NBA Rumors: Pistons Eye James Borrego as HC After Cavaliers Hire Kenny Atkinson

After failing to land coaching positions with the Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers, James Borrego is now being viewed as a top candidate for the Detroit Pistons’ coaching job, according to reports.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski indicated that Borrego may have an advantage in the selection process due to his previous collaboration with the new Pistons president Trajan Langdon during their time with the New Orleans Pelicans.

Borrego worked as an assistant coach under Willie Green in New Orleans last season. Although he had previously interviewed for head coaching roles with the Lakers and Cavaliers, he was not chosen for either position. The Lakers hired former NBA player JJ Redick, while former Brooklyn Nets coach Kenny Atkinson was selected by the Cavaliers.

The Pistons recently dismissed Monty Williams after just one season, incurring a significant financial cost. Williams struggled to form connections with the team’s young players and drew criticism from fans for his lineup decisions while leading the team to a 14-68 record.

The failed hiring of Williams not only had financial repercussions for the organization but also set back the Pistons’ rebuilding plan by another year. Over the last five seasons, Detroit has not won more than 23 games and the team’s performance has declined from 23 wins to 14 since the 2021-22 season, indicating a troubled rebuilding process.

Following the departure of former GM Troy Weaver, the Pistons brought in Trajan Langdon to lead basketball operations. Langdon had previously been the second-in-command to David Griffin with the Pelicans.

Borrego’s coaching background suggests that he would be a good fit for Detroit. As a long-serving assistant to Gregg Popovich in San Antonio, Borrego later served as the head coach of the Charlotte Hornets from 2018 to 2022. Although the Hornets did not reach the playoffs during his tenure, they achieved a 43-39 record in his final season and showed signs of improvement.

Since Borrego’s departure, the Hornets have won a combined 48 games over the last two seasons.