Report: Bickerstaff, Nori among Pistons head coach candidates

Former Cleveland Cavaliers head coach JB Bickerstaff, Minnesota Timberwolves lead assistant Micah Nori, and Dallas Mavericks assistant Sean Sweeney are among the early interviewees for the Detroit Pistons' head coaching job, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Detroit will reportedly also call other candidates for the position, adds Wojnarowski.

The list of choices comes a day after the franchise let go of bench boss Monty Williams just one year after handing him a massive contract.

Bickerstaff was let go by the Cavaliers after they lost in the second round of the 2024 NBA playoffs to the Boston Celtics, the eventual winners. He's gone 255-290 as a head coach split between the Cavs, the Memphis Grizzlies and the Houston Rockets. He'll be able to meet with Detroit before the other candidates, according to Wojnarowski.

Nori notably served as the acting head coach during the Minnesota Timberwolves' second and third-round playoff series after head coach Chris Finch underwent knee surgery. The 50-year-old has been an NBA assistant since 2009.

Sweeney has been an assistant since 2013, including three seasons with the Pistons. His other stints have all been under current Dallas head coach Jason Kidd - the pair worked together with the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks.