The Detroit Pistons have fired
head coach Monty Williams after just one season, according to
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
With just a season under
Williams, the Pistons will absorb the remaining of his $65 million
contract.
According to Wojnarowski, the
decision apparently did not come from newly-hired Pistons president
of basketball operations Trajan Langdon, but directly from the
ownership headed by Tom Gores.
Williams was notably hired by
the Pistons just over a year ago from the Phoenix Suns for a record
$78 million, making him the highest-paid coach in the league.
However, after yet another disappointing season for Detroit, the
franchise pulled the trigger and will proceed in a new direction
under Langdon.
Langdon and Detroit will now
begin a coaching search along with teams like the Cleveland
Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers for their head tactician come next
season.
The Pistons finished with a
league-worst record this season at just 14-68 under Williams. They
hold the 5th pick in this year’s draft and have some good young
pieces Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren, and Jaden Ivey to work on
long-term.
