The Lakers previously pursued Monty Williams as head coach. After his firing in Detroit, should they go after him again?
The Pistons surprised some on Wednesday by parting ways with head coach Monty Williams. Based on performance, it was a no-brainer decision as the Pistons were the worst team in the league last season, highlighted by a 28-game losing streak.
The surprise came because Williams signed an enormous contract worth over $75 million across six years just last summer. To offer some perspective, the Pistons will be paying Williams more to not coach their team next season than the Lakers offered Hurley to be their coach just weeks ago.
Now, after writing the headline to this piece, admittedly, I debated offering up a more concise answer to the question, but I do think there is some context that is important to this discussion.
Years ago, prior to landing on Frank Vogel, the Lakers strongly pursued Monty Williams. Ultimately, that pursuit ended when Williams chose the Suns over the purple and gold, and then eventually led them to the NBA Finals.
Most of the front office that pursued Williams in 2019 is still in place for the Lakers in 2024. It wouldn’t be unreasonable to think they might have some interest in Williams.
And, in the moment, Williams was seen as a scapegoat when he was fired by the Suns after turning them into one of the winningest teams in the league. When Williams left Phoenix, it certainly sounded like he was ready to step away from coaching for a bit before the Pistons’ Godfather offer came in.
So, a lot has changed since the Lakers last pursued him. It wouldn’t be a surprise now if Williams wants to spend time away from basketball, especially when he’s going to be paid tens of millions of dollars to do so.
The Lakers also seem like a team ready to hire JJ Redick as the next head coach. Their process has been ongoing for months now is near the final stages, presumably. Bringing in an entirely new candidate, especially as you’re now facing competition for the candidates you’re considering, could be a risky move.
If Williams was interested in coaching, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him mentioned as an assistant coach option for the Lakers. He served as an assistant a number of times in his career and even after being a head coach in New Orleans. If Redick needs a staff with head coach experience, Williams would meet that requirement at least.
Ultimately, I do not think the Lakers should go after Williams as head coach, nor do I think they will. If you’re upending your months-long coaching search for a candidate, it’s for a can’t-miss one. That is not Williams. Adding him as an assistant coach could make sense, but I’d be surprised if he was open to that.
