The Detroit Pistons have reached an agreement to hire former Phoenix Suns coach Monty Williams, according to two people familiar with the situation.
One of the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been announced, told The Associated Press on Wednesday night that Williams had agreed to a six-year deal.
Phoenix fired Williams more than two weeks ago, two years after reaching the NBA Finals and a year after winning the league’s coach of the year honors.
Williams, 51, won 63% of his games during four regular seasons with the Suns, but Phoenix was eliminated in the Western Conference semifinals two years in a row after losing to Milwaukee in the 2021 NBA Finals.
The Pistons would be delighted to get close to that level of success anytime soon with Williams.
Detroit won an NBA-low 17 games last season, losing 30% or fewer games for the fourth straight season under Dwane Casey, who stepped down as coach with a year left on his contract to take a front-office role.
The Pistons had no good luck in the draft lottery, landing the No. 5 overall pick for the second year in a row and missing out on Victor Wembanyama.
Detroit, a three-time NBA champion franchise, has earned a playoff berth just twice in 14 years.
Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren, the No. 5 and No. 13 overall picks last summer, provided hope for the future with their play last season. Cade Cunningham, the No. 1 overall pick in 2021, had his second season stunted by shin surgery after playing in just 12 games.
Bojan Bogdanovic, who averaged a career-high 21.6 points, Isaiah Stewart, James Wiseman and Marvin Bagley are all expected to return.
The young team, with some experienced players in the rotation, will have a proven leader on the bench.
Williams is 367-336 in nine seasons as an NBA head coach with a 29-27 postseason record. He had a five-year stint with the New Orleans Pelicans, who fired him in 2015 with a 173-221 record and two playoff appearances.
Associated Press report.
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