Washington Wizards

The Washington Wizards and Denver Nuggets assistant coach Wes Unseld Jr. reportedly agreed to a four-year contract to make him their next head coach Saturday.

Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported the two sides worked over the past day to reach a formal agreement.

Unseld emerged as the favorite amid a wide search of potential candidates in recent days. 

Wizards general manager Tommy Sheppard said in a statement:

"Wes is one of the most highly-regarded assistant coaches in the NBA and clearly separated himself from the large and diverse group of candidates we considered.

"His strong record as an in-game tactician along with his attention to detail on both sides of the ball, combined with his reputation for player development and outstanding character during his 20+ years of coaching left no doubt that he was the best choice to guide our team to the next level."

Unseld is the son of late Hall of Famer Wes Unseld Sr., who played for the franchise that would later become the Wizards from 1968 to 1981. He also coached the team from 1988 to 1994.

Unseld Jr. has been an assistant at the NBA level since 2005. He spent the first portion his career as an assistant with the Wizards from 2005 to 2011 before stints with the Golden State Warriors, Orlando Magic and Nuggets over the last decade.

Denver hired Unseld as part of Michael Malone's staff in 2015, and he worked his way up the bench to become an associate head coach this season. The Nuggets have made the playoffs each of the last three seasons, including a run to the Western Conference Finals in 2019-20. 

"I want to thank Tommy and Mr. Leonsis for the opportunity to lead this talented team both on and off the court and to continue moving the franchise in a positive direction," Unseld Jr. said. "Becoming a head coach in the NBA is a goal that I have pursued my entire adult life and to have that dream realized by coming full circle back to Washington is truly special. I look forward to representing the DMV, connecting with our fans and establishing a new standard for Wizards basketball."

Unseld Jr. previously spent time in the Wizards organization as a scout before beginning his coaching career. He will replace Scott Brooks, who coached the Wizards to a 183-207 record in five seasons.

The Wizards have not finished better than 4th in the Eastern Conference since 1978-79.

Denver Nuggets assistant coach Wes Unseld Jr. is reportedly set to become the next head coach of the Washington Wizards.

Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported Friday that the Wizards are finalizing a deal with Unseld.

This comes after ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported on June 16 that Washington and former coach Scott Brooks chose to part ways after they failed to reach an agreement on a contract extension.

His deal expired following the 2020-21 campaign, and the Wizards are now turning in a different direction after his up-and-down tenure.

Brooks finished his five seasons with the Wizards with a 183-207 record, although he made the playoffs three times. Washington advanced to the second round in his first season, but it never made it past the first round in the following four and posted a losing record in Brooks' last three campaigns.

The 2020-21 season was particularly disappointing, as the team finished with a 34-38 record and needed a win over the Indiana Pacers in the play-in tournament just to reach the playoffs even though it had a star-studded backcourt with Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal.

Washington lost in the first round in five games to the Philadelphia 76ers.

That is the backdrop for Unseld as he takes over at an organization that needs to quickly turn things around if it is going to win with Beal and Westbrook as the two go-to options.

After all, both guards have a player option for the 2022-23 campaign and could eventually sign elsewhere soon into the new coach's tenure. That means winning in the immediate future all while developing potential young building blocks such as Deni Avdija and Daniel Gafford.

It will not be an easy task, but Unseld has extensive experience as an assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors, Orlando Magic and Nuggets.

He is also familiar with the organization given his family ties, as his father, Wes Unseld, was a Hall of Famer, league MVP and five-time All-Star who helped lead Washington to its only championship in franchise history during the 1977-78 season.

Unseld was also a head coach and general manager for Washington, and the Wizards' new coach worked under his father with the team before he became an assistant coach.  

USA Basketball announced Washington Wizards shooting guard Bradley Beal will not play in the Tokyo Olympics after he entered COVID-19 health and safety protocols, per Shams Charania of Stadium and The Athletic.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski first reported Beal could be replaced on the team.

Beal, a three-time All-Star, put together a strong performance against the 2004 Olympic gold medalists, tallying 17 points, six rebounds, three assists and a steal in 30 minutes, and he was likely ticketed for a substantial role in Tokyo after ranking second in the NBA in scoring (31.3 PPG) this season.

