Detroit Pistons fire Monty Williams after just 1 season

Lina Portman2 weeks ago

0 1 minute read

The Detroit Pistons fired head coach Monty Williams on Wednesday, ending a marriage that began with great fanfare last May.

Williams signed a historic six-year, $78.5 million contract with incentives that were the largest for a head coach in NBA history at the time (since surpassed by Gregg Popovich and Erik Spoelstra) , and has barely reached the one-year mark.

Tom Gores must find his sixth head coach since taking ownership in 2011, as Williams becomes the third under Gores to lose his job without exceeding two seasons (Lawrence Frank, Maurice Cheeks; Stan Van Gundy lasted four years and Dwane Casey five).

The Pistons hired Trajan Langdon as president of basketball operations in late May to oversee the club's direction, replacing general manager Troy Weaver as the organization's top basketball decision-maker.

Williams was hired to lead a rebuild that both ownership and Weaver felt was finally ready to compete after three years of patient construction. Cracks in the partnership began to show early on, as the Pistons were mired in an NBA-record 28-game losing streak, which forced questions about Williams' leadership and game management .

Ultimately, the owners quickly lost faith in Williams as the right fit for the team. His use of Jaden Ivey early in the season — opting to bring the second-year guard off the bench behind Killian Hayes, who has since waived — and his refusal to shift Ivey with Cunningham are among several decisions that have baffled officials of the team.

In January, Williams admitted to being questioned during an organizational meeting about his handling of Ivey and his reluctance to use him as his primary ball handler. It was a glimpse into the disconnect between the coach and the front office/ownership that has now culminated in his firing.

This is breaking news and will be updated.

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Lina Portman

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