The Detroit Pistons are prepared to offer Monty Williams $10M per year as the team’s new head coach

The Detroit Pistons are heavily targeting Monty Williams to be their new head coach and are prepared to offer the former Phoenix Suns front man $10million per season, according to The Athletic.

The report comes three weeks after the Pistons had identified three finalists for their vacancy — Kevin Ollie, Jarron Collins and Charles Lee. But then Williams was fired by Phoenix.

What’s unclear is if Williams is interested in coaching this season. Williams reportedly is owed $21M on the three remaining years of his contract with Phoenix. 

Further, he told teams – including the Pistons – that he was going to take a year off with his family in the aftermath of his surprising ouster by the Suns.

The $10M annually would put Williams among the NBA’s highest-paid coaches.

The Pistons are ready to splash the cash to name Monty Williams as the team’s new head coach

If he accepts the vacant head coaching position, Williams would be succeeding Dwayne Casey

The Pistons are replacing Dwane Casey, who stepped down last month after five seasons as head coach.

If the Pistons are spurned by Williams, they’re expected to offer the job to the 38-year-old Lee, per the report. 

Lee’s been an assistant coach under Mike Budenholzer with Atlanta and Milwaukee the past nine seasons. 

If snubbed by Williams, Detroit could turn to Charles Lee, a assistant on the Milwaukee Bucks

Budenholzer was fired by the Bucks early this month.

Williams, 51, went 194-115 in four seasons with the Suns and won Coach of the Year honors in 2021-22.

He led the Suns to the playoffs the last three seasons, going 27-19 in the postseason. He also guided Phoenix to its first NBA Finals appearance since 1993

Williams also went 173-221 in five seasons as head coach of the New Orleans Hornets/Pelicans (2010-15).

He was fired earlier in May after the Suns lost to the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference semifinals.