Monty Williams has been fired by the Detroit Pistons.
While he's hardly the primary reason for the Pistons 14-68 record, it was obvious for a long time that this was not going to work, and after the Pistons hired Trajan Langdon to become the President of Basketball Operations, his days were numbered. Langdon now has to focus on hiring the fourth head coach in six years.
Fans will lament the lack of big names in a potential coaching search, but this is the best thing for the Pistons. They need a coach who can grow with the players and a coach who can get the team back to what made Detroit great.
5 Head coaching candidates for the Detroit Pistons
1. Sam Cassell
It's honestly amazing that Sam Cassell hasn't been given an opportunity to be head coach yet. The former NBA point guard is a four-time champion (3 as a player, 1 as a coach), an All-Star, and since retiring in 2009, has been an assistant coach for numerous NBA teams. Currently an assistant for the Boston Celtics, he has been known for his development of guards in the NBA, with the likes of John Wall learning from him, as well as helping stars like James Harden and Chris Paul to elevate their games and their teams.
Coming off of an NBA championship with the Celtics, Cassell would add championship experience as both a player and a coach to the Pistons and could be the answer to helping settle the Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey backcourt. Able to develop and push players to reach their potential, Cassell would be the first-time head coach that the Pistons need to grow with the team and be a long-term centerpiece.
2. James Borrego
James Borrego is an offensive-minded coach and one who, unlike Cassell, has head coaching experience. Both an interim head coach for the Orlando Magic and a full-time coach for the Charlotte Hornets for four years, he's shown the ability to build players and a team's on-court product. In fact, many analysts and fans were shocked when he was ousted from Charlotte in 2022 after a 43-39 record. It's a matter of time before Borrego gets an opportunity, so why not Detroit?
Given his experience and connections to Trajan Langdon, Borrego could be the front-runner. Working with larger guards in the past like LaMelo Ball, his offensive game incorporates a lot of creativity and playing above the rim. With the Pistons having no choice but to develop players, Borrego would have the time and the patience to build the team into a future playoff squad.
3. Chris Quinn
Chris Quinn is a former player for the Miami Heat, and since 2014, has been an assistant under the great Eric Spoelstra. Quinn is constantly praised as a leader, even tempered, and someone who embodies Heat Culture, which also saw two NBA Finals appearances in the last 5 years.
Bringing culture and stability to the Pistons is absolutely necessary, and Quinn can do that and more. Both a coach and a Director of Player Development, he could be pivotal in restoring the confidence in a young team after one of the worst seasons in NBA history. Defensive-minded, confident, and stable, it's hard to look at his record and think he couldn't be the next coach of the Detroit Pistons, a historically blue-collar organization. Quinn embodies it.
4. Kenny Atkinson
Kenny Atkinson is a former head coach, current assistant, who already has a strong track record as a head coach. Best known for his time with the Brooklyn Nets (where he had connections with Langdon), where he helped develop the likes of Jarrett Allen and D'Angelo Russell into All-Stars, and recently won a championship with the Golden State Warriors. With both player development skills and championship experience, Atkinson should be a strong option for Detroit.
When Atkinson was hired by the Nets, he had a young blue-collar team, and went from 20-62 to a 42-40 playoff team by year three. In Detroit, he already has players to work with and is walking into a situation where he can build something comparable. The Pistons, more than anything, needs consistency and experience, and Atkinson would be that welcome addition.
5. Becky Hammon
The only reason Becky Hammon isn't higher on this list is because of her strong connection to the WNBA. That said, Hammon is one of the biggest names in WNBA history, being a 6-time All-Star, and is currently the head coach of the Las Vegas Aces, where she is a back to back champion. Coming from the Gregg Popovich coaching tree, she is universally respected by the NBA and WNBA alike.
Able to get the best out of players and knowing what it takes to win, Hammon could get the most out of the team with her experiences with championship rosters. The only member of this list to win a title as a head coach, Hammon's abilities would be more than welcome in Detroit, and could help restore old-school Pistons Basketball.
The Detroit Pistons made a necessary coaching change. It didn't work with Monty, and it wasn't going to work. The team needs to be in a better position to succeed, and the Pistons fans need to see meaningful basketball for the first time in 16 years. Between their last playoff appearance and now, the Celtics have bookended championships. Pistons fans deserve better, and both fans and players alike deserve to have a head coach who embodies what Pistons basketball is.