The six-year, $78 million contract signed by Monty Williams with the Detroit Pistons will impact accomplished head coaches as they work on extensions with their incumbent teams.
“It’s going to significantly impact the head coaching landscape for high level coaches including Miami’s Erik Spoelstra and Golden State’s Steve Kerr,” said Adrian Wojnarowski. “Both of those coaches have one year left, next season, on their deals. Both, I’m told, in the $8 million annual range right now. Both coaches, when you talk to owners and executives around the league, if they were on the open market might be able to get what Sean Payton got: in the neighborhood of $20 million per year.
“It’s hard to imagine Erik Spoelstra leaving a Miami organization where he started 28 years ago as a video intern, where he’s spent 15 years as a head coach with two championships.
“Steve Kerr is going to be a different situation. His president/GM Bob Myers announced last week that he’s leaving. This is an aging roster. The worldview for Steve Kerr may look different. Watch his negotiations this summer on an extension.
“One other coach who is going to benefit from Monty Williams changing the pay structure of NBA head coach is Clippers coach Ty Lue.”