Three names to watch in Detroit Pistons coach, James Borrego tops targets

Orlando Magic v Charlotte Hornets

The Cleveland Cavaliers were moving deliberately in their search for a new head coach, but there appeared to be no rush. James Borrego was rumored to be on the top of their coaching list, and while the Lakers have a job opening and interviewed him, Los Angeles appears to be heading in a different direction (J.J. Redick).

Then the Pistons surprised everyone and fired Monty Williams — even Williams was “blindsided” by the firing (the Pistons just hired a new assistant coach a couple of days ago, not a move made before a coach is fired). Immediately in league circles the first name that came up was Borrego, and suddenly it feels like the Cavaliers may have moved too slowly.

Here are three names to watch in the Pistons coaching search, plus an extra note on Monty Williams’s future, which will probably not be in Los Angeles.

James Borrego

It’s easy to connect the dots: Detroit owner Tom Gores was understandably frustrated after a 14-68 season and brought in a new head of basketball operations in Trajan Langdon out of New Orleans, where James Borrego was a top assistant coach last season under Willie Green. Borrego and Langdon are known to have a good relationship. When Gores decided to fire Williams, everybody in the league looked in the same direction, and there are multiple reports of the Pistons’ interest.

One of the names I’m hearing the Pistons will strongly consider: James Borrego, who’s interviewed with the Lakers and Cavs on their coaching openings, sources tell @YahooSports

— Vincent Goodwill (@VinceGoodwill) June 19, 2024

Borrego is a player-friendly, offensive-minded coach with a solid player development history. He worked with LaMelo Ball, P.J. Washington and Malik Monk when he was the head coach in Charlotte, and is given credit for some of Zion Williamson’s play last season in New Orleans. (He didn’t do as well with Hornets draftees such as JT Thor and James Bouknight, although Borrego backers would say that was more about Mitch Kupchak’s drafting in Charlotte than the coaching.) The Pistons might want to hire a top defensive assistant to go with Borrego.

There’s…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/three-names-watch-detroit-pistons-002659286.html

Author : NBC Sports

Publish date : 2024-06-20 00:26:59

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