The Detroit Pistons have already been very busy this offseason, as they’ve hired a new team president, fired most of the previous front office and also showed head coach Monty Williams the exit.
There have already been several names emerge as possible candidates to replace him, including James Borrego, current associate head coach of the Pelicans, though he already has a strong suitor in the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Yesterday, Adrian Wojnarowski reported the first wave of interviews will include Sean Sweeney, Micah Nori and JB Bickerstaff, though added that there would be others.
ESPN Sources: The Detroit Pistons have permission to interview Dallas assistant Sean Sweeney and Minnesota assistant Micah Nori for newly vacant coaching job. Pistons are also planning to interview former Cleveland coach JB Bickerstaff, who'll be available to meet sooner than the…
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 20, 2024
Of the three, only Bickerstaff has previous head coaching experience. Sweeney was an assistant with the Pistons before moving to Dallas. He’s known as a defensive mind who helped improve the Mavs on that end. Micah Nori, who got some fame for his sideline interviews this season, was also an assistant for the Pistons but has since been the “right hand man” of Chris Finch in Minnesota. He’s a big personality who would be loved in Detroit right away.
Bickerstaff is the most known of the three, as he was only recently fired after a mostly successful stint with the Cavaliers after he was unable to get them further in the playoffs.
I am sure other names will emerge, and we have a few ideas here.
Detroit Pistons’ free-agent options off the board
Two prominent free agents have already signed with their current teams, as Pascal Siakam signed a max extension to stay in Indiana and Malik Monk signed a four-year deal to stay in Sacramento.
The Pistons were not likely in the running for Siakam, who obviously wanted to stay put in Indiana. I’m glad Monk stayed in Sacramento, as he is a good fit there and less so in Detroit, which already has plenty of guards that are mediocre 3-point shooters.
The Siakam fallout could be good for Detroit, as the Pacers may have to jettison one or more of their current power forwards, which opens up some opportunities for the Pistons.
Gary Trent Jr. will be another name we’ll hear attached to the Pistons and he makes more sense than Monk.
Pistons miss chance to trade for Alex Caruso
The Chicago Bulls, arguably the only team in the NBA that is a bigger mess than the Pistons, inexplicably traded Alex Caruso to the OKC Thunder for Josh Giddey in a deal that looks like a steal for the Thunder.
The Bulls were reportedly offered way more at the trade deadline, but in typical Bulls fashion, did nothing. Caruso would have been a perfect fit in Detroit, though the Bulls were obviously looking for a young player (specifically a point guard) and the Pistons may have been reluctant to include Jaden Ivey, which you can understand.
It seems like the Bulls could have done better and that the Pistons might have gotten involved, but Caruso is another potential target off the board for Detroit.