The Oklahoma City Thunder fired coach Scott Brooks on Wednesday, less than a week after failing to make the 2015 NBA playoffs. With Kevin Durant's free agency only one summer away, firing Brooks was the smartest thing Oklahoma City could do.
It's true. The Thunder finished with winning records every year under Brooks since the 2009-10 season, his first full season as the team's head coach. It's also true the Thunder made five straight playoff appearances under Brooks until this season. Even with this season's myriad injuries, including one that sidelined Durant for most of the season, Brooks brought his team to within one game - New Orleans needed to lose its regular-season finale - of reaching the postseason in the ultra-completive Western Conference. Brooks is a former Coach of the Year, and his players love him.
But none of that matters.
Firing Brooks was the smart thing to do because it was the only thing Oklahoma City could do. Thunder general manager Sam Presti didn't fire Brooks because of the injury-plagued team narrowly missing the playoffs. Presti fired him because the Thunder haven't been to the NBA finals since 2012 and Durant is entering the final year of his contract.
The numbers - 316-160 as a head coach - and the accolades don't matter. Durant wants to play for a legitimate title-contending team, and Presti's job certainly hinges on whether he can convince Durant Oklahoma City is that team. Firing Brooks was the act of a desperate man, one whose back is against the wall and is seemingly doubting whether re-signing Durant is such a sure thing.
Call this season a mulligan because of all the injuries. The issue is the Thunder's inability to get out of the Western Conference, and with only one season left to prove to Durant he can win a title in OKC, Presti made a drastic move to shake things up. If the Thunder lose Durant in the offseason, Presti doesn't want the narrative to become, "Oh, well he clearly should have fired Scott Brooks," a coach who reportedly was on the hot seat last summer.
Had Durant been under contract for two more seasons, Brooks would likely still have a job. But the very real possibility of losing Durant in 2016 to a team such as the Washington Wizards forced Presti to take a major risk and cute loose Brooks. It's likely one of several "last-ditch" moves to come this summer, but the fact it even happened speaks volumes about the organization's confidence in its ability to re-sign Durant.
The move was a gamble, but a necessary one nonetheless. Best case scenario, the firing gives Oklahoma City the jolt it needs to get over its playoff hump. Worst case scenario, the new coach struggles in his first year and the players, who've just lost a coach they supported, mentally check out as the team plummets to the bottom of the conference.
It's also yet to be seen how the loss of Brooks will affect Durant. Durant won't comment publicly about how he truly feels about the organization's decision, but it's not a secret he has always backed Brooks. Will bringing in a new coach help or hurt the chances of Durant re-signing after the season?
As for replacements, Yahoo Sports and Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv both reported earlier in the week that Connecticut coach Kevin Ollie is a top candidate for the job. Zagoria also reported Ollie, who played with Durant during the 2009-10 season, may actually be a key to convincing Durant to re-sign.
Time will tell.
