Sources – Pistons fire coach Monty Williams after one season

The Detroit Pistons fired coach Monty Williams after one season and absorbed the remaining $65 million left on his contract, sources told ESPN on Wednesday.

New Pistons president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon has had regular meetings with Williams about the future of the franchise since he was hired a month ago, but the decision to fire Williams was driven from Tom Gores’ ownership level, sources told ESPN.

Langdon delivered the news to Williams on Wednesday morning, sources said.

Gores and Pistons vice chairman Arn Tellem was in favor of firing Williams, sources said.

With the draft and free agency approaching, Langdon has an inopportune time to look for coaching. The Pistons recently agreed to terms to hire New Orleans Pelicans assistant Fred Vinson as a featured assistant coach for the Pistons, sources said. Vinson had history with Williams and Langdon in New Orleans.

Gores lured Williams to Detroit with a historic six-year contract worth $78 million after he was fired by the Phoenix Suns and tasked him with massively rebuilding the Pistons. Williams planned to sit out the season as his wife battled cancer, but became captivated by Gores’ courtship and the huge offer to coach Detroit. Williams had a strong relationship with ousted general manager Troy Weaver.

The Pistons tied an NBA record with a 28-game regular season losing streak and finished with a league-worst 14–68 record.

The Pistons are 94-290 (.245) over the past five seasons, easily the worst in the league. Detroit was the third youngest team in the league.

Detroit has the fifth overall pick in next Wednesday’s NBA draft.

The Pistons are embarking on a coaching search as the two teams with openings – the Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers – move closer to making decisions in their processes.

Williams reached the NBA Finals as coach of the Suns in 2021-2022, completing a massive turnaround with a 64-18 regular-season record. Williams was 194-115 (.628) in four seasons with the Suns and 173-221 (.439) in five seasons with the Pelicans, culminating in a playoff appearance.

ESPN Stats & Information contributed to this report.