The Detroit Pistons have appointed Dwane Casey as their new head coach, signing him to a five-year contract. After several days of discussions, the decision was finalized on Monday.
Owner Tom Gores and senior adviser Ed Stefanski made a strong commitment to Casey, aiming to position the Pistons as a consistent playoff contender in the Eastern Conference. Casey, formerly the head coach of the Toronto Raptors, is now the 36th head coach in Pistons history. The financial terms of the contract have not been disclosed, but it’s rumored to be around $7 million annually. Casey is set to meet the players in Los Angeles as they prepare for the upcoming season before heading to Detroit after Father’s Day.
The Detroit Pistons are making significant changes to rejuvenate the franchise by bringing in Stefanski and Casey to replace former coach and president Stan Van Gundy. Van Gundy was relieved of his duties on May 7 after a season with a 39-43 record. Similarly, Casey was let go by the Raptors despite leading the team to a 59-23 record and being named the National Basketball Coaches Association’s Coach of the Year. The Raptors’ playoff dreams were dashed by LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers for the third consecutive season.
Since taking over the Raptors in 2011-12, Casey transformed the team into a powerhouse in the Eastern Conference, achieving four division titles, five consecutive playoff appearances, and 59 wins in the last season. Casey is known for his excellent rapport with players.
Other contenders considered during the coaching search included Miami Heat assistant and former Michigan star Juwan Howard, TNT NBA analyst Kenny Smith, and Toronto Raptors assistant Nick Nurse.
