While the Wizards were able to recover after a horrible start to the season and make the playoffs, the 2020-21 campaign was still rendered a disappointment. Such a letdown, in fact, that head coach Scott Brooks is not returning.
Brooks coached for five seasons in D.C., leading the team to 183 wins. On the flip side, Washington lost 207 games (.469 winning %) during that span and finished on a similar pace this year (.472 winning %). How the franchise goes about hiring its next coach will speak volumes and potentially have a ripple effect on players, writes Marc Stein of The New York Times:
“His (Brooks’) departure was even more curious given that Brooks is known as a coach wo, in two different stops, has reached Russell Westbrook, which is no given for his successor. If the Wizards hire a current assistant coach, as many expect, how Westbrook reacts will be key given the two years and $91 million left on his contract.”
The Wizards have their work cut out for them but ultimately, Westbrook and Bradley Beal is a formidable core to build around. The organization’s next coach will likely require a sign-off from both stars.
More Wizards Notes
- Washington conducted a pre-draft interview with Duke’s Jalen Johnson on Thursday, per NBCS Washington’s Chase Hughes. Johnson stands at nearly 6’8″ and is an athletic forward who thrives in transition as a floor navigator and also makes smart reads in a half-court setting. Many mock draft sites have Johnson listed as a potential lottery selection.
- Stanford’s Ziaire Williams was another Thursday interviewee, Hughes also reports. Williams needs to continue to add muscle to his frame and maximize his potential as a shooter, but he brings a lot to the table as a prospect. He has a smooth handle and projects to be a clear positive on the defensive end.
- There are three things the Wizards can do that will help them improve this offseason, writes Yahoo Sports’ Mike DePrisco. That list includes hiring a communicator to be the club’s next head coach, placing an emphasis on player development and finding some sort of balance throughout the roster.
