The Pistons aren't giving up their pursuit of 2022 NBA Coach of the Year Monty Williams.
After Williams reportedly turned down a 'big-money offer' from the Pistons earlier this month, Detroit is preparing to make an even bigger one 'in the range of $10 million per year,' according to The Athletic.
Williams, 51, was fired by the Suns in May after the team lost in the second round of the playoffs, a year removed from leading Phoenix to 64 wins and winning Coach of the Year and two years removed from leading the club to the NBA Finals.
He initially told inquiring teams that he was thinking about taking next season off, but owner Pistons owner Tom Gores and GM Troy Weaver are doing their best to convince him otherwise. A salary of $10 million per year would make Williams the second-highest paid coach in the NBA behind Greg Popovich.
Williams is a bright offensive mind who could be instrumental in molding a young roster in Detroit, particularly the backcourt duo of 21-year-olds Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey. Their compatibility is essential to the Pistons' future.
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With Cunningham sidelined this season, Detroit lost the most games in the NBA and the second most in franchise history. It hasn't had a winning record in seven years and hasn't won a playoff game in 15 years.
Williams, who worked alongside Weaver with the Thunder when OKC made the Western Conference Finals in 2016, took over the Suns in 2019 with the club coming off a 19-win season and boosted them to 34, 51 and 64 wins over the next three seasons. The Pistons, coming off a 17-win season, would be hoping for similar results in Detroit.
Considering Williams is still owed about $20 million by the Suns over the next three years, there's still a chance he says no, again, to the Pistons -- though they're sure making it hard. If so, Bucks assistant Charles Lee is expected to land Detroit's head coaching job over fellow finalists Kevin Ollie and Jarron Collins, per The Athletic.
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