the qualities we want in a leader for our Pistons franchise and, most importantly, a teacher and mentor for our players. He will have an impact on every aspect of our franchise, on and off the court.
Weaver, who spent time with Williams in OKC, added: “After spending some time with Monty, it’s clear that he’s found a unique balance between achieving victory at the highest level while at the same time nurturing a culture of growth, development, and inspiration,” Gores said. “I’m beyond excited. This is a huge win for us.”
Williams was still determining whether he would coach next season. However, after hearing the vision laid out by Gores and Weaver, he decided he wanted to be a part of that vision.
“A week ago, I was not sure what the future would hold,” Williams said. “But, after talking with Tom and Troy, I was excited hearing their vision for the Pistons going forward. They had a thoughtful plan, and I am so appreciative of the emphasis they placed on the personal side of this business. They showed tremendous consideration for me and my family throughout this process.
“They also showed a commitment to success and doing things the right way,” he said. “As we discussed the team and expressed our collective goals, I realized that this would be a great opportunity for me to help a talented young team and build a strong culture here in Detroit. This is obviously a special place with a deep basketball history, and my family and I are looking forward to the opportunity to be a part of this city and organization.”
The Pistons were excited when Williams, who the Suns fired at the end of their season, became available.
“Monty represented the ideal prototype for our young team, but we didn’t expect him to be available,” Weaver said. “When he suddenly became available, we jumped at the opportunity to speak with him. That doesn’t mean the others in our process were not strong candidates. They were. But Monty is the prototype.”
In his four seasons with the Suns, Williams helped turn things around. The Suns won 34 games during his first season on the job in 2019-20, a 15-game improvement, and 51 during his second year. He led Phoenix to the NBA Playoffs in each of the past three seasons, including a trip to the NBA Finals in 2020-21.
Williams guided Phoenix to the Western Conference Semifinals this past season and was named 2022 NBA Coach of the Year after leading the Suns to an NBA-best and franchise record 64 wins during the 2021-22 season.
Prior to his appointment with Phoenix, he served as head coach of the New Orleans Hornets/Pelicans from 2010-15. Williams led New Orleans to the playoffs twice in his five seasons, and his 2014-15 team finished eighth in offensive rating.
Williams played nine seasons in the NBA with the Knicks, Spurs, Nuggets, Magic, and 76ers.
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