According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, James Posey is joining the Phoenix Suns coaching staff. He will head to Phoenix after spending two years with the Washington Wizards.
Posey joined the Wizards after coaching with the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2014 to 2019. He also was an assistant coach for their G League affiliate, the Canton Charge, for one year during the 2013-14 season.
James Posey joining Suns after two seasons on Wizards coaching staff
Before he was a coach, however, Posey was a long-time NBA player. He spent 12 years in the NBA and played for seven different teams—the Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, New Orleans Hornets, and Indiana Pacers.
The now-47-year-old won two championships when he was in the league: One with the Heat in 2006 and one with the Celtics in 2008.
Losing Posey could be a tough blow for the Wizards as they rebuild, as he would have been a nice mentor for their young core. He has lots of playing experience in the league and knows what it takes to win at the highest level.
Now, the Wizards will look to move forward with their current coaching staff under Brian Keefe, who they signed to be their full-time head coach after he took over on an interim basis when Wes Unseld Jr. was fired last year.
Washington will likely be one of the bottom-feeders in the Eastern Conference next season, but that’s okay. The 2025 NBA Draft is expected to be very strong, and they should be eyeing some of the top players.
Guys like Cooper Flagg, Ace Bailey, and VJ Edgecomb would be great fits next to Alex Sarr, Bub Carrington, Kyshawn George, Bilal Coulibaly, and the rest of Washington’s young core.
This year will be used to focus on player development, and after how poorly Sarr played in Summer League, the Wizards will undoubtedly want to focus on helping him find a rhythm and his place in the NBA.
Meanwhile, the Wizards will also have to be constantly scouring the trade market, searching for potential deals for guys like Kyle Kuzma and Malcolm Brogdon.
Next year will be an interesting year in Washington, but unfortunately, Posey won’t be around to help.