There is one big decision left for the Washington Wizards for next season, and that is who will be the head coach.
It is clear from the moves the Washington Wizards made this season that the team is ready to compete next season. They added some big-name talent in Trae Young and Anthony Davis at the trade deadline, and they are excited for this team's future.
The development of some players has also been great, especially Will Riley. With just a player or two away from being top in the Eastern Conference, there is one big decision that has to be made. Who coaches this team going forward? Brian Keefe is currently the head coach,, or is someone else out there that can lead this team to the promised land? Here is a tier list of all the coaches the Wizards could have at the helm next season.Mar 15, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone following a timeout in the fourth quarter against the Washington Wizards at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images Michael Malone is a proven championship coach, with a ring in 2023 with the Denver Nuggets. He is experienced and knows what it takes to win it all and make a run in the playoffs. Right now, he is not coaching as the Nuggets let him go last season after a disappointing season. If Malone is available, the Wizards need to do everything they can to hire him. The problem, though, is whether Malone will be willing to take a chance on the Wizards. It is a big ask for him to come in and lead this team on a playoff run. It is also a risk for him: if he comes in with a revamped Wizards team with playoff aspirations and misses the playoffs, it could be a career killer. Still, Malone is the top coach on the market right now and would be a good decision to bring him in.Mar 10, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Washington Wizards head coach Brian Keefe reacts against the Miami Heat during the second half at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Rhona Wise-Imagn Images | Rhona Wise-Imagn Images Some fans might be mad about Keefe being in tier two, but he is the second-best option behind Malone at the moment. No other coach out there can come in and show they have more success or experience than Keefe. Plus, Keefe is a great coach in development, and it has clearly worked with Alex Sarr,after Wes Unseld was fired, and no clear guideline for what success looks like during a tank. With what will be the best Wizards team since the John Wall and Bradley Beal era, it is worth giving him a chance to lead this squad.Mar 25, 2026; Portland, Oregon, USA; Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers watches from courtside during the first half in a game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images | Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images All of these options are the bottom of the barrel and last resorts, while still holding out hope. Billy Donovan was a great college coach, winning back-to-back national championships with Florida. In the NBA, though, he has not had that kind of success. He was the head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder during their Kevin Durant-Russell Westbrook era, but never won it all. Doc Rivers does have that championship, yet he is clearly losing a step. Rivers is not the coach he was when he led the Boston Celtics to the title in 2008. It is not the right choice with a coach who is not at the top of his game, despite having some of the best players in the league on his team. Then you have Tom Thibodeau, who was fired by the New York Knicks last season. He is available, as the other two tier-three options are on the hot seat with their respective teams. The problem with Thibodeau is that his style does not match this Wizards team. He rarely goes deep into his bench, but the Wizards could have the deepest and best bench unit in the NBA next year. The team needs a coach who will utilize it, and Thibodeau won't. Make sure you bookmark Washington Wizards on SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!Bryson Akins is a writer for the Wizards on Sports Illustrated. Akins graduated from Emerson College in the spring of 2025, the same school Wizards General Manager Will Dawkins attended. Some of Akins' past work includes covering the Thunder on Last Word on Sports, along with his YouTube channel "Thunder Digest." Bryson's favorite memory watching the Wizards are the hard screens center Marcin Gortat would set.
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