With Scott Brooks officially out as the Wizards’ head coach, his replacement won’t be named quickly. GM Tommy Sheppard said he will conduct a “very diverse, very robust” search, Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN tweets. Sheppard also used the words “thorough” and “inclusive” to describe the search, which suggests that he might give serious consideration to a woman candidate.
We have more interesting tidbits from Sheppard’s press conference on Wednesday:
- Sheppard said he opted to part ways with Brooks and then informed team chairman Ted Leonsis of his plan. Leonsis gave a rubber stamp of approval, Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington tweets. “‘If that’s what you want to do, then that’s what you’ll do,'” Leonsis told Sheppard.
- The ability to communicate well with the players will be high on the list of traits Sheppard is seeking for his next coach, Fred Katz of The Athletic tweets. Sheppard doesn’t want the next coach to take on too much responsibility — he’ll seek one that’s willing to have offensive and defensive “coordinators” on this staff.
- Sheppard will be seeking more depth and veteran leadership in free agency and trades this offseason, Youngmisuk relays in a separate tweet. He isn’t worried about finding plenty of worthy candidates for the head coaching job on a team that make the playoffs this season, adding that “D.C. will sell itself.”
“Sheppard doesn’t want the next coach to take too much responsibility — he’ll seek one that’s willing to have offensive and defensive “coordinators” on this staff.”
If I’m a Wizards fan this would terrify me. Wouldn’t you want your HC to be THE voice and the vision for the team?
They won’t win with a great Coach either, so there’s that
They’re not serious contenders with Westbrook, and he’s stuck there for at least another year and a half.
My peanut-gallery take is the owner wants the coach to play how Beal wants to play, force the “other guys” drill that system for two years before you hire the coach you try to contend with post-Westbrook.
Maybe they can add Doc Rivers to their list if the Sixers fire him. The Wizards aren’t even casual contenders with Westbrook, let alone serious.
Even Doc’s act of hoodwinking owners will eventually run out.
Being the voice and vision for the team doesn’t mean you can’t delegate responsibilities. One of the frequently-cited reasons for Nate Bjorkgren’s ouster in Indiana was his inability to do that (ie. his tendency to “micro-manage”).
DC Will Sell Itself
Title of a documentary on government corruption
Not a plan for recruitment imho
DC will sell itself?! lmao no one goes out of their way to take the DC basketball job.
DC is comical
So I’m maybe too progressive for the NBA, but why would it be considered diverse to hire a woman? That’s pretty vanilla and commonplace. There are women in leadership positions all over the corporate world. They should hire a transgender woman instead who is not cisgender, check a few more boxes if it’s really important.
Not funny
who’s laughing? I mean really, why not be really open and diverse? it just bothers me that “hiring a woman” is the only diverse hire that’s talked about.
I doubt any woman gets hired. The candidates are just for show. And yes it would increase diversity to hire a woman. How would it not? What a point.
Does your “Mom” have any coaching experience?
They need a complete new fresh face. Becky Hammon, Messina, Billups etc. But those three won’t want this job I think. Wizards will end up with a coach who’s already been fired elsewhere. David Blatt should be considered by all teams that have vacancies. He got a team to the finals and clashed with the Drama Queen later. He’s good at installing team play into a squad
Who knows who will be coach here. Wonder with other teams if more appealing. Gee can Wizards move to Seattle
Would like to see someone here decent
Washington going for it. Hire DAntoni. They go rebuild hire Atkinson….. There