James Borrego has emerged as an early candidate for the Pistons’ head coach opening.
Detroit will “strongly consider” Borrego, according to Yahoo Sports, after shockingly firing Monty Williams with more than $65 million left on his record six-year, $78.5 million contract on Wednesday.
Borrego, who was the head coach of the Hornets for four seasons from 2018-22, served as an associate head coach for the Pelicans last season.
The Pistons aren’t the first team this offseason to target Borrego.
Earlier this month, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported that Borrego was emerging as a favorite to replace J.B. Bickerstaff as the Cavaliers head coach.
“[James Borrego is] getting momentum in Cleveland,” Windhorst said on “Get Up” on June 10. “He’s expected to interview there early this week as a potential leading candidate developing with the Cavs.”
Multiple reports have also connected Borrego to the Lakers, who are still in the midst of a twisting-and-turning coaching search of their own after UConn’s Dan Hurley decided to stay in the Big East.
Borrego owns a 148-183 coaching record after his time with the Hornets and a brief stint as the Magic’s interim head coach in 2014-15.
Whoever takes over the top job in Detroit will be tasked with turning around one of the most bleak rosters in the NBA.
The Pistons finished an NBA-worst 14-68 and set a single-season record by losing 28 straight games.
In late May, the franchise entered a new era when it hired Trajan Langdon, former general manager of the Pelicans, where he worked with Borrego, as the team’s president of basketball operations.
A week after the hiring, the Pistons dismissed general manager Troy Weaver, who had been with the team since 2020.
The Pistons have made the postseason just twice in the past 15 seasons, falling short in each of the past five.