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The Washington Wizards were in the market for a new head coach following the franchise's decision to move on from Scott Brooks. Wes Unseld Jr. has emerged as the candidate to take over after a rigorous recruiting process.
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Brooks' five-year run with the Wizards came to an end after the 2020-21 NBA season. Washington Wizards general manager Tommy Sheppard stated that the decision was not because it did not work out, but because it was time to move on.
Under Brooks, the Washington Wizards qualified for the playoffs three times in the last five years. However, he recorded only one series win in the 2017 NBA playoffs first round against the Atlanta Hawks.
With Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook on the roster, Unseld has enough firepower in offense to lead the team to a great run in the 2021-22 season. However, there are issues he needs to address.
Unseld Jr. is the 25th head coach in the franchise's history; he is the son of the greatest player in the history of the Washington Wizards - Wes Unseld. Unseld Jr. will be tasked with leading the Washington Wizards to a deep run in the NBA playoffs. The last time the Wizards reached the NBA Finals was in 1979.
While congratulations are in order, Unseld Jr. has his work cut out for him ahead of the 2021-22 NBA season. On that note, here are three reasons why he is the right choice for the Washington Wizards' head coach position.
#1 Wes Unseld Jr. will help improve the Washington Wizards' defense
Wes Unseld Jr. has run the Denver Nuggets' defense since joining them in 2015 and has achieved great success. Undoubtedly, it is one of the reasons why the Washington Wizards decided to hire him.
The Washington Wizards struggled in defense under Brooks. They finished bottom in defensive rating in the 2019-20 season. However, they saw a slight improvement in the 2020-21 season, as they ranked 19th in defensive rating.
Nevertheless, the defense has been a serious problem for the Washington Wizards, which has hampered their success in recent years. Unseld Jr's record as a defensive coordinator set him apart from other candidates, as he is adept in an area the team needs help in.
He achieved solid defense with the Nuggets, despite working with players who are not necessarily defensive maestros. Nevertheless, the Nuggets ranked 12th, 16th and 10th in defensive rating in the last three seasons, respectively.
#2 The Washington Wizards will benefit from his experience
It is fitting that Wes Unseld Jr. will start his head coaching career with the Washington Wizards. After spending years as a scout, he landed his first coaching gig with the Wizards in 2005 as an assistant.
Unseld Jr. spent six years with the Washington Wizards under Wes Unseld, who was the general manager of the franchise at the time. It was the start of the former's successful coaching career as an assistant as he moved from the Golden State Warriors to the Orlando Magic before settling in Denver.
His time with the Denver Nuggets has been productive, and he has shown to a great extent that he is qualified to lead a team in the NBA. Although coaching the Washington Wizards will be his first run as head coach, it is unlikely he will make a hash of the opportunity.
Although he is not expected to miraculously turn things around in his first season, changes are expected to be seen. Unseld Jr. was instrumental in transforming the Nuggets from a 33-win team to championship contenders.
#3 Wes Unseld Jr. will help in player development
The eight years Unseld Jr. spent as a scout has helped him in his coaching career, as he has a good eye for finding and developing talent. Although player development is not his forte, he could do a decent job helping some of the Washington Wizards' youngsters grow.
Jamal Murray, Nikola Jokic and Michael Porter Jr. are some of the notable Nuggets stars that Unseld Jr. has helped groom. Although it is not his primary responsibility, his efforts in helping these players cannot be overlooked.
The Washington Wizards have a few youngsters that could benefit from his experience. Rui Hachimura, Deni Avdija, Daniel Gafford and Thomas Bryant are youngsters that could grow into stars with the right mentorship. So it will be exciting to see how their games transform with Unseld Jr. at the helm.
As things stand, the Washington Wizards have a nice mix of veterans and youngsters. With the right plays and improved defense, the Wizards have a decent chance of bettering their 34-38 run next season.
