Sweeney and Nori were previously assistant coaches with the Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are moving quickly, as they must, to hire a head coach to replace Monty Williams. The team has received permission to interview Sean Sweeney, Micah Nori, and JB Bickerstaff for the vacant head coach position, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN . The Pistons are expected to expand the interview pool and speak to more assistants, Wojnarowski reports.
Sweeney is currently the lead assistant on the Dallas Mavericks who just appeared in the NBA Finals . He is credited as the primary architect for the team’s defense. The Mavs finished the season 18th in defense, 24th the season before, and sixth in Sweeney’s first year.
Nori is a lead assistant for the Minnesota Timberwolves . He has been an assistant coach since 2009, including two stints under Dwane Casey in Toronto and Detroit.
Bickerstaff is the recently fired coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers . Bickerstaff started his career as an NBA assistant way back in 2005 at the ripe age of 25 under his father, Bernie Bickerstaff. He compiled a record of 170-159 in four-plus seasons in Cleveland, including three straight winning seasons.
The hire will be the first major addition in the Trajan Langdon era. While he’s only been the Pistons’ president for a few weeks, he’s already added several names to the front office, respected NBA shooting coach Fred Vinson, and fired GM Troy Weaver and head coach Williams.
Langdon will have his introductory press conference Friday afternoon in Detroit. We will see what he says about his vision for the future of the Pistons.