That scream of “Hallelujah” you heard yesterday was from our nation’s capital, where Wizards fans finally got what they wanted — Ernie Grunfeld was fired as team president/GM after 16 seasons.
The search for the next GM is on, but whoever lands in that spot has some fast and massive decisions to make. For example, do they re-sign and max out Bradley Beal, or trade him and start a rebuild (around the anchor of a contract that John Wall has)?
One decision the new GM doesn’t have to make: Scott Brooks as coach. At least not in the short term. Brooks will be back next season, according to David Aldridge writing for The Athletic.
Brooks is three seasons into a five-season contract with the Wizards, it’s likely owner Ted Leonsis doesn’t want to eat two years of that deal. However, if the new GM wants his own guy in the big chair, next summer seems like when it would happen (Leonsis would only be paying two coaches for one season).
Brooks is 124-118 as the Wizards coach, his teams made the playoffs the past two seasons but will fall well short this time around.
Having a little bit of stability in the form of Brooks around a team about to see major upheaval seems like a smart move. At least in the short term.