Brian Keefe promoted to permanent head coach of Washington Wizards

Brian Keefe, who guided the squad on an interim basis from late January until the end of the season, was appointed coach of the Washington Wizards on Wednesday. On January 25, Keefe who had been the Wizards' assistant coach for the previous season was elevated to the position of interim head coach, taking Wes Unseld Jr.'s place. At the time of the switch, Washington was 7–36; they finished 8–31 overall.

According to the Associated Press, “We are excited for Brian to become our next head coach. Brian is a proven motivator and connector of people,” Wizards general manager Will Dawkins said in a statement. “As a leader in the organization, he will continue to grow and invest in the development of our players. His wealth of experience will help move our team forward as we build for long-term sustained success.”

Keefe was an assistant with the Oklahoma City Thunder when they reached the NBA Finals in 2012. Keefe joined the Wizards after spending a few seasons with Brooklyn. Last offseason, the Wizards moved Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porzingis, breaking up their underperforming core. The outcome was predictable: Washington concluded with a club record 67 defeats.

Washington Wizards haven't reached semi-finals since 1979

Washington Wizards hold the second choice in the June 26-27 draft, but it's uncertain whether there is a generational player available to help Washington's reconstruction. So, Keefe's return isn't very noteworthy in the NBA at least not compared to when the Lakers and Cavaliers ultimately fill their coaching vacancies.

Washington has not moved beyond the second round of the playoffs since 1979. Last season, Kyle Kuzma led the Wizards with 22.2 points per game, while Jordan Poole may offer sporadic scoring spurts. Washington selected Bilal Coulibaly with the seventh pick in last year's draft. Keefe will now have the opportunity to prepare for a full season in charge rather than being rushed into a head coaching post at the midway mark.