Report: Wizards Make Decision On Coach's Future After Disappointing Season

The Washington Wizards' season certainly didn't go as planned. With three star-level players, they were expected to be a playoff team, but instead will finish anywhere from 11th to 13th in the Eastern Conference, about 10 games under .500. 

So what to do about head coach Wes Unseld Jr.? 

According to Josh Robbins of The Athletic, the Wizards have decided to retain Unseld for the 2023-24 season, despite the team missing the playoffs in both of his seasons at the helm.

“He is our coach moving forward,” said Wizards president and general manager Tommy Sheppard. He added that injuries have undermined Unseld's ability to get everything out of the team. Indeed, Bradley Beal, with one of the most expensive (bloated?) contracts in the NBA, played just 50 games this season, and missed half of the previous campaign. 

In fact, their trio of star players — Beal, Kyle Kuzma and Kristaps Porziņģis — played in only 35 games together this season (though the team had only a 16-19 record in those contests).

And while Kuzma blossomed under Unseld and had a breakthrough season, he becomes a free agent this summer, and there's no guarantee he'll return. 

Unseld’s contract with Washington runs through the 2024-25 season. And while significant changes may be coming to the team this summer, for now, the coach won't be one of them.

Photo: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports