The NBA season comes to a close on Wednesday, and like the NFL, the day after the end of the season is the day where most, if not all, of the coaching changes are going to occur. There are teams that have coaches looking to have the interim tag removed, and there are coaches that have fallen way below expectations, hoping not to hear that phone ring. Let’s take a look at the NBA coaches likely to be fired Thursday after the conclusion of the season.
NBA Coaches Likely To Be Fired Thursday
Tony Brown – Brooklyn Nets
Brown took over for the fired Lionel Hollins early in the season, and all reports show that the Nets are likely going to go in a different direction next season. Since he’s taken over as the head coach, the Nets have an 11-34 record and have ranked in the bottom 5 in both offensive and defensive efficiency.
George Karl – Sacramento Kings
This is probably the most obvious move of them all. The Kings have been a dysfunctional organization for the better part of the last decade, and George Karl is just the latest. He hasn’t been able to get along with upper management, as well as their best player DeMarcus Cousins. Karl will have been the 8th coach to be let go since Rick Adelman in 2006.
Sam Mitchell – Minnesota Timberwolves
The Timberwolves have been widely regarded to as the best young team in the league, with talents such as Andrew Wiggins and likely rookie of the year Karl-Anthony Towns. I’m not sure that Minnesota management believes that Mitchell is the best guy for their development. He was named the interim coach after the unfortunate passing of Flip Saunders, and I believe the Wolves will go in a different direction to try and get the best out of their young players.
Byron Scott – Los Angeles Lakers
Wednesday is Kobe Bryant’s last game in a Laker uniform, and similarly it should be the last on the sidelines for Byron Scott. It’s been well documented this season that he hasn’t been able to relate to the younger players, and the hiring of Scott in the first place screamed of management trying to reach back in Laker past to keep Kobe happy. Now that they won’t have to do that anymore, they’ll likely go for another coach to develop their promising talents D’Angelo Russell, Julius Randle, and Jordan Clarkson.
Randy Wittman – Washington Wizards
After sweeping the Toronto Raptors in last years playoffs, and almost getting past the Atlanta Hawks for a spot in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Wizards were expected to take an even bigger leap this season. But instead, they’ve taken a huge step back trying to play a Warriors-style offense, and now they won’t even be a playoff team. There have been reports out already the last few days that Wittman would likely be fired, and I believe that will be the case.
