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Unseld’s contract runs through the 2024-25 season. But I think the season ahead will be a make-or-break season for Unseld’s Wizards future. Few incumbent NBA head coaches would relish a scenario in which the person who hired them is fired and then replaced by someone from outside the organization. In this case, Tommy Sheppard hired Unseld in 2021 and is now gone. Winger, who most recently worked for the Clippers, and Dawkins, who worked for the Oklahoma City Thunder, have no real ties to Unseld other than inheriting Unseld as the Wizards’ head coach.
"This was an extremely complicated process with so many different hurdles to get through and Ted Leonsis and Michael Winger were unbelievable partners in making this happen," Bartelstein told ESPN. "From the day that Ted drafted Brad he has been by our side along with [former general managers] Ernie Grunfeld and Tommy Sheppard. They've always had Brad's back in every way and now we have experienced the exact same thing with Ted and Michael Winger. We are extremely grateful."
Neil Dalal: Wes Unseld Jr. admitted to me today that it was "a surprise" when Tommy Sheppard was let go. Ted Leonsis had called WUJ to convey his throught process before the news became public April 19.
Bulls 'quietly handed' extension to Arturas Karnisovas recently
Although news out of Washington is awfully interesting. The Wizards fired general manager and president Tommy Sheppard last month. He lasted four seasons, only one more year than Karnišovas has been in charge in Chicago. So by the most current industry standard, Karnišovas’ seat should be hot next season. But by all accounts, Karnišovas has a good working relationship with Bulls COO Michael Reinsdorf, which can and likely will keep Karnišovas through a second contract. One source said the Bulls quietly handed an extension to Karnišovas recently as well.
The other personnel change on the horizon is a new lead executive in Washington after the Wizards dismissed president and general manager Tommy Sheppard. The team is not using a search firm to fill the vacancy, sources told Yahoo Sports, as former Georgetown head coach John Thompson III — who has been a Wizards executive since 2019 — acts as the point man for team owner Ted Leonsis. While there have been plenty of rumored candidates, particularly Timberwolves president Tim Connelly — a native of the DC area whom Leonsis targeted before elevating Sheppard in 2019 — the Wizards have yet to begin the process of requesting permission to interview executives from other teams, sources said.
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Josh Robbins: Wizards have announced they have fired Tommy Sheppard. Statement from Ted Leonsis: "Tommy Sheppard was relieved from his duties as GM and Pres. of the Washington Wizards. Failure to make the playoffs the last two seasons was very disappointing to our organization and our fans."
Jeff Zilgitt: With Tommy Sheppard out as Wizards head of basketball ops, expect a a handful of names to pop up for the job including Trajan Langdon and Tim Connelly who has family ties to the area.
Tommy Sheppard fired as Wizards GM
Adrian Wojnarowski: Washington has dismissed GM Tommy Sheppard, source tells ESPN.
Chase Hughes: Wizards president Tommy Sheppard ends his postseason press conference with a message of support for @JeffZillgitt .
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Chase Hughes: Tommy Sheppard said he believes Bradley Beal "is getting into the prime of his career," adding that health is the key. Beal just had one of his most efficient seasons, but played only 50 of 82 games.
Wes Unseld Jr. will remain as Wizards' head coach
Eliminated from the playoffs for the fourth time in five seasons, the Washington Wizards could undergo significant changes in the offseason ahead. Head coach will not be one of them. Wes Unseld Jr. will remain the Wizards’ coach for the 2023-24 season, The Athletic has learned. “He is our coach moving forward,” Wizards president and general manager Tommy Sheppard said Tuesday.
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