The Detroit Pistons are adding Luke Walton as the lead assistant on the coaching staff of J.B. Bickerstaff, per Shams Charania of The Athletic. Walton was an assistant under Bickerstaff in each of the past two seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers — so this comes as no surprise.
Detroit hired Bickerstaff, fired by the Cavs after five-and-a-half seasons, to replace Monty Williams, fired after one.
In many ways, the Pistons are said to be emulating the Cavs under Bickerstaff, who led them from the play-in tournament to the first round to the Eastern Conference semifinals in three consecutive seasons leading to his dismissal. New head of basketball operations Trajan Langdon reportedly liked how Bickerstaff guided the Cavs through the second post-LeBron James era and into respectability.
Detroit could use a similar pick-me-up after setting the single-season record of 28 straight losses in 2023-24.
Walton has compiled a 166-241 record in five-and-half seasons overall as coach of the Lakers and Kings.
The Kings were 31-41 in each of his first two years, and 6-11 when he was fired in 2021. While he experienced success filling in for Warriors coach Steve Kerr as an assistant, Walton’s teams have never finished with a winning record, his best season coming when the 2018-19 Lakers finished 37-45.
Along with Bickerstaff, and now Walton, the Pistons have added several veterans this offseason to help boost the performance of their younger players. The list includes forward Tobias Harris and forward/center Paul Reed (both previously of the Philadelphia 76ers), shooting guard Malik Beasley (Milwaukee Bucks) and wing Tim Hardaway Jr. (Dallas Mavericks).
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