The number of NBA head coach openings appears to have dwindled to two following news the Orlando Magic is closing in on Dallas Mavericks assistant Jamahl Mosley. That leaves the Washington Wizards and New Orleans Pelicans as the only two teams in the league without a head coach.
With the pool of choices shrinking, it appears the Washington Wizards are zeroing in on one particular candidate. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Denver Nuggets assistant Wes Unseld Jr. continues to be a “leading candidate” to become the Wizards next head coach.
Unseld, of course, is the son of Washington Bullets legend and Basketball Hall of Famer Wes Unseld. Father Unseld played for the Bullets (later became the Wizards) from 1968-1981, winning an NBA championship and Finals MVP in 1978. He transitioned into coaching, first as an assistant and then as head coach from 1988-1994. Two years later he became the team’s GM.
Just like his dad, the younger Wes Unseld got his coaching start with the Wizards franchise as an assistant from 2005-2011. Now more than a decade after leaving the organization, Unseld Jr. may be on his way to following in his dad’s footsteps as the Wizards head coach.
The Wizards have moved into the second round of interviews this week. Unseld Jr., Mosley and Milwaukee Bucks assistants Darvin Ham and Charles Lee have been identified as finalists among several candidates made of NBA assistants.
Mosley appears to be moving on to the Magic instead, a job that Unseld Jr. had also emerged as a finalist.
Unseld Jr. has had stops with the Golden State Warriors and Magic as an assistant before joining Mike Malone in Denver in 2015 where he has been ever since.
Washington has interviewed a number of assistants from around the league during their process to replace recently departed Scott Brooks. While Unseld Jr., has been a name linked to the job since the beginning of the search, it’s apparent the Wizards have had to wait their turn to grab a head coach. That’s despite having third-team All-NBA guard Bradley Beal and 2017 NBA MVP Russell Westbrook as their two dynamic players.
Head coach openings in Indiana, Dallas, Boston, Portland and apparently Orlando have all been filled. Washington’s search has been focused on assistants looking to be a first-time head coach. With Unseld Jr. reportedly leading the pack with the second round of interviews, maybe the Wizards’ opening will be filling soon.
