THE Detroit Pistons We’re one step nearer to the start of a brand new period.
Not solely did the administration see a whole lot of modifications this offseason, however so did the teaching employees. Modifications on the high necessitated modifications at each degree.
Nevertheless it will not be all that completely different for Detroit. In keeping with a group press launch, two coaches have been retained underneath new head coach JB Bickerstaff.
Jarrett Jack and Steve Scalzi will proceed to educate the Pistons. Jack, a former first-round choose in 2005, joined the Pistons final season. Scalzi can also be anticipated to be the Pistons’ assistant for the second yr after arriving from the Phoenix Suns with former Pistons head coach Monty Williams.
As for the newcomers, Bickerstaff has assembled fairly the employees. The assistant group is led by former two-time head coach Luke Walton. After teaching the Los Angeles Lakers for 3 seasons and spending three extra with the Sacramento Kings, Walton returned to the Cleveland Cavaliers for the primary time since his enjoying days in 2022. He follows Bickerstaff to Detroit.
Along with Walton, the Pistons formally signed Sidney Lowe, Vitaly Popapenko, Kevin Burleson, Jerome Allen and Josh Estes. The Pistons additionally welcome again Fred Vinson, who was initially employed underneath Williams earlier than he left the group.
Final summer season, the Pistons hoped Williams might be the chief for years to come back. After a run with the Suns that included profitable the convention championship, Detroit invested closely in Williams. After Williams’ first yr, the Pistons determined to maneuver on.
Bickerstaff was amongst a handful of candidates within the Pistons. The veteran coach was ending a four-year stint as Cleveland’s head coach. Since taking on because the Cavs’ head coach, Bickerstaff has made the playoffs twice. Final yr, Cleveland misplaced within the second spherical.
It is protected to say that Monty Williams was a strikeout for the Pistons after they went 14-68 in his first season in cost. Whereas Williams was only one consider an extended checklist of causes Detroit struggled, the Pistons’ possession was prepared to make main modifications to unravel a lot of the issues without delay. Because of this, the teaching employees and administration underwent main modifications.
Subsequent season, the Pistons hope to see Bickerstaff begin to flip issues round.