According to the insider of The Athletic Josh Robbins, Wizards expected to start interviewing coaches starting next week. The big favorite to get the head coach position? Position coach Brian Keefe. A decision that will be important for the Wizards, who are counting heavily on the upcoming Draft to strengthen their talent.
Brian Keefe, leaving to return to Washington?
After the formal thank you of Wes Unseld Jr. after 43 games last season (for only 7 victories), the position of coach of the Wizards was given to interim Brian Keefe (nothing to do with Adam Keefe, the illustrious understudy by Karl Malone in Jazz of the Great Years). As a reminder, it was Brian Keefe’s first real coaching experienceafter stints as an assistant for 14 years with the Wizards, Thunder, Knicks, Lakers and Nets.
The Washington Wizards are promoting top assistant Brian Keefe to interim head coach for the rest of the season, sources tell ESPN. He will replace Wes Unseld Jr., who will move into a front office role. Wizards will do a full offseason search for a new head coach. pic.twitter.com/do1A6h64mK
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 25, 2024
After his first season where he did not stay in the kitchen, his friend Brian finished the exercise with 8 victories for 31 defeats. Well imagine that given the head of the squad available, it’s not so bad. The coach proved that he was capable of achieving certain victories in comebacks that seemed out of reach. But above all, Coach Keefe was able to regain control of the locker room unlike his predecessor, and was able to create real links with young players like the Frenchman Bilal Coulibaly. And that is important in a franchise which bases its reconstruction in particular on the development of young people.
“I can only speak about what BK has brought since he’s been here, and I think he’s been very good for our young team: the attention to detail he brings, the structure he brings… He loves the game, and that’s something very important, especially at the highest level. He has the will, the sincerity and the authenticity to put his players in a position to succeed, to play to their strengths and to unleash them because he cares about them as individuals. He did a very good job” – Jordan Poole
If Brian Keefe is announced as the favorite to remain coach of the Wizards according to The Athletic, other candidates could nevertheless succeed in obtaining the dream job of coaching the Wizards. Sean Sweeney (Mavericks assistant), Chris Quinn (Heat assistant) and even Royal Ivey (Rockets assistant) are apparently all in the running for the position.
The 2024 Draft: first step in the Wizards’ rebuild plan
As a reminder, the Wizards are in the middle of a rebuild, and are necessarily counting on the upcoming Draft to strengthen themselves, although it is announced to be poor in talent. The coming week, which will involve the Lottery and the Draft Combine, will therefore be of particular importance for Washington.
The Wizards’ chances in the NBA Lottery:
- 14% chance of winning the first pick
- 13.4% chance of receiving second choice
- 12.7% chance of getting third pick
- 12% chance of getting the fourth pick.
- 27.8% chance of getting the fifth pick
- 20% chance of receiving the sixth pick
“The Wizards and I are advocates of picking as high as possible. As we showed last year, we don’t necessarily rely on Mock Drafts. We find the right person first, and if they fit everything we do long term, we will do our best to recruit them.” – Will Dawkins, Wizards GM, on Draft strategy.
If a Frenchman can again be selected as first choice (Alexandre Sarr, Zaccharie Risacher) this year, there is obviously no Victor Wembanyama in the 2024 NBA Draft, who is considered generally weak. But that’s not what will discourage the Wizards.
“Based on the information our scouts have gathered and based on the amount of film and scouting we’ve done, I think there’s some talent at the top of this draft. There is talent in all drafts, and I think this one also has a little international side. So there’s definitely more depth and potential than people think.” –Will Dawkins
Bilal Coulibaly will represent the Wizards on the 2024 Draft broadcast stage. As a reminder, Washington finished eighth in last year’s Lottery and made a trade with the Indiana Pacers on Draft night to move up a spot and select Bilal.
.@Bilaal_6 will be our #NBADraftLottery on-stage rep on Sunday in Chicago. 🤝
pres. by @RobinhoodApp pic.twitter.com/Uv3qIWuZWD
— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) May 9, 2024
A start of continuity among the Wizards? Having left to rehire interim Keefe as coach, counting on the Draft to rebuild, the Wizards have their plan in mind to start becoming competitive again in the Eastern Conference. And that’s already not bad.
Source texte : The Athletic
2024-05-11 14:50:00
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