Monty Williams is reportedly set to become Detroit Pistons’ new head coach after accepting a massive deal.
Tom Gores and the Detroit Pistons have found their newest head coach to lead the young Pistons out of their rebuild. Monty Williams, formerly of the Phoenix Suns, has agreed to a six year, $72 million dollar deal loaded with incentives. After all is said and done, Williams’ deal could be worth more than $100 million. Additionally, there are also team options for years seven and eight.
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
Monty is coming to Detroit as one of the hottest available head coaches in the league, most recently appearing in the NBA Finals just two seasons ago.
Tom Gores made an offer Monty Williams could not refuse
As noted, the deal Williams accepted was a massive pay increase compared to his previous deal with the Suns. During his time in Phoenix, Williams was paid $7 million per year. It was first reported that the Pistons offered a large contract, most likely surpassing his previous $7M, to Williams days ago, which was rebuffed. Williams was reportedly expected to take a year off from coaching and reassess his options this time next season. With Monty off the board, Tom Gores and Troy Weaver were at a crossroad with who else to hire. Credit to Gores for not settling on the best of the rest, and simply going out and getting their guy. They made Williams an offer he simply could not refuse. The 2022 NBA Coach of the Year now becomes the highest paid head coach, surpassing Gregg Popovich last season with $11.5M. While the contract is certainly eye-popping, the value Williams brings to this franchise is invaluable.
What this means for the Detroit Pistons
Detroit was reeling from a devastating draft lottery, and rightfully so. Missing on the chance at the generational player Victor Wembanyama is a hard pill to swallow. Going out days later and grabbing one of the hottest, most successful head coaches takes the sting away quite a bit. Monty, the winningest head coach in the NBA since 2021, will take over the this Pistons’ roster and be expected to contend for a play-in spot in his first year. His “point-five offense” strategy in which he demands players make a move with the ball in their hands within .5 seconds is exactly what this young, athletic team needs. His leadership and culture changing abilities are exactly what the young Pistons need in the Motor City. I expect his popularity here in Detroit to be on par with that of the Detroit Lions’ own Dan Campbell.