Lakers Warned of Monty Williams’ Only Problem That Could Doom Locker Room as Coach JJ Redick Status Remains Uncertain

The Los Angeles Lakers have a lot to recoup from the last season. Currently, they are waged in a strenuous search for a new head coach. They rolled the dice on UConn’s Dan Hurley with an enticing offer. But the college coach decided to chase a three-peat with his boys. That left JJ Reddick as the apex target, or so one would think. Recently, another head coach was fired by a franchise and he just happens to be incredible at handling stars and rebuilds, a likely path that the Lakers will walk.

During the recent episode of Get Up on ESPN, the panel spoke about Monty Williams’ firing from the Pistons and his availability to coach. The notion was to have him take the helm at the Purple and Gold. Miami Heat icon and NBA champion Udonis Haslem believes it’s a perfect marriage.

“My answer to this one is hell yes. They have to do the due diligence. This is your job to brining the best coach and the best fit for the team. We questioned can JJ control the locker room. We understand he has a great basketball mind. We understand that he has a bright future. Can he control the locker room? A divided locker room is a done locker room. You understand Monty Williams has the respect of guys around the NBA. He can control the locker room,” Haslem claimed.

There was just one thing that UD felt could prevent the Lakers from signing Williams, and that was the coach himself. The Pistons offered the 10-year head coach a record-breaking six-year, $78 million. In just one season, they abruptly fired him, allowing him to gain $65 million owed through his contract for not coaching. Given how troublesome and taxing controlling the Pistons was this season, Haslem questioned Williams’ tolerance to take another coaching job, especially one as demanding as the one with the Lakers.

Williams has spent almost two decades in a role as some coach, seven of them being as an assistant coach. His most promising stint came with the Phoenix Suns. In those four years, he nurtured the side from bottom dweller to NBA finalists. While the end was bitter, the master tactician has proven his methods. But is he still a man with the same vigor and spirit?

Monty Williams coaching record with the Pistons

Prior to this season, the Pistons were said to be at an important juncture in their rebuilding process. They possessed quality young players who could be groomed into difference-makers. The ownership felt a shift on the horizon and hired Williams, who was initially planning to take a year off, but the offer was too good to refuse.

Ultimately, the tempting money didn’t bring about the shift the Pistons expected. In his only season at the helm, the Pistons won only 14 games, their lowest tally over the last five seasons. Additionally, he saw himself on the dark side of NBA history, achieving a record 28 losses in a row.

However, no change can be immediate. There was a common proposition that maybe Williams should have been given more time. According to Adrian Wojnarowski, Williams was ‘blindsided‘ by his firing since he was having regular meetings with the Pistons’ new President of Basketball Operations Trajan Langdon to plot the franchise’s future and offseason plans. Despite this, the ownership decided against continuing Williams’ contract.

Do you think the Pistons were right to act or were they hasty? Let us know your views in the comments below.