The Detroit Pistons have let go of Monty Williams after just one season.
Williams, who signed a six-year, $78.5 million contract in June 2023, will still receive over $65 million despite his early departure.
He had initially planned to take a break due to his wife’s illness but was convinced by Troy Weaver to lead the Pistons’ rebuild .
Williams — a two-time NBA coach of the year — was lured to Detroit with a massive six-year deal after leaving the Suns. He had initially planned to sit out a season while dealing with his wife's cancer diagnosis, but took on Pistons' rebuild under Troy Weaver. Now, a new front…
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn)
Detroit had a rough season, finishing with the worst record in the NBA at 14-68. They also tied an unfortunate record with a 28-game losing streak and set a new franchise low for losses in a single season.
Fans might think this news is quite shocking given the amount of money involved.
Financial Fallout:
The Pistons are paying Williams more than $65 million not to coach them anymore. This amount is massive compared to what most players earn; only four players have made more while playing for Detroit: Blake Griffin ($138M), Andre Drummond ($98M), Richard Hamilton ($94M), and Reggie Jackson.
The Detroit #Pistons have fired HC Monty Williams (@wojespn) with more than $65M left on his contract
According to our data, only 4 players have earned more than $65M as a member of the Pistons:
1. Blake Griffin, $138M
2. Andre Drummond, $98M
3. Richard Hamilton, $94M
4. Reggie…— Spotrac (@spotrac)
Interestingly, some people are comparing this payout to what UConn’s Dan Hurley was offered by the Lakers—a six-year, $70 million deal that he turned down last week.
The #Pistons are paying Monty Williams nearly as much to not coach them as the #Lakers attempted to pay Dan Hurley to coach them going forward.
— Spotrac (@spotrac)
What do you think about all this money being thrown around?
