Sports
NBA Rumors: Wizards HC Wes Unseld Jr. Not Expected to Be on Hot Seat Next Season – Bleacher Report
There may be a new power regime in Washington, but that does not mean Wizards coach Wes Unseld Jr. is in danger of losing his job.
Josh Robbins of The Athletic reported Unseld is not expected to be on the hot seat during the 2023-24 season despite the hiring of new president Michael Winger and general manager Will Dawkins.
Neither Winger nor Dawkins were involved in Unseld’s hiring process.
The Wizards have posted matching 35-47 records in each of Unseld’s first two seasons and are set to embark on a full-scale rebuild. Washington traded Bradley Beal, Kristaps Porzingis and Chris Paul in various trades over the summer, with Paul being initially acquired in the deal that sent Beal to Phoenix.
In their place is a group of young talent led by Jordan Poole and Kyle Kuzma, who signed a four-year contract in Washington over the summer to serve as a face of the rebuilding effort.
It’s possible—if not even likely—that the Wizards will keep Unseld in place as they transition through a lean 2023-24 before replacing him with their own option. However, Winger spoke highly of the 47-year-old coach this summer after previously interviewing him for the Los Angeles Clippers’. head-coaching vacancy in 2020.
“When we interviewed him, it was very obvious that Wes was a head coach-in-waiting, and it was just a matter of time before he had his opportunity,” Winger said. “He obviously (got) his opportunity here (in Washington in 2021). I was impressed with Wes. Having now shared some time with Wes, I’m blessed that he’s here.
“I think that he has a great basketball mind. I think he’s got a great basketball personality. I think that he’s here to make everybody else’s job a little bit easier, the players particularly, and I’m here to make his job a little bit easier. I think we’re going to have a nice synergy together.”
Unself, the son of Basketball Hall of Famer Wes Unseld, began his coaching career as an assistant with the Wizards in 2005. He subsequently worked with the Golden State Warriors, Orlando Magic and Denver Nuggets before returning to Washington for his first head-coaching position.