What are the Advantages & Disadvantages of Wes Unseld Jr. Becoming the Wizards Head Coach? Is Unseld Jr. a Good Hire for Washington?
Hello Everyone! Welcome to Sports Teller! Today, we will be going over the Wes Unseld Jr. to Washington Wizards: Pros and Cons! Before we can detail those pros and cons, we must go over the current situation involving Wes Unseld Jr. as well as his career profile. Without further adieu, let’s begin!
Wes Unseld Jr. to Washington Wizards: Pros and Cons
What is the Current Coaching Situation Involving Wes Unseld Jr. and the Wizards?
Just several days after the 2021 NBA Finals began, the Washington Wizards made a decision on a new head coach. Wes Unseld Jr., Denver Nuggets Assistant Coach, will become the next head coach for the Wizards. He will replace Scott Brooks, who was fired after several seasons. Based on his success in professional basketball, Unseld Jr.’s coaching future in the Nation’s Capital looks bright! For the NBA career profile regarding Wes Unseld Jr., please refer to the information below!
Wes Unseld Jr.’s NBA Coaching Career Profile
- Wizards Assistant Coach (2005-2011)
- Warriors Assistant Coach (2011-2012)
- Magic Assistant Coach (2012-2015)
- Nuggets Assistant Coach (2015-2020)
- Nuggets Associate Head Coach (2020-2021)
- 7 Playoff Appearances with Wizards and Nuggets
- Led Nuggets to 2020 Western Conference Finals
Wes Unseld Jr. to Washington Wizards: Pros and Cons
Pros and Advantages of Wes Unseld Jr. as Wizards Head Coach
- The new coach has prior coaching experience with the Wizards as he was an assistant from 2005 until 2011. In fact, he guided the Wizards to four playoff appearances during the 2000’s.
- Wes Unseld Jr., as an assistant coach, has seen recent success on the sidelines. He led the Nuggets to the 2020 Western Conference Finals (lost to eventual NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers).
- The Washington Wizards will have the #15 overall pick in the upcoming 2021 NBA Draft later in July. With that in mind, the new head coach will get to collaborate with one of the best college basketball stars from the past season.
- Unseld Jr. will be collaborating with the Wizards’ great players like Russell Westbrook, Bradley Beal, and Davis Bertans. Westbrook won the NBA MVP during the 2016-2017 campaign, while Beal is a three-time All-Star.
- Since the Washington Wizards were knocked out of the first round by the Philadelphia 76ers, the new coach has a chance to improve the team’s record as well as playoff chances for 2021-2022 and possibly beyond.
Cons and Disadvantages of Wes Unseld Jr. as Wizards Head Coach
- Unseld Jr., despite his success as an assistant coach, has no prior head coaching experience. In addition, the Wizards passed on some of the coaching candidates with head coaching experience like Mike D’Antoni and Kenny Atkinson.
- The Wizards might lose both Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal to free agency next summer. If Washington doesn’t have a successful season in 2021-2022, then both of those players would have. Westbrook scored 22.2 points per game as well as 11.5 rebounds per game and 11.7 assists per game during the 2020-2021 campaign. Meanwhile, Beal scored 31.3 points per game along with 4.7 rebounds per game and 4.4 assists per game during the 2020-2021 season.
- Washington will be playing in the tough Southeast Division along with the Miami Heat and Atlanta Hawks. In fact, the Wizards will be competing in the intense Eastern Conference along with the Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee Bucks, Brooklyn Nets, Boston Celtics, and New York Knicks. Based on the intense conference and divisional competition, it might be difficult for the new coach to guide the Wizards to a playoff appearance.
- Unseld Jr. will be coaching a team that doesn’t have much postseason success. The Wizards have not won a playoff series since the 2017 East Quarterfinals vs. Hawks.
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