Russell Westbrook wanted the Wizards to keep Scott Brooks as head coach, but his endorsement wasn’t enough to save Brooks’ job, writes Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington. Westbrook and Brooks have a long relationship that dates back to Oklahoma City, where Brooks coached him for seven seasons.
Westbrook endorsed Brooks after Washington was ousted from the playoffs and spoke to general manager Tommy Sheppard about the coaching situation during his exit interview. However, Sheppard doesn’t think Westbrook will be affected by the change on the bench.
“Moving forward, Russell’s career does speak for itself. He was fantastic with Scotty in (Oklahoma City),” Sheppard said. “He won MVP in (Oklahoma City) under a different coach. Last year, he was All-NBA under a different coach. This is part of the business that we all struggle with, but it’s a certain part of the business that is something we know when we get into this business, that the only constant thing is change.”
There’s more on the Wizards:
- The Wizards’ decision to move on from Brooks is all about trying to ensure that All-Star guard Bradley Beal sticks around long-term, per Fred Katz of The Athletic. “What we gotta do as an organization is continue to do whatever it takes to put ourselves forward to have sustainable winning,” Sheppard said in comments to reporters about the decision. Katz notes, however, that it may behoove Washington to add a new voice on the bench who could be open to a rebuild, should Beal opt to leave ahead of the 2022/23 season.
- Because Wizards stars Westbrook (soon to be in his age-33 season) and Beal (an All-Star in his prime) both have player options in their deals for 2022/23, it may make sense to make a win-now hire, adding someone with a prior head coaching track record, opines Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington. Sheppard seemed open to adding a first-time head coach if he deemed the fit appropriate. “You want the qualities that you think are going to amplify the needs of your team,” Sheppard said. “You look at the modern NBA and what’s going on, who’s in the [playoffs], who’s still playing. It’s a great snapshot of what the NBA is. You have very diverse coaches, you have former players, you have people that came from Division II colleges. It’s just a reminder that there’s no clear path of how to get there, there’s no magic formula.” Less experienced coaches can also be significantly more cost-effective, Hughes notes.
- The Wizards would be wise to consider longtime Nuggets assistant coach Wes Unseld Jr., writes David Aldridge of The Athletic. Aldridge notes that Unseld has significant roots in D.C., from his Hall of Fame father to the years he logged between stints as a scout and assistant coach for the Mystics and Wizards. Given the precarious nature of Beal’s future with the franchise (he can sign a long-term extension in the fall or opt out in 2022), nailing this hire will be crucial for Sheppard, Aldridge writes.
Arthur Hill contributed to this report.
Sustainable winning? How about any winning. At least to start.
Yes exactly and that kind of starts with picking a category like sustainable defense or sustainable three-point shooting or something…
Sort of like Stan Van Gundy’s sell to the New Orleans Pelicans. “The defense needs to improve and I’m going to come in and do it.” That’s how you start on the path to winning. He didn’t make it happen by the way but at least his plan was on target.
Wiz are like the fat chick that wears tight clothes. A reminder, often a painful one, that believing something doesn’t always make it so.
Sustainable like 36-46?
Failure is often easier to sustain.
Neither of Westbrook or Beal are winners, they just dont have clutch DNAs.
As well as Wedtbrook played in the last quarter of season, he’s about stats, stats, and stats. Hate players staying in games just for stats. He might not like it, but truth hurts.
Has every pro coach Westbrook played for been fired?
Pro coaches are there only to be fired… so what is your point?
Is Beal really that good, to be that scared of him leaving?He’s a prolific scorer, not anything else.
What the hell are they doing with 33 year old Westbrook anyways? They need to trade him. They’re not going anywhere with Beal and Westbrook. What did they expect Brooks to do?
Trade Westbrick for what? He still has over $91M left on his contract, and just as I predicted, he had more triple-doubles this season than his team had wins. Trading Beal would be far easier and they would get way more in return. No one wants Russ, and they’ve have to attach picks in any trade to rid themselves of him. The Wizards are stuck with him for 2 more years.
Take a buyout Russ. Come to NYC. We’ll show you the respect you deserve. End your career as a Knick.
U will take Russ over Giannis? That’s a crazy take
You just want him to go to NY so the fans can dump popcorn on him.
The 2-guard attack has failed in all its incarnations, most recently in DC and PDX.
Paul Booker?
Lillard McCollum
I would bet a team centered around Beal and Embiid could generate some winning as sustainable as Embiid’s health
Leosis founded Monumental Sports & Entertainment. Sustainable Sports & Entertainment will be next year’s project. (;))
Trade Beal and Westbrick and start rebuilding. Why delaying the unavoidable!
Mark Jackson can do well with this team and replicate what he did with GSW.
Westbrook gets so unbelievably trashed in these sections. i mean, very few guys seem interested in trying to keep coaches around rather then getting him canned, and people still find it to be a negative. sheesh.
I am with you DarkSide830… I would have had Westbrook in the 1st All-NBA team this year, he was just sooo unbelievably good!
People that hate on him or don’t like his play is simply ’cause they don’t know ’bout hoops!
Guy is a legend!!!