Monty Williams could take a year off from coaching after getting fired by the Phoenix Suns, sources told NBA Analysis Network.
“I’ve heard that Monty Williams is becoming more likely to take this upcoming season off,” the source said. “He has a lot of money still owed to him after being fired, so there’s no reason to rush into taking a job.
“The market is saturated right now, and it doesn’t help to be competing against Nick Nurse for jobs. If he waits, he can better dictate the market.”
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Monty Williams & Phoenix Suns Updates
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Williams was fired on May 13 and new Suns owner Mat Ishbia made the decision. Williams went 194-115 in the regular season and 27-19 in the playoffs with Phoenix. He guided the franchise to the 2021 NBA Finals and won the Coach of the Year Award in 2022.
“New Suns owner Mat Ishbia made the decision to dismiss Williams immediately after Thursday night’s Game 6 loss to the Denver Nuggets and had general manager James Jones call him on Saturday night and deliver the news, sources said,” Wojnarowski reported. “The pressure on Williams increased from the moment Ishbia engineered the trade deadline deal for Kevin Durant in February, shortly after Ishbia’s ownership group was approved by the league’s Board of Governors.”
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Monty Williams & Phoenix Suns Updates
The Suns lost to the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Semifinals in six games. Wojnarowski reported that Ishbia “never warmed to Williams as his coach.”
Williams had three years and more than $20 million left on his contract with the Suns.
“Ishbia had never warmed to Williams as his coach and decided quickly after Thursday night’s season-ending loss that he would fire him, sources said,” Wojnarowski reported.
“(James) Jones has long been an advocate and ally to Williams, but was quoted in the team’s news release on Saturday night saying that ‘it was difficult for me to make this decision.’ Williams had three years and more than $20 million left on his contract, sources told ESPN,” Williams explained. “He is expected to become a prominent candidate in coaching searches elsewhere in the league, especially the Toronto Raptors’, sources said.”
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