Washington Wizards: Scott Brooks is officially out as head coach

It may have taken a little longer than many fans would have liked, but the Washington Wizards are reportedly ready to part ways with Scott Brooks.

After five seasons, the Scott Brooks era is over in Washington. For the first time since 2016, the Wizards are looking for a new head coach.

Brooks’ contract expired at the end of the season, so it’s a little odd that it took this long (two weeks) for the Wizards to part ways with him. Based on how long it took and the language Adrian Wojnarowski used when breaking the news (“couldn’t come to an agreement on a new deal”), it seems like the Wizards were legitimately trying to bring Brooks back for at least one more season. Given the strong relationships he has with the team’s two best players — Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal — that’s no surprise. It’s encouraging, though, that the Wizards ultimately made the right call and moved on from a coach who simply wasn’t getting the job done.

The Scott Brooks era is officially over in D.C. as he and the Washington Wizards have agreed to part ways.

During his five seasons in Washington, Brooks led the Wizards to three playoff appearances. However, the team finished with a losing record in each of the past three seasons and could never match the success they had during Brooks’ first season. Before Brooks and the Wizards had officially parted ways, he was one of just seven coaches left in the NBA who had been with their team since before 2018. Of the seven coaches, Brooks had the worst win percentage by quite a bit.

What’s next for the Washington Wizards?

So Brooks is gone. Now, the fun starts. After multiple seasons full of frustration with Brooks at the helm, the Wizards have the opportunity to take things in a very different direction. Being a playoff team with an All-Star backcourt, they’ll likely want a coach who can help them stay competitive and win now. However, they’ll also need to put some emphasis on player development. Rui Hachimura, Deni Avdija, and Daniel Gafford are all promising pieces whose progress the Wizards can’t afford to stunt.

A few names to keep an eye on as the Wizards ramp up their coaching search include Wes Unseld Jr, Sam Cassell, Chauncey Billups, and Becky Hammon. However, the Wizards won’t be the only team looking to add a fresh face and new direction to the organization. The Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers, New Orleans Pelicans, Orlando Magic, and Portland Trail Blazers all have head coaching vacancies, as well.