Monty Williams and Detroit Pistons ‘agree to the largest contract EVER given to an NBA head coach’

The Detroit Pistons have agreed to the largest coaching deal in NBA history with Monty Williams worth $78.5 million over the course of six years, according to multiple sources.

Williams’ deal is said to include team options and incentives that could extend the deal for a seventh and eighth year, while also pushing the value of the contract up to $100million.

Earlier in the day it was reported that the Pistons were heavily pursuing Williams following his outstanding tenure and shocking firing from the Phoenix Suns.

The 51-year-old Williams took over the Suns four years ago in 2019 and had turned the organization into the most winningest franchise in the league over the past three seasons.

He also led the Suns to an NBA Finals appearance in 2021, and he was named NBA Coach of the Year in 2022. 

Monty Williams and the Pistons agreed to the largest contract ever given to an NBA coach

Cade Cunningham(L) and Jaden Ivey(R) are set to be centerpieces of Williams rebuild 

Detroit also possess the No. 5 overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft after another poor season

Williams had initially told interested teams – including the Pistons – that he was planning to take a year off from coaching before eventually being convinced to take over one of the NBA’s most challenging rebuilding projects. He is also still owed roughly $21million over the next three years by Phoenix.

Detroit finished last season with an abysmal record of 17-65 landing them last place in the Central division for the third consecutive season in a row and have not qualified for the postseason in the last four years. 

During five years under former head coach Dwayne Casey the team accumulated a total record of 121-263. The 2019 playoff appearance had been only the franchise’s second since 2010. Casey resigned from his position at the end of the 2022-23 season.

Despite their seemingly ever-present home in the NBA’s basement over the course of nearly the last decade and a half the Pistons currently possess several promising building blocks for their new record-breaking coach.

2022 No. 5 overall pick Jaden Ivey had a solid rookie season with averages of 16.3 points and 5.2 assists, while Killian Hayes, Jalen Duren, Isiah Stewart and James Wiseman all showed flashes of potential. 

All of the aforementioned names besides Stewart were also lottery picks in the NBA Draft and entered the league with bundles of promise.

The most important building block for Detroit however remains franchise centerpiece and 2021 No. 1 overall pick Cade Cunningham, who was limited to only 12 games last season after suffering a broken leg.

Before suffering the season-ending injury Cunningham was on pace to improve on his averages from his impressive season as he had recorded 9.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game.