NBA Rumors: Pistons to Interview J.B. Bickerstaff, More to Replace HC Monty Williams

The Detroit Pistons plan to interview former Cleveland Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff as a potential replacement for former head coach Monty Williams, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported.

The Pistons have also received permission to interview Dallas Mavericks assistant coach Sean Sweeney and Minnesota Timberwolves assistant coach Micah Nori, per Wojnarowski.

Wojnarowski added that the Pistons "are expected to call for permission on more assistants too."

The Pistons are seeking to replace Williams, who was fired Wednesday after one year and a 14-68 record with the team.

Bickerstaff is looking for his next head coaching job after he was fired in May following four full seasons with the Cavaliers.

A shorthanded Cavs roster went to the second round of the playoffs this postseason, but Bickerstaff was dismissed following Cleveland's elimination by the Boston Celtics.

Bickerstaff has experience leading a rebuild. He improved from 22 wins in his first season with the Cavaliers to 50 wins in his third campaign by building around a core of young players including Darius Garland.

Sweeney rose to prominence for his role in taking the Mavericks to the 2024 Finals as the team's defensive coordinator. Dallas star Luka Dončić in May credited Sweeney with the Mavericks' defensive schemes this season, Jace Frederick reported for TwinCities.com.

Sweeney also has ties to the Pistons, having spent three seasons as an assistant in Detroit before joining the Mavericks in 2021.

Nori, the lead assistant in Minnesota, took a larger role for the Timberwolves during the playoffs when he stepped up in place of injured head coach Chris Finch.

Nori is also connected to Detroit after working on the Pistons staff from 2018 to 2021.

The Pistons promised a six-year, $78 million contract to Williams last year. The desire for a change on the sideline after the team recorded 14 wins, the fewest in franchise history, was strong enough that the Pistons will now pay him $65 million not to coach in Detroit.

Whichever head coach the Pistons choose to replace Williams will take on the critical role of developing young talents like Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey as Detroit looks to begin rebuilding this fall.