NBA Rumors: The Washington Wizards and Sacramento Kings are expected to fire Randy Wittman and George Karl, respectively, later this week
In the NFL, it’s called Black Monday. The day when most teams, who are coming off disappointing seasons, fire their respective head coaches. In the NBA, that day is Thursday. The day after the end of the regular season.
Two teams that will be active on the NBA’s version of Black Monday will be the Washington Wizards and Sacramento Kings, to teams that didn’t have successful season by any stretch of the imagination.
Per Brian Windhorst, which he said ESPN Radio, the Wizards are expected to fire Wittman the day after the team’s final game of the regular season. Wittman had a 176-199 record over five seasons with the Wizards.
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"[Transcribed by CBS Sports]“I mean, look, Randy’s probably 99 percent certain he’s going to be fired on Thursday morning,” Windhorst said. “There were people who legitimately made the case that the Wizards would have finished with the No. 2 record in the East this year and that they had all of the weapons required to go to the Eastern finals and make a run. Granted, they had so many injuries — for a while, I think three-quarters of the way through the season they had the most games missed — but their complete collapse defensively and their inability to execute despite really having a lot of weapons at their disposal was just embarrassing. A lost season, not only because of the [Kevin] Durant thing.”"
Coming into this season, the Wizards had a huge opportunity. They could take that next step in the Eastern Conference and perhaps make themselves look like a logical and smart destination for Kevin Durant this summer. Instead, they completely fell flat on their faces – and, in the process, all but eliminated themselves for the KD sweepstakes.
Now, it’s time for a change. And firing Wittman may be the first of many changes to come this summer for Washington.
George Karl
As for the Sacramento Kings, this move was a long time coming. Stemming from last summer, there were always rumors – thus, the possibility – that the Kings would fire George Karl at any moment during this season. Many thought it would be at the NBA All-Star break.
However, it never happened. Until now.
Per Jason Jones of The Sacramento Bee, Karl is expected to be fired Thursday.
"[via Sacramento Bee]The issues between Karl and the players nearly led to the coach’s firing in February, and this time, financial reasons or a chat with general manager Vlade Divac won’t save his job after Wednesday’s game. Multiple league sources have indicated Karl will be fired Thursday."
Jones also suggests that the Kings will try to rebuild their roster – and head coach – around DeMarcus Cousins, who has had a dysfunctional relationship with Karl since Day 1.
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Both the Wizards will benefit from getting a fresh start. Though, each of their team’s biggest problem(s) may not even have been their head coaches.