There will be big coaching changes coming to the NBA in 2021.
A handful of teams are greatly underperforming and as a result, some heads may roll by the end of the season.
Three head coaches will likely be looking for a new job by the end of the year for a plethora of reasons.
The first coach has a team greatly underperforming when compared to the talent of their roster.
Another being a team that is ready to take the next step towards contention and they can not get there with their current coach.
The final is a team that is ready to begin a rebuilding process and needs to go in a new direction.
Scott Brooks
The first NBA coach that will likely be fired before the end of the season is Scott Brooks.
Brooks has been the head coach of the Washington Wizards since 2016.
However, this very well might be his final season holding that job.
The Wizards made a big move during the offseason that landed them Russell Westbrook.
With a dynamic duo of Westbrook and Bradley Beal, the Wizards were projected to make a playoff push this season.
Despite this, the Wizards are the 13th seed in the Eastern Conference with a record of 15-26.
Before coaching for the Wizards, Brooks coached Russell Westbrook on the Oklahoma City Thunder.
It is clear that throughout his career he has been a players coach and some Wizards may have an issue with him being fired if it does occur.
However, Brooks is running into the same issues that he did during his time with the Thunder.
Not sure if there is anyone who deserves to be fired more than #Wizards coach Scott Brooks. I understand the depth you have isn’t great, but with two All-NBA players who play as hard as the Brad and Russ, you should have more wins. pic.twitter.com/9r4XKE2XwL
— DraftRisers (@DraftRisers) January 15, 2021
Brooks and the Wizards are 2-8 in their last 10 games.
With two aging stars leading their team, it is clear the Wizards need to bring in a coach that can propel the team to win now.
Rick Carlisle
The next NBA coach that may not have a job entering next season is Rick Carlisle.
This may come as a surprise to many, however, depending on the outcome of the 2020-2021 season for the Dallas Mavericks, it could be time for them to move on.
Carlisle has been the head coach of the Mavs for eleven years and won an NBA title with the team in 2011.
While he is a fan favorite of any Mavericks fan and has countless good memories with Carlisle at the helm, it may be time to move into a new era for Dallas.
It is clear that the Mavericks could have the future face of the NBA on their roster.
Everything that the team does should be to cater to Luka Doncic‘s success and future.
Currently, Carlisle is doing enough to get by as the coach of the Mavericks.
However, he is not what the team needs to make that next step.
If the Mavericks are not able to at least make it to the second round of the playoffs this season, it will be time for Carlisle to be on the hot seat.
Expecting anything less with the roster would just be wasting Luka’s future.
Brad Stevens
The final coach that may be fired by the end of the 2021 NBA season is Brad Stevens.
It has been rumored that Stevens may be returning to college coaching at the University of Indiana.
A rumor that he shut down in a recent interview.
When asked if he would consider taking the job Stevens was quoted as saying,
“I am not, That’s nice of them. It really is,” he said of all the adulation. “That’s home. I get it. I appreciate all the nice sentiments. It certainly doesn’t go unnoticed, and it’s certainly very kind”.
Although Stevens is set on not leaving the Celtics, he may not have a choice.
Currently, the Celtics sit at the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference with a record of 21-22.
With him molding young players into stars like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, it is clear that he is a skilled coach in terms of developing players.
However, he may not be capable of taking the next step and being real title contenders.
Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck has made it clear that Stevens will not be leaving the team anytime soon.
Brad Stevens and Danny Ainge will not be fired anytime soon 🗣 pic.twitter.com/TWoIUXasoP
— Guy Boston Sports (@GuyBostonSports) February 26, 2021
It would not be far fetched to believe that Grousbeck could change his tone and show Stevens the door if the Celtics miss the playoffs in a very weak Eastern Conference.
