Pistons reach agreement to hire former Suns coach Monty Williams

DETROIT(AP) — TheDetroitPistonsmade a bold move in their latest attempt to becomerelevant in the NBA again.

Detroitreached an agreement to hire former Phoenix SunscoachMontyWilliams, according to two people familiar with thesituation.

One of thepeople, speaking on condition of anonymity because the agreementhad not been announced, told The Associated Press on Wednesdaynight that Williams agreed to a six-year contract.

Phoenixfired Williams two-plus weeks ago, two years after reaching the NBAFinals and a year after he won the league’s coach of the yearhonors.

The51-year-old Williams won 63% of his games over four regular seasonswith the Suns, but they were eliminated in the Western Conferencesemifinals two years in a row after losing to Milwaukee in the 2021NBA Finals.

The Pistonswould be thrilled to approach that level of success anytime soonunder Williams.

Detroit wonan NBA-low 17 games last season, losing 30% or fewer games for thefourth straight season under Dwane Casey, who stepped down as coachwith one year left on his contract to take a role in the frontoffice.

The Pistonsdid not have good fortune in the draft lottery, landing the No. 5pick overall for the second straight year and missing out on anopportunity to draft 7-foot-3 French proVictorWembanyama, a 19-year-old supertalent expected to be the firstoverall pick of the San Antonio Spurs.

Detroit, athree-time NBA championship franchise, has earned a spot in theplayoffs just twice in 14 years. The Pistons have not won apostseason game since 2008, when they advanced to the EasternConference finals for the sixth straight time during a remarkablerun that included winning the 2004 NBA title and falling a gameshort of repeating as champions.

Jaden Iveyand Jalen Duren, the No. 5 and No. 13 pick overall last summer, didprovide hope for the future with their play last season. CadeCunningam, the No. 1 pick overall in 2021, had his second seasonstunted by shin surgery after playing in just 12 games.

BojanBogdanovic, who averaged a career-high 21.6 points, Isaiah Stewart,James Wiseman and Marvin Bagley are expected to be back.

The youngteam, with some experienced players in the rotation, will have aproven leader on the bench.

Williams is367-336 in nine seasons as an NBA head coach with a 29-27postseason record. He had a five-year stint with the New OrleansPelicans, who fired him in 2015 with a 173-221 record and twoplayoff appearances.

WhileWilliams was an assistant coach with the Oklahoma City Thunder in2016, his wife, Ingrid, died from injuries sustainedfroma carcrashin which she was hit head-on by an SUV that crossedthe center line after losing control.