Once Cade Cunningham, arguably the Detroit Pistons’ best player, went down with a season-ending stress fracture in his left shin after just 12 games, the long-term season outlook looked bleak for coach Dwane Casey’s squad.
To no surprise, the Pistons struggled to a 17-65 record, the worst mark in the NBA this season. It concludes their fourth-consecutive losing season, after coach Casey managed to lead the Pistons to a 41-41 record in his first year with the team back in 2018.
Now, after five seasons and a 121-263 record, Casey will not return as head coach of the Pistons in 2023-24. Instead, The Athletic‘s Shams Charania states Casey will be moving upstairs to Detroit’s front office instead, where he’ll be a part of selecting the next head coach of the Pistons.
Charania notes a few of the immediate coaching candidates include former Boston Celtics coach Ime Udoka, in addition to current Milwaukee Bucks assistant Charles Lee who has popped up in several coaching conversations in the past.
Yet, the Pistons aren’t the only team getting a head start on their coaching search, with the Houston Rockets also expected to move on from Stephen Silas after three seasons with the organization. If the Pistons have their heart set on a specific candidate, they may need to move quickly with other franchises expected to make a coaching change this offseason.
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