Many Detroit Pistons fans thought that the team would trend upward after the franchise hired Monty Williams as head coach in 2023. After all, he’s a former Coach of the Year winner when he was still with the Phoenix Suns, whom he led to an NBA Finals appearance in 2021.
That change has yet to come, and it’s certainly not happening this season. In fact, the Pistons somehow have taken a step back in Williams’ first season with the Pistons.
Detroit finished with 17 wins in the 2022-23 campaign. Even if the Pistons win their remaining three games in the 2023-24 NBA regular season, they would just end up with 16 wins.
Should the Detroit Pistons End Their Relationship with Monty Williams?
Even if the Pistons want to get rid of Williams, doing that is going to be easier said than done. For one, that would most likely require a buyout, and it’s an expensive one since Williams signed a six-year deal worth $78.5 million to coach the Pistons. Plus, Williams might not be open to such an agreement.
Detroit’s struggles can’t be entirely pinned on Williams, but losing nearly 70 games in a season will never look good on any head coach. If you ask Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report, the idea of Williams and the Pistons giving it another go for at least one more season is much likelier than seeing the two parties part ways.
“Sell the Pistons and Williams splitting up just yet with that contract,” Swartz wrote.
In any case, the Pistons have a lot to think about in the offseason because nothing seems to be working for them.
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