Following the Wizards‘ elimination from the playoffs on Wednesday night, the franchise will face a number of crucial offseason decisions, starting with the future of head coach Scott Brooks. Brooks doesn’t have a contract beyond this season, but indicated after last night’s loss to Philadelphia that he’d like to remain in his current role.
“I love it here. There’s no decision in my mind, I love it here,” Brooks said, per Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington.
The decision on Brooks will ultimately be up to Wizards general manager Tommy Sheppard and owner Ted Leonsis, but it’s possible they’ll seek input from the team’s star players. And it doesn’t sound like they’re looking for a change. As Candace Buckner of The Washington Post relays, Bradley Beal referred to Brooks as a “true player’s coach,” while Russell Westbrook endorsed the man who also coached him in Oklahoma City.
“If it was up to me, Scotty wouldn’t be going anywhere. It’s not even a question or a conversation to even be brought up,” Westbrook said, according to Hughes. “If the conversation is brought to me, I will definitely voice my opinion like I’m voicing it now and see what happens.”
Here’s more on the Wizards:
- Beal’s future will also be a major topic of discussion in D.C. this offseason as the All-Star guard enters a contract year, writes Tim Bontemps of ESPN. Beal said on Wednesday that he’s making an effort not to focus on the inevitable rumors. “Ultimately, I’m in control,” Beal said. “I think that’s my biggest thing. People are going to report whatever they want, but I know where my mind is and I know if it’s not coming from the horse’s mouth, then it’s going to be rumors. I expect them. S–t, they’re starting now.”
- David Aldridge of The Athletic argues that the Wizards can’t – and won’t – trade Beal this offseason, but that they owe it to him to be bold in reshaping and upgrading the roster around him.
- In his look at the Wizards’ offseason, ESPN’s Bobby Marks (Insider link) notes that Beal will be eligible for a four-year extension worth a projected $181MM this offseason. Marks also examines the team’s proximity to the luxury tax line and identifies wing defenders and depth as top summer priorities.
- Recently-acquired big man Daniel Gafford, who looks to be part of the Wizards’ future, says he’ll be looking to put on weight and work on his conditioning during the summer, tweets Fred Katz of The Athletic. “If I wanna be out there 20-plus minutes every single night, my conditioning has to be top-tier,” Gafford said.
This team has offensive fire power and Hacimura is going to be good. They gotta acquire or sign a defensive stopper.
ThyBull?
No chance in hell the Sixers would part with Matisse, per minute he’s the best defender in the NBA
Will the Grandmaster continue his dominance in his realm, or will time finally conquer his amazing ability, showing he cant keep up forever. His contract running out does make it interesting. Not sure if it counts if he doesnt come back, as it’s not technically a firing, but keeping his job has always been his true power…
Obviously the team has needed help defensively for a while. They exchanged one interesting young defensive piece that barely played for another, and got rid of their floor spacing big. If they get Bryant back, that helps in that area, but he isnt a defender. Gafford looks like a viable rotation piece, but he needs to improve his conditioning and his consistency. Not sure what happens with Bonga. I thought he should have played more, as one of their only defenders. They need help defensively on the wing, at the 4, and at the guard spots, and obviously they need Hachimura to take a big step forward. One thing that helps them is Deni Avdija was a lot better than I thought he would be, so I would like to explore what he can potentially bring them next year, and hopefully he’ll be able to play in summer league for them…
All of that probably depends on what they do with their guards. I’m not sure it makes sense to hold onto Beal, even if he wants to stay
Thomas Bryant or Daniel Gafford?
This team isn’t very good, and they had no business being in the playoffs. As much as I hate Philly, I’m glad they exposed how unfit-for-the-playoffs the Wiz really were/are.
There’s not a lot separating the bottom 10 teams in the east, as was displayed in the first round of the playoffs. Teams like the Heat, Wizards, and Celtics would have been eliminated from the play-in tournament if they had to compete in the West and were lucky enough to finish in the top 10.
As Wally noted, being good is a relative term in the East.
Also, for Washington, it seems highly predicated on Westbrook’s health. Second half of the season he looked 100%, and the team was actually respectable, even without Thomas Bryant.
At RWB’s age though, it’s probably fool’s gold. And it makes it that much tougher to move Beal in the offseason, which is probably their most sensible long-term option.
Gafford should work on adding a mid range shot
All about internal strides with Wiz, No cap
Deni Rui, Bryant, Gafford are a nice bunch to bet on
Id Imagine Beal see’s where it all goes next year in hopefully a healthy year for all and then make a call this time next year.