Pistons Fire Monty Williams, Why?

Monty Williams photographed by Zariq Turner for Bullyball, 4/17/2024

It was right around this time last year the Pistons finally ended their odyssey of a search for a head coach, landing on Monty Williams to join the team. All was supposed to be well, GM Troy Weaver had promised change to a fanbase subjected to a disastrous 17 win season. 

Until change didn’t come, after all. The Pistons ran it back with primarily the exact same squad, and the only non-draft additions being Joe Harris and Monte Morris.

Internal development and a change in coaching was supposed to amend what was sure to be an anomaly of a season, after all Cade Cunningham was coming back. What could go wrong?

The biggest development of the Pistons’ season that followed was proof of the existence of Murphy’s Law. What can go wrong, did go wrong for the Pistons. Even including an outburst between GM Troy Weaver and a disgruntled fan in the stands of Little Caesars Arena.

Fast forward, a year after the Pistons’ coaching search and now the Pistons have concluded yet another search. This time for a President of Basketball Operations, with the title going to former Pelicans GM Trajan Langdon. Langdon will serve as the franchise’s new leader, with the expectation of steering the team back to competence as soon as possible. Big decisions on the front office staff, coaching staff, and roster needed to be made in short order. 

With no wasted motion, Langdon and the Pistons let go of GM Troy Weaver on May 31st, 2024. 

Then came the evaluation process of the coach, Monty Williams.

Part of being competent again had to be ridding the team of the man they hired last year. Monty Williams received a record breaking contract that owner Tom Gores is now absorbing to find a more suitable leader for this new era of Detroit Pistons basketball.

Sources have indicated to Bullyball that Monty Williams did not make many friends in the Pistons organization this past season, and some were left with the impression that Williams was trying to get fired at times. Williams was resistant to change, notably starting Killian Hayes over Jaden Ivey for much of the first half of the season, with Hayes only being out of the rotation once he was waived by the team. Williams refused to stagger Ivey and Cunningham’s minutes, opting to go with head scratching all-bench lineups for the majority of the season, much to the fanbase and organization’s chagrin.

Williams also seemed to not have many fans amongst the roster either. Players like Cade Cunningham could be seen visually frustrated with Williams’ decision making throughout the course of the season. In other cases, some players' families took to social media to express their displeasure with the coaching staff, both of these occurrences were unprecedented with previous head coach, Dwane Casey. 

Multiple sources had indicated that Williams seriously rubbed key members of the Pistons roster the wrong way during his time in Detroit.

The Pistons coaching search will begin immediately and a new era of Pistons basketball is officially underway. With changes in front office leadership and coaching, the Pistons plan to finally restore their franchise with the intention of making a leap in competitiveness this upcoming season.