Monty Williams and the Detroit Pistons have agreed in principle on a six-year, $78.5 million deal for Williams to become the franchise’s next head coach, according to NBA insiders Shams Charania and James L. Edwards III of The Athletic. Williams is now the highest-paid coach in the league, passing San Antonio Spurs legend Gregg Popovich.
“The deal has team options for Years 7 and 8 and could reach close to $100 million in totality with incentives, league sources said,” Charania and Edwards III wrote. “It is expected to be finalized in the coming days.”
Williams was fired by the Phoenix Suns after the club lost to the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Semifinals in six games. Pistons owner Tom Gores really wanted Williams, so much so that he sent a private plane to Phoenix to pick up Monty.
“Detroit, according to league sources, immediately checked in with Williams and his representatives to gauge his interest in its coaching vacancy and, to put it simply, see if he’d like to meet,” Charania and Edwards III wrote.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Monty Williams, Detroit Pistons, Gregg Popovich & San Antonio Spurs Updates
Before the Pistons’ latest bold offer became one that Williams couldn’t refuse, he had planned to take the 2023-24 season off from coaching altogether.
“Williams, though, had informed the Pistons, Bucks and other NBA teams interested in hiring him that he was not ready to commit to coaching next season and was leaning toward taking a year off, per league sources,” Charania and Edwards III wrote. “The Pistons didn’t make a formal offer to Williams at that time, multiple sources said”
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Monty Williams, Detroit Pistons, Gregg Popovich & San Antonio Spurs Updates
The Pistons knew they had to get more aggressive to convince Williams to not only want to coach next season, but to do so for the Pistons considering he’s such a well-respected candidate around the NBA.
“This time around, Gores, Weaver and the rest of the Pistons’ front office decided to not take “no” for an answer and put numbers in front of Williams, as well as a plan to court and entice him to come help an up-and-coming squad get to the next level, as he had done with the Suns, rather than sit out a season. The next day after that collective meeting, Gores sent a private plane to Phoenix to pick up Williams, per league sources. The 51-year-old coach was in Gores’ California living room that night.”
Williams is the winningest coach in the NBA since 2021.
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