![]() Players like them are already solid fits within Detroit’s offense, and Williams will have to find ways to ensure they’re all good fits in his system. They also have Isaiah Livers, who is considered the team’s lone three-and-D wing and could grow into a solid rotational player. Undoubtedly, he can do the same with Detroit, especially given their talent across the board.Īside from the young core, the Pistons have veteran offensive spark plugs in Alec Burks and Bojan Bogdanovic, proven perimeter scorers whose contributions didn’t go unnoticed despite the team’s poor marksmanship from three. However, Williams’ track record suggests his coaching style can pull Detroit out of their shooting slump.Īmid Phoenix’s offensive improvement, the Suns also increased their shooting percentages from the field (49%, 2nd in the NBA), three-point range (37.8%, 7th best), and the free-throw line (83.4%, also 2nd) in the 2020-21 season under Williams. He noted that Detroit’s 45.4% shooting from the field was dead last in the league, and their three-point and free-throw shooting was also in the bottom third. The ShootingĪs Daniel Benjamin outlined recently, the Pistons have their work cut out for them this offseason, primarily on the offensive end. ![]() Leaning into Cunningham and Ivey will make for a stellar backcourt that can lead Detroit into an already promising future. Williams has excelled at player development in the past. Ivey looks destined for a standout sophomore campaign, with the opportunity to carve out a larger role in Detroit’s offense while continuously improving his defense. He also put up 3.9 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game. As a rookie, he averaged 16.3 points on 41% shooting from the field, 34% from deep, and 74% from the free-throw line. Ivey, a two-way talent, will also thrive under Williams’s direction, developing his craft as a three-level scorer. After months of recovery, Cunningham should make the leap next season, developing his playmaking and scoring to help the Pistons succeed. As the prime facilitator for the Pistons, Cunningham-who was responsible for 30% of the teams’ assists this season-will continue to be surrounded by other young talents, including the team’s fifth overall pick this draft. The 21-year-old averaged nearly 20 points and six assists per game in 12 contests on 41-28-83 splits. With Williams’s guidance, he has solid potential to have a breakout season. The BackcourtĪfter his sophomore campaign ended abruptly with shin surgery, Cunningham is looking to lead the way for the up-and-coming Pistons. Williams and Pistons, GM Troy Weaver crossed paths working for the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2015, with Williams as an assistant coach and Weaver as the assistant GM. Now, he looks to accomplish the same goals in a new environment with a familiar face. Williams was able to develop and maximize the potential of Booker, Mikal Bridges, Kelly Oubre Jr. ![]() In his final season, Williams took Phoenix-eventually led by Booker and Kevin Durant -to a 45-37 record in the West, finishing with the 14th-best offense and 7th-best defense. By the peak of his time in the Valley, the Suns had not only 64 wins but also top-ten finishes in offense (117.2, 5th) and defense (111.3, 9th) before their Finals run. Before his arrival, Phoenix ranked near the bottom of the barrel in offensive and defensive ratings-27th and 28th, respectively. He was also critical in boosting the Suns’ play on both ends of the floor. The growth since his hire was evident, as Williams helped increase Phoenix’s win total to 34 in his first year, then to 51 before the aforementioned 64 in 2021. Williams began his tenure with the Suns in 2019 when Phoenix was fresh from a 19-win season. Detroit Pistons: Three Key Beneficiaries Under Monty Williams Monty Williams’s Time with Phoenix Though the deal will become official in the coming days, it’s worth examining parts of the Pistons that will benefit the most under a head coach that helped the Phoenix Suns to recent success. Monty Williams made history Wednesday night, signing a six-year, $72 million contract on the Detroit Pistons’ dotted line and cementing both parties’ futures in an arguable match made in heaven.
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