News came down Thursday afternoon that the Washington Wizards have officially hired their top candidate to fill their head coaching vacancy, Scott Brooks.
Scott Brooks has agreed in principle on a five-year, $35M deal with the Wizards, league sources tell @TheVertical.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) April 21, 2016
Brooks signed a five-year, $35 million contract with the Wizards.
Scott Brooks was 338-207 in 7 seasons coaching the Oklahoma City Thunder, including three trips to the western conference finals and a trip to the NBA Finals in 2012. He won NBA Coach of the Year after the 2009-10 NBA season.
The Wizards took a step back this year finishing 41-41 and 10th place in the eastern conference, missing the playoffs for the first time in four seasons.
Washington was one of the most desirable openings in the league this off-season as a team one year removed from the second round of the playoffs and one of the best young back courts in the NBA with John Wall and Bradley Beal (when healthy).
Some conspiracy theorists think this move signals Kevin Durant’s pending arrival in the nation’s capital in free agency as Durant is from the area and has a great relationship with his former head coach in Brooks.
Washington signed Scott Brooks? Yeaaaaaa… #HeGone pic.twitter.com/ktYVpjWzdT
— ThatKiddKuda (@ThatKiddKuda) April 21, 2016
While it doesn’t hurt the Wizards chances to land Durant, it’s doubtful that Scott Brook’s hire is the nail in the coffin.
This is a great hire for the Wizards who have some really interesting pieces and a potential top 10 player in John Wall. Brooks is a great defensive coach and could make the Wizards one of the stingier defenses in the league with their athleticism and length.
With the Wizards, T’Wolves, Suns and Nets coaching vacancies filled, that leaves the Rockets, Kings, Knicks and potentially the Lakers as jobs that are still open.
