The Detroit Pistons fired Monty Williams with over $60 million to be paid out to the coach who made history with the biggest coaching contract ever last season. Despite the terrible 14-68 record the Pistons managed last season, many wanted Williams to stay primarily because of his contract cost. Pistons President Trajan Langdon explained why the team decided to cut Williams’ tenure short.
“Monty is a hell of a coach and hell of a man. I think it was an organizational decision that Tom and I were aligned on. We just wanted a fresh start for the organization and players at this time. Obviously, it was difficult because I know he cares and I think he was in a place where he wanted to turn this thing around, but Tom and I decided, at this time, the right decision was a fresh start.”
Williams might be among the worst coaching hires in the history of professional sports. He signed the biggest coaching contract in history and was fired one season later because of how pathetic the team was. The Pistons made the worst kind of history last season, becoming the new owners of the longest-losing streak record in NBA history.
Williams’ pedigree as a coach cannot be doubted, but it seems the Pistons threw so much money at him that he felt compelled to return to coaching after a tenuous exit from the Suns. He had initially declined the Pistons until the franchise gave him an offer he couldn’t refuse. Given Williams is also being paid out for the Suns’ contract he had, the coach has no reason to rush back to the sport now.
The Pistons are looking for young head coaches around the NBA, with Mavericks’ assistant Sean Sweeney considered the leading candidate at the moment.
Cade Cunningham Is The Team’s Franchise Cornerstone
Regardless of who coaches this team next, it’s clear Cade Cunningham is the franchise’s cornerstone, and rightfully so. He’s the only Pistons player who can be praised after last season, as he tried single-handedly carrying the team to wins but couldn’t handle that burden alone on the worst team in the NBA.
Langdon also has high hopes for Cunningham, hoping the 22-year-old guard develops into the best player on a championship-level team.
“As for Cade, he and I have had some very good conversations thus far. He’s a high-character human being and mature beyond his years. I think he’s a big-time basketball player at a young age… He’s an unselfish player who I think really has a chance to be impactful at a high level and be the best player. In terms of championship level, who knows? I really, really hope so. We’re not going to start talking about championships here. That’s a long way away. We have to talk about foundational growth.”
Langdon is aware that the organization is a few years away from Cunningham being realistically looked at as a championship-quality player, but that is what the team is hoping their ceiling will be with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.
Cunningham averaged 22.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 7.5 assists last season, serving as a beacon of hope for Pistons fans in the worst season of their franchise’s rich history. He’s expected to sign a max rookie extension this summer, which would solidify his place on the franchise for at least another four seasons.
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