The 28-year-old St. Louis native had called the opportunity to play for the U.S. men's national team a "blessing" during an interview with CBS Sports' Michael Kaskey-Blomain on Monday:

"It's an honor. It's something that you don't take for granted. Not a lot of guys in the league get this opportunity. We all know that. So, you embrace it. You understand that the U.S. wants you to win, and everyone else wants you to lose. We didn't live up to what we wanted to a few years ago [in the 2019 FIBA World Cup], and so now we have an opportunity to get back what's rightfully ours."

Finding a suitable replacement for Beal may be more important than it would have seemed a few weeks ago. Team USA suffered exhibition losses to Nigeria and Australia, which dampened expectations that the Americans would waltz to gold in Tokyo.

The question becomes whether the U.S. will replace Beal with another sharpshooter or perhaps shift focus to a pass-first point guard to take some pressure off Damian Lillard. The roster has a lot of combo guards and wings but could use another facilitator.

Meanwhile, forward Jerami Grant has also entered COVID-19 protocols at training camp in Las Vegas, but he hasn't tested positive for the coronavirus, per Charania and Joe Vardon of The Athletic.

Grant has been effective in a high-energy role off the bench for the American squad, so he could be another significant loss depending on whether he's cleared to travel for the Olympics.

Team USA has two warm-up games remaining, Friday vs. Australia and Sunday vs. Spain, before leaving for Japan.

The three-time defending Olympic champions begin play in Tokyo on July 25 against France.

It appears as if the Washington Wizards' search for a new head coach is nearing an end. 

Per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, Denver Nuggets assistant Wes Unseld Jr. is "emerging as the leader" for Washington. 

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Wednesday that Unseld and Milwaukee Bucks assistant Darvin Ham were considered the front-runners for Washington, with Bucks assistant Charles Lee also in the mix. 

Unseld's ties to the Washington franchise go back long before he got into coaching. His father, Wes Unseld, spent his entire 13-year playing career with the organization from 1968-81. 

After Unseld retired, he worked as an assistant under Kevin Loughery starting in 1987. The Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer took over as head coach midway through the 1987-88 season, remained in the job for seven years before resigning. 

Unseld also spent seven seasons as Washington's general manager from 1996-2003. 

A Maryland native, Wes Unseld Jr. began his coaching career with the Wizards as an assistant in 2005-06 under Eddie Jordan. He remained with the organization through the 2010-11 season when Flip Saunders was head coach. 

After leaving the Wizards, Unseld has spent time on the coaching staff for the Golden State Warriors (2011-12) and Orlando Magic (2012-15) before landing his current job with the Nuggets. 

Washington has been searching for a new head coach since it was announced in June that Scott Brooks wouldn't be returning for a sixth season. The Wizards went 183-207 with three playoff appearances under Brooks.    

The Washington Wizards reportedly have two front-runners for their head-coaching job, with a third candidate also in the mix. 

Per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Denver Nuggets assistant Wes Unseld Jr. and Milwaukee Bucks assistant Darvin Ham are considered the front-runners to be hired by Washington. 

Wojnarowski also noted that Bucks assistant Charles Lee is also a finalist for the job. 

The Wizards have conducted an extensive search to find a new head coach. Their list of candidates interviewed has included Sam Cassell, Chris Fleming, Ronald Nored, Chris Quinn and Willie Green. 

Per Wojnarowski, Green is currently negotiating with the New Orleans Pelicans to take over as their head coach. 

Unseld, Ham and Lee have been among the most popular coaching candidates for the six teams that had openings. Unseld was in the mix for the Orlando Magic before they hired Dallas Mavericks assistant Jamahl Mosley. 

Lee was strongly in contention for the Pelicans before Green emerged as the coach the organization wanted. 

The Wizards are looking for a new head coach for the first time in five years. Scott Brooks parted ways with the organization in June when general manager Tommy Sheppard elected not to renew his contract. 

Unseld began his coaching career as an assistant with the Wizards on Eddie Jordan's staff in 2005. He spent six seasons with the team before moving on to the Golden State Warriors (2011-12), Orlando Magic (2012-15) and Nuggets.

Ham played with the Wizards for one season in 1997-98. The 47-year-old has been a top assistant for Mike Budenholzer since 2013 with the Atlanta Hawks. He joined Budenholzer in Milwaukee starting with the 2018-19 season.

Washington made the playoffs in three of its five seasons with Brooks as head coach. It finished last season 34-38 and made the playoffs as the No. 8 seed after beating the Indiana Pacers in the play-in tournament. It lost to the Philadephia 76ers in the first round.

The Washington Wizards reportedly have narrowed down their list of head-coaching candidates to at least four finalists. 

Per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, NBA assistant coaches Wes Unseld, Jr., Darvin Ham, Jamahl Mosley and Charles Lee will meet with the Wizards front office this week. 

Wojnarowski added that Mosley and Unseld are also considered serious candidates for the Orlando Magic head-coaching vacancy. 

Washington has cast a wide net in its search to find a replacement for Scott Brooks. 

In addition to the list of reported finalists, Sam Cassell, Chris Fleming, Ronald Nored and Chris Quinn also met with the Wizards' front office. 

Ham and Lee have been two of the most sought-after assistants that teams have wanted to interview since the end of the regular season.

Both have been top lieutenants for Mike Budenholzer dating back to their time with the Atlanta Hawks. Ham has worked with Budenholzer since the 2013-14 season. Lee joined the staff the following year. 

Unseld began his coaching career as an assistant with the Wizards under head coach Eddie Jordan in 2005. He remained with the organization for six seasons before going to the Golden State Warriors (2011-12), Orlando Magic (2012-15) and his current job with the Denver Nuggets. 

Mosley has spent the past seven seasons as an assistant with the Dallas Mavericks. When the Mavs began their search for Rick Carlisle's replacement, Mike Fisher of Sports Illustrated reported Luka Doncic "would endorse" Mosley being promoted to head coach. 

Dallas opted to go with Jason Kidd for the job instead. 

The Wizards parted ways with Brooks in June after his five-year contract expired. They finished this season with a 34-38 record and made the playoffs as a No. 8 seed, but were eliminated in the first round by the Philadelphia 76ers.   

Milwaukee Bucks assistant Darvin Ham reportedly met with the Washington Wizards to discuss their vacant head coaching job. 

Per David Aldridge and Fred Katz of The Athletic, Ham has "some support" within the Wizards organization after recently interviewing with the team.

The Wizards parted ways with Scott Brooks in June after the two sides couldn't come to an agreement on a contract extension. His five-year deal originally signed in April 2016 expired at the end of the 2020-21 season. 

Ham has long been a regular interview candidate for teams seeking a head coach, but the 47-year-old has yet to find the right fit. 

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported in April that Texas Tech, Ham's alma mater, received permission from the Bucks to interview him. The Red Raiders wound up hiring longtime assistant Mark Adams. 

Wojnarowski noted last month that Ham was among the candidates being considered by the Boston Celtics. Ime Udoka, an assistant coach with the Brooklyn Nets, wound up getting the job.

Ham has been the top assistant for head coach Mike Budenholzer for the past eight seasons. He joined Budenholzer for the 2013-14 season with the Atlanta Hawks. The eight-year NBA veteran has spent the past three years with the Bucks. 

The Wizards made the playoffs this season as the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference with a 34-38 record. They defeated the Indiana Pacers in the second game of the play-in tournament to make it into the field. 

Washington made the postseason three times in five seasons under Brooks.     

The Washington Wizards have interviewed Chicago Bulls assistant coach Chris Fleming for their head coaching vacancy, according to Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington.

On Tuesday, Fred Katz of The Athletic reported the Wizards also interviewed Philadelphia 76ers assistant Sam Cassell for the position. 

Additionally, B/R's Jake Fischer reported Denver Nuggets associate head coach Wes Unseld has been linked to the Washington vacancy.

Fleming, 51, has spent the past two seasons as an assistant with Chicago. He previously was an assistant for three years with the Brooklyn Nets and a season with the Nuggets.

