The Detroit Pistons made a surprising move by firing coach Monty Williams after just one season. This decision came with five years and over $65 million remaining on his contract, according to sources close to the situation. The choice to let go of Williams was reportedly made by the team’s ownership.
New team president Trajan Langdon will now be tasked with finding a new head coach for the struggling Pistons. Under Williams’ leadership, the team had a dismal record of 14-68, finishing at the bottom of the NBA standings.
Despite his previous success as a two-time NBA coach of the year, Williams was unable to turn things around for Detroit. He had signed a lucrative six-year deal with the team after being let go by the Phoenix Suns. Originally, Williams had planned to take a break from coaching to focus on his wife’s battle with cancer. However, he ultimately decided to take on the challenge of leading the Pistons through a rebuilding phase alongside former general manager Troy Weaver.
The abrupt firing of Williams raises questions about the direction the Pistons will take moving forward. With Langdon now at the helm, Detroit will need to find a coach who can bring about positive change and lead the team to success in the future.
It remains to be seen how Williams will respond to this unexpected turn of events. Despite the disappointing outcome in Detroit, his track record as a coach may attract interest from other NBA teams looking to make a coaching change. As the Pistons regroup and look ahead to the next chapter, the search for a new head coach will be a critical step in the team’s journey towards improvement and competitiveness in the league.