The Washington Wizards entered the offseason with many wondering if a change at head coach could be a possibility.
Brian Keefe has been a great leader for the team's rebuilding process, but with real playoff expectations entering next season, the question about whether or not Keefe is the man for the job remains.
Washington was linked to multiple head coaches ahead of the summer, with Taylor Jenkins highlighting the list of possible candidates to lead the team into next season.
However, general manager Will Dawkins and President of Monumental Basketball Michael Winger opted to bring Keefe back, giving the head coach the opportunity to answer the questions surrounding his long-term fit on the roster.
And given the surplus of talent on the roster this season compared to last, with a healthy Trae Young and Anthony Davis leading a young roster that just added the top prospect in the NBA Draft in AJ Dybantsa, it's safe to say Keefe has everything at his disposal to succeed.
If he doesn't, though, the Wizards may have already added Keefe's potential successors to the coaching staff, with their latest additions turning heads.
Wizards hire Patrick Ewing, Steve Clifford
According to NBA Insider Shams Charania, the Wizards have hired NBA legend Patrick Ewing as an assistant coach on Brian Keefe's staff.
Ewing spent the last few seasons in an Ambassador role for the New York Knicks, which now brings championship experience to Washington given the result of the NBA Finals.
Adding Ewing wasn't the final move for the Wizards, though, with Charania quickly following up that Washington also hired longtime NBA head coach Steve Clifford as a coaching advisor.
Considering Ewing served as an assistant under Clifford during his time as head coach of the Charlotte Hornets from 2013-2017, it doesn't come as a total surprise to see the two basketball minds join the staff as a package deal.
Still, it does open eyes to the fact that the Wizards are investing in their coaching staff, and with a lot of pressure on Keefe entering the season, if he doesn't answer the call, both Ewing and Clifford could be realistic targets to interview for the job if Washington has a vacancy to fill this time next year.
Obviously, other candidates would be added to the mix, but with the Wizards making these moves, it could be in part due to not only offering Keefe help, but also looking ahead towards the future at the same time.
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