With the Wizards‘ loss to the 76ers on Wednesday, head coach Scott Brooks has officially reached the end of his five-year contract. However, as Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington relays, general manager Tommy Sheppard isn’t ready to make a decision on Brooks’ future just yet.
“Any question about that stuff, that’s not for today, that’s not for this time,” Sheppard said. “I will say this, Scotty did a hell of a job keeping this team together through some of the most difficult and dark moments probably in franchise history, to be honest with you.”
The Wizards fought through a season-ending injury to starting center Thomas Bryant, as well as multiple disruptions due to COVID-19, to finish the year on a 17-6 run and advance from the play-in tournament to their third playoff appearance in Brooks’ five-year tenure.
Still, Sheppard reiterated the need to examine the entire team, from players to coaches, ahead of the 2021/2022 season, which could prove to be the final year of star Bradley Beal‘s contract, should he decline his 2022/2023 player option.
Despite Beal finishing the year second in the NBA in scoring and his backcourt mate Russell Westbrook leading the league in assists, the Wizards were games under .500, and if they hope to retain Beal beyond 2022, they will have to consider how to build the team around their talented backcourt.
As for Brooks, the veteran coach understands the business of these decisions, and is letting the situation play out as it will. “It doesn’t bother me one bit. That’s just part of being in this business. It’s obviously well-documented that my contract’s up,” he said.
The 12-year head coach is instead taking the time to enjoy the opportunity he had with the Wizards and to focus on his family as Sheppard and team owner Ted Leonsis mull a decision on Brooks’ future.
In other words don’t call us, we’ll call you (maybe).
Could be an entire offseason of change. Moving Beal for a rebuild. Maybe find a buyer for Westbrook. Bertans deal already looks bad.
this is what I say the Wizards do
1. Keep Brooks but if you perform bad then fire him
2. Try to contend with Westbrick and Beal
3. Look for a big man to trade for (ifthe T-Wolves are open to moving KAT which I don’t think they will then give a big offer)
4. WING DEFENDERS!!!!!!
5. Draft well with the pick their given (don’t take a project type dude like Avdija)
I don’t think Avdija was meant to be a project, I think he underperformed. At his best he solves some problems for them. Remains to be seen if he’ll actually get there.
Right
he needed to go the second he threw out the four guard lineup.
Works in 2k
A translation of Tommy’s comments .. I’ve no idea what’s going to happen. That a**hole Ujiri is hovering over my owner and I better say nothing nothing at all