New Lakers Coaching Candidate Emerges After Surprise Firing
The Los Angeles Lakers' head-coaching saga continues with the NBA Draft just a week away. While there's been a report JJ Redick will be taking over on the bench, no major news breakers (or the team themselves) have confirmed it, creating even more questions around this situation.
The longer this hiring process drags out, the more time it affords new candidates to emerge and challenge Redick. As it just so happens, Wednesday suddenly brought word of a veteran head coach hitting the market.
ESPN Sources: After one season, the Detroit Pistons have dismissed coach Monty Williams — who leaves with five years and $65M-plus left on his deal. New President Trajan Langdon will move to make his own coaching hire now. pic.twitter.com/QHKivQS5o2
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 19, 2024
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reports the Detroit Pistons are firing Monty Williams after just one season at the helm. This now allows the recently hired president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon to install his own HC choice.
Considering Williams' extensive experience as a coach, Los Angeles should jump at the chance to land him. He comes from a playing background, just like Redick, after logging nine seasons of service in the NBA as a role player. But he has the knowledge of what it takes to manage star talents from the bench as well, which is something Redick hasn't done yet.
Williams first served as an assistant coach with the Portland Trail Blazers before eventually helming the New Orleans Pelicans (2010-2015), Phoenix Suns (2019-2023) and Pistons this past season.
In New Orleans, he coached the likes of Chris Paul, a young Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday. In Phoenix, Williams captured Coach of the Year honors for the 2021-22 campaign and helped lead the Suns to the NBA Finals the season prior.
His one-year stint in Detroit (14-68) was the worst performance of his career, but it's tough to fully blame him considering the Pistons' youth-dominated roster. He was entrusted to lead Detroit through its rebuild, so judging him based off of the first year alone is foolish.
Considering the Lakers' reported interest in experienced college coach Dan Hurley, it'd be no surprise if LA quickly shifts its attention again away from the inexperienced Redick. However, it's been said Los Angeles wants a new HC in place by the draft, so the Lakers will have to act quickly if Williams is their man.
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