Getty Image / Matthew Stockman
The Detroit Pistons have been mired in mediocrity for over a decade now. The team has not won a single playoff game since 2007-2008, the longest streak of any franchise in the league. But, by hiring Monty Williams to guide their young corps, they’re hoping to turn it around.
They signed Monty Williams to a monster contract that is a new NBA record.
Monty Williams has agreed to a six-year, $78.5 million contract with the Detroit Pistons, sources tell ESPN. It’s the largest coaching deal in NBA history.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 1, 2023
That is a wild amount of money for a coach. San Antonio Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich was making the most at $11.5 million a year. And, unlikely Monty Williams, Popovich has five titles. Williams has zero.
But, he does have a serious resume when it comes to turning around teams. He did just that in Phoenix, when he took that franchise out of the basement to within two games of an NBA title and became one of the league’s best teams. But, he was fired after the Suns lost to the Nuggets in the Western Conference Semifinals.
Now, he will look to do the same with the Pistons, and there is hope. They have some really promising young players like Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Isaiah Stewart, James Wiseman, and Jalen Duren. And, despite having terrible luck in the draft lottery that saw them drop from first to fifth, they still have the fifth pick in what is considered a loaded draft. They should be able to add a promising wing to a roster that is heavy on guards and bigs. And, moving forward in an open and aging Eastern Conference, could be a factor.