Scott Brooks to Wizards: Latest Contract Details, Comments and Reaction

One year away from the sidelines was apparently enough for Scott Brooks, who will take over as head coach of the Washington Wizards. The team announced the move Tuesday. 

According to The Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski, Brooks agreed to a deal with the Wizards last Thursday that will be worth $35 million over five years. USA Today's Jeff Zillgitt confirmed the news.  

Brooks spoke about the decision in the team's announcement:

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"I am beyond thrilled to return to coaching with a team that is filled with such potential and to be able to join an organization that is committed to helping us reach our goals. I'm very grateful to Ted Leonsis and Ernie Grunfeld for this opportunity and I can promise the great fans of Washington that we will work extremely hard both on and off the court to represent them in a manner fitting the most powerful city in the world."

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The Oklahoma City Thunder unceremoniously fired Brooks last year after seven seasons. He missed the playoffs despite a 45-37 record during the 2014-15 season, in which the Thunder played 55 games without Kevin Durant and a combined 33 games without Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka. 

Even though the Thunder fired Brooks in late April, Wojnarowski reported the former NBA Coach of the Year passed on interviews with the Denver Nuggets and New Orleans Pelicans and