On Wednesday, after missing the playoffs for the first time since 2013, the Wizards did what they probably should have done two years ago and parted ways with head coach Randy Wittman. They’ve wasted no time with their search for a replacement, and already have a preferred candidate in mind, according to The Vertical‘s Adrian Wojnarowski:
The fit between Brooks and the Wizards makes sense. He’s tight with Kevin Durant, whom the Wizards still hope to sign this summer, even if it’s a longshot. And even though he took criticism for his simplistic offense during his tenure in Oklahoma City, Brooks is a good coach with a lot of success and a proven track record of developing young players and building a culture that players want to be a part of. Beyond the stars in Oklahoma City, role players like Andre Roberson, Steven Adams and Thabo Sefolosha got better under Brooks, and the same could happen with some of the Wizards’ young prospects, such as Otto Porter and Kelly Oubre.