After missing out on vacancies with the Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers, James Borrego is reportedly considered a "prominent" candidate in the Detroit Pistons' coaching search.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Borrego could have a leg up in the search after previously working with new Pistons president Trajan Langdon with the New Orleans Pelicans.

Borrego served as an assistant coach under Willie Green last season in New Orleans. The 46-year-old previously interviewed for head-coaching jobs with the Lakers and Cavaliers but missed out on both jobs. The Lakers hired former NBA guard JJ Redick, while former Brooklyn Nets coach Kenny Atkinson landed the job in Cleveland.

The Pistons fired Monty Williams last week after just one season, taking on $65 million in owed money to move on. Williams led the Pistons to a 14-68 record during his lone year with the franchise, struggling to connect with the roster's young players and frustrating fans with his rotation choices.

The failed Williams hire did more than just cost ownership money; it also pushed back the Pistons' rebuild plan by another year. Detroit has won no more than 23 games in any of the last five seasons and has dropped from 23 wins to 14 since 2021-22. That's not the sign of a rebuild going well.

The Pistons brought in Langdon to oversee basketball operations this offseason, with former GM Troy Weaver stepping down earlier this month. Langdon had been David Griffin's second-in-command with the Pelicans since 2019.

Borrego's coaching history suggests he should be a strong fit in Detroit. A longtime assistant of Gregg Popovich in San Antonio, Borrego was previously the Charlotte Hornets' head coach from 2018 to 2022. The Hornets did not make the playoffs in any of Borrego's four seasons at the helm but went 43-39 in his final season with the franchise and were seemingly on an upward trajectory.

Charlotte has won 48 games combined in the last two seasons since Borrego's dismissal.