After reporting last week that the Pistons had planned to pursue Monty Williams for their head coaching job if they’d won the draft lottery, Marc Stein writes at Substack that Detroit apparently went ahead with that plan even after slipping to No. 5 on lottery night.
League sources tell Stein that the Pistons made Williams a “big-money” offer to become the team’s new head coach. However, it appears that effort was unsuccessful. As we noted on Tuesday in response to a report that Williams might take the 2023/24 season off, he’s still reportedly owed about $21MM from Phoenix, so it’s not as if he needs another job anytime soon for financial reasons.
With Williams apparently not in play, the Pistons continue to decide between Kevin Ollie, Charles Lee, and Jarron Collins, who are reportedly meeting with team owner Tom Gores for a second time. As Stein writes, the “consistent buzz” in coaching circles is that general manager Troy Weaver prefers Ollie for the position.
Here’s more from Stein on the head coaching vacancies around the NBA:
- While he lacks the head coaching experience that some of the Suns‘ other finalists possess, assistant coach Kevin Young has a legitimate chance to be promoted to succeed Williams, according to Stein, who hears that Young has received a “strong endorsement” from All-Star guard Devin Booker.
- Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is expected to talk to the team’s head coaching finalists, is said to be “intrigued” by Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin, Stein writes. Griffin is one of three candidates believed to be in the running for the job.
- Even before the Celtics won Game 4 of their series vs. Miami on Tuesday, there was push-back against the idea that Joe Mazzulla‘s job as head coach was in real jeopardy, says Stein. While Stein isn’t entirely ruling out the idea that Mazzulla could be replaced this spring, he suggests it would conflict with what we know about president of basketball operations Brad Stevens and how he operates.
Cmom man! Why would you not wanna collect 2 paychecks?? Really can’t have s*** in Detroit
That’s not how it works
That is 100% how it works. If he coaches or not this year, Phoenix will be paying him $21 million.
Nah…. Phoenix HOPES he coaches somewhere this season – then they’re not on the hook for the FULL $21mil. What they would owe him is predicated on how much he makes per year with his new team.
If he doesn’t coach, he gets his money from Phoenix as currently scheduled.
Hi @scissormetimbers and welcome back after the Celtics win 1 game.
So, how’s that prediction going? Let me remind you: link to hoopsrumors.com
Seems that the Celtics didn’t sweep the Heat.
I’ve seen you do this a few times.
It’s kinda odd.
He’s been hiding and finally showed back up today.
Pretty sure from his history of comments on this site he’s a Raptors fan, not a Celtics fan. Not sure why you’re obsessed with repeatedly posting that link.
Don’t you think when someone makes a stupid comment, that everyone knew was stupid the second he said it, that he should be called out on it? And he should answer to it?
Well, he will regret it when we bounce whatever team he does end up coaching in the future.
You need to make the playoffs to “bounce a team”.
Lol no worries
We will. How about you worry about your purgatory Raptors and the long rebuild headed their way!;)
Also C Daddy. How about you Raps fans atleast hang 1 more banner or get to atleast 1 more finals, before you continue coming at a franchise with 3 Chips and more finals appearances than you guys have ECF appearances. ;)