NBA Rumors: Pistons, J.B. Bickerstaff Agree to HC Contract to Replace Monty Williams

There is no more challenging NBA head coaching job than the one Detroit presents. The Pistons have not won a playoff series since their last series of glory days in the 2000s, when the team reached six straight Eastern Conference Finals, won two East titles and earned the 2003-04 NBA Finals crown after a massive upset over the Los Angeles Lakers.

Since 2008-09, Detroit has made the playoffs just three times. The Pistons haven’t earned a winning record since 2015-16, and that’s the only time the team has finished over .500 since 2007-08.

Now the team has reached its franchise history low point with a 14-68 record last year. That capped a stretch in which the Pistons went 20-46, 20-52, 23-59 and 17-65 before the 2023-24 debacle.

Detroit entered last year under new leadership with head coach Monty Williams coming aboard after inking a six-year, $78.5 million contract, which at the time was the richest deal ever given to a coach.

However, the team still underperformed. In fairness, the roster, which was constructed by since-fired general manager Troy Weaver, did not work out. Numerous players who carried higher expectations did not pan out, most notably Killian Hayes, the No. 7 overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft.

Injuries stunted the entire roster and the growth and development of younger stars. But overall, the team just failed, finishing 27th in offensive efficiency and 26th in defensive efficiency.

The Pistons made big changes after the season, parting ways with Weaver and naming New Orleans Pelicans general manager Trajan Langdon as their President of Basketball Operations on May 31. Just over two weeks later, the Pistons parted ways with Williams, signaling a fresh start.

Word emerged on Thursday, June 20 from Wojnarowski that Detroit planned to interview Bickerstaff, Minnesota Timberwolves top assistant Micah Nori and Dallas Mavericks assistant coach Sean Sweeney.

Bickerstaff, 45, is best known for his time as the Cavs’ head coach. He was very successful in Cleveland, leading the team to three straight winning seasons from 2021-22 to 2023-24 and the playoffs each of the past two years.

Last season marked the best Cavs postseason finish since 1993 outside the LeBron James eras, with the team going 48-34 and reaching Round 2 of the playoffs.

However, the Cavs parted ways with Bickerstaff after the season. GM Koby Altman gave this reason to reporters.

“Someone with a new approach, someone with a different voice, a fresh set of eyes to help us move forward,” Altman said. “We’ve accomplished a lot in the last few years, getting to a conference semifinal, and we don’t want to be complacent.

“We feel we’re not far off.”

Frankly, that’s a puzzling response, especially given how well the Cavs did. They just so happened to run into a Boston Celtics juggernaut in the second round of the playoffs, ending their season. Perhaps there were behind-the-scenes concerns, but there’s no denying how well Cleveland, a team that has been mostly bad outside LeBron James’ time in town, did with him leading the way.

Now he gets an immediate second coaching shot in Detroit, a much more challenging position but one where he should be granted some time to get work done in a new era.