Scott Brooks’ time in Washington is over, the team announced on Wednesday. Wizards GM Tommy Sheppard will begin the search for Washington’s new head coach, according to the team.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the 55-year-old Brooks, whose contract expired after this season, couldn’t come to an agreement with the WIzards on a new deal.
At one point this season, Washington was 17-32 and 13th in the Eastern Conference. Washington rallied with the second-best winning percentage in the league from April 7 to finish 17-6 in the final 23 games of the season to make the playoffs.
Washington battled hard this season to make the postseason, and ultimately, they would fall to the 76ers in the first-round in 5.
After five seasons, the Wizards probably needed a new voice. The team struggled with defense during Brooks’ time with the team, and those struggles continued this season.
In his five seasons with Washington, Brooks, who had three playoff appearances, compiled a record of 183-207. In fairness to him, the team struggled with injuries, including to point guard John Wall before he was dealt to Houston for Russell Westbrook last offseason.
You wonder what direction Washington will go in at the coaching position. Do they find a retread like a Stan Van Gundy, or do they go with a young assistant coach? Washington is in an interesting place right now. They are too good to get a high lottery pick but not good enough to contend. It’s almost like they have to determine what direction they want to go in. If Beal is committed to staying, they need to try to get players to win now. However, if Beal wants out, they need to move him, Westbrook(if possible), and rebuild.
Brooks is a good guy, but all things must come to an end, and this appears to be the case with Brooks in Washington.
