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Monty Williams agrees to a deal to become Pistons coach
Monte Williams agrees to a six-year, $78.5 million contract to become the next head coach of the Detroit Pistons.
Coach Monty Williams has agreed to a six-year, $78.5 million contract with the United States at the Detroit Pistons, sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. It is the largest coaching deal in NBA history.
The Phoenix Suns fired Williams, 51, earlier in May after four seasons as their head coach. The move came after the Suns were eliminated by the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Semifinals.
Williams, who was named the NBA Coach of the Year in May 2022, was 194-115 (. 628) in the regular season and 27-19 in the playoffs for Phoenix. The Suns won a franchise record 64 games in 2021-22 and reached the NBA Finals in 2021.
In Detroit, Williams will replace Duane Casey, who stepped down as Pistons coach in April to move to a front office position.
Casey has coached Detroit since 2018, but in five seasons, the team has gone 121-263 (.315). Detroit made the playoffs once during his tenure, in 2018-19, but was swept in the first round.
The Pistons went seven consecutive campaigns without finishing over . 500. Their most recent winning season was in 2015-2016.
Jaden Ivey and Jalen Doreen, who were selected No. 5 and No. 13, respectively, in the 2022 NBA Draft, provide hope for the future with their play last season for Detroit. Kid Cunningham, the first pick in 2021, had his second season stunted by shin surgery after playing in just 12 games.
Bojan Bogdanovic, who scored an average of 21.6 points, and Isiah Stewart, James Wiseman and Marvin Bagley are expected to return.
The Pistons are ranked fifth in the June NBA draft.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.