NEWSLETTER
The Detroit Pistons have found their next head coach.
A front office overhaul this offseason led to a very short-lived Monty Williams experience. The former Suns head coach joined the Pistons last summer in a massive six-year, $78.5 million contract. Nevertheless, the organization decided to move on from the veteran leader after a 14-68 campaign.
The Pistons will now turn to J.B. Bickerstaff, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. He is fresh off coaching the Cleveland Cavaliers to their first second-round playoff series without LeBron James since the early 1990s. It will reportedly be a five-year deal.
Bickerstaff holds an all-time coaching record of 255-290. However, he’s led the Cavaliers to three straight winning seasons, holding a much-improved 143-103 record over that stretch.
Whether it be Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, or Jarrett Allen, Bickerstaff has gathered experience developing some high-upside young talent. This will now be his No. 1 priority in Detroit, where he’ll take over one of the youngest rosters in the NBA. The Pistons have a potentially dynamic backcourt pairing of Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey, as well as young lottery picks like Amen Thompson, Jalen Duren, and (most recently at No. 5 in the 2024 NBA Draft), Ron Holland.
While the Pistons undoubtedly have a lot to figure out, they are likely one step ahead of the Bulls in their rebuild. Chicago is just starting their youth movement, which included securing Patrick Williams to a five-year deal this week. If Bickerstaff can finally begin to get the most out of this seemingly talented roster in Detroit, the Pistons could begin to look more and more like a future threat in the Central Divison.
