With the Washington Wizards’ season ending following their Game 5 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers Wednesday, the team shifts into offseason mode. There are quite a few difficult decisions for them to consider. That includes what to do with head coach Scott Books.
Brooks’ five-year contract has come to an end. The Wizards face the decision of bringing him back or moving on and finding a new head coach. If it was up to Brooks, he’ll return with a new contract.
“I love it here,” Brooks said per Fred Katz of The Athletic. “There’s no decision in my mind.”
In five seasons, Brooks has guided the Wizards to the postseason three years. Two of those trips ended with a first-round exit. He’s compiled a record of 183-207 with the Wizards. He was 10-14 in the playoffs with Wednesday’s loss to Philadelphia.
His best season was his first in 2016-17. The Wizards led by John Wall and Bradley Beal won 49 games and came one win away from the Eastern Conference Finals.
However, the four seasons that followed has been marred by injuries and underachieving teams. That included this season when expectations shifted after the team acquired Russell Westbrook in a trade with the Houston Rockets for Wall and a protected first-round draft pick.
Brooks seemed to be on the proverbial hot seat entering the season. That seat got hotter when the Wizards started 17-32. But the team turned things around. They stormed to a 17-6 record in their final 23 games to earn a spot in the play-in tournament and ultimately made the playoffs.
Could their strong finish, overcoming injuries and a COVID-19 outbreak be enough to entice GM Tommy Sheppard and owner Ted Leonsis to bring Brooks back? There is the relationship he has with Westbrook going back to the days Brooks coached him in Oklahoma City.
Asked about when his contract future will be settled, Brooks replied “It’s for a later time.” Given the landscape of available coaching candidates, it shouldn’t be long to learn what direction the team is headed.