And he served as the head coach of the Germany national team from 2014-17. After a professional playing career in Germany, he had head coaching gigs with QTSV and the Brose Baskets in the Basketball Bundesliga, winning four league titles.

"I'm still very proud of it. I have the jersey hanging in my office here," he told NBC Sports Chicago in 2019 about his time with Germany. "I grew up basketball-wise in Germany. They gave me the chance to work. I knew the process and what the strengths of the country are. I had a pretty clear vision of what needed to happen."

ESPN's Kevin Arnovitz wrote in 2017 that Fleming was an up-and-coming head coaching prospect in NBA circles and that three front-office executives viewed him as someone "who carved out a unique path overseas. They see a grinder in a cutthroat job that requires superb communications skills and an appreciation for players of vastly different backgrounds, ages and pedigrees."

Arnovitz also wrote that Fleming "has a versatile skill set as an X's and O's maven who isn't afraid to get his hands dirty on the court developing talent."

If the Wizards agree with that assessment, Fleming could become the team's head coach. His task would be straightforward: get Washington back to the playoffs and turn a team built around star Bradley Beal into a contender.

The Washington Wizards interviewed ex-NBA player and current Philadelphia 76ers assistant head coach Sam Cassell for their open head coaching position, per Fred Katz of The Athletic.

ESPN's Brian Windhorst also reported on his podcast Friday that Cassell and Denver Nuggets assistant head coach Wes Unseld Jr. were two of the "leading candidates" for the Wizards' job (h/t Marc Narducci of the Philadelphia Inquirer).

Cassell played in the NBA from 1993-2008, winning two championships with the Houston Rockets and another with the Boston Celtics. He averaged 15.7 points and 6.0 assists over his 15-year career, earning All-Star honors in 2004 as a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

He's officially been an assistant coach since 2009 with the Wizards (2009-2014), Los Angeles Clippers (2014-2020) and Philadelphia 76ers (2020-2021).

The Wizards are looking to replace Scott Brooks after the franchise and coach were unable to come to terms on a contract extension.

Washington went 34-38 during the regular season and earned the eighth and final seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, where the Wizards fell to the 76ers in five first-round games.

Philadelphia 76ers assistant Sam Cassell and Denver Nuggets assistant Wes Unseld Jr. have reportedly emerged as "two of the leading candidates" to fill the Washington Wizards' head coaching vacancy.

ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported the update Friday on The Hoop Collective podcast (via RealGM). Both Cassell and Unseld previously served as assistants on the Wizards' staff.

Cassell is a former All-Star point guard who won three NBA championships during a 15-year playing career that included stops with eight different teams prior to his May 2009 retirement.

The 51-year-old Maryland native started his coaching career the same year when he joined the Wizards under head coach Flip Saunders. After five years in Washington, he spent six years with the Los Angeles Clippers (2014-20) and this past season with the Sixers.

Cassell is still seeking his first opportunity to serve as a head coach despite being interviewed numerous times over the past decade. Saunders, who died in 2015, praised him when he was a candidate for the Houston Rockets' job all the way back in 2011.

"He's been through it. He understands," Saunders said. "Sam never played because he was fast or jumped very high. Sam is a guy who didn't play because of his athleticism. He played because of how smart he was. He knew angles and played to those. He's able to help and transform that to some of the players."

Meanwhile, Unseld started his NBA career in the Wizards' scouting department in 1997 and made the switch to coaching in 2005 by joining the team's staff as an assistant. Since leaving Washington, he's spent time with the Golden State Warriors (2011-12), Orlando Magic (2012-15) and the Nuggets since 2015.

The Johns Hopkins product received strong recommendations from Nuggets head coach Michael Malone and president of basketball operations Tim Connelly in September.

"Wes Unseld [Jr.] should be a head coach," Malone said.

Connelly added: "Unseld is going to be a rock-star head coach when someone smart enough hires him."

Boston Celtics assistant Scott Morrison told RDS' Peter Yannopoulos he's also interviewed with the Wizards, who are seeking to replace Scott Brooks, whose contract ended after the 2020-21 season.

Washington reached the playoffs for the first time in three years but was eliminated in the opening round of the postseason by the 76ers before Brooks' departure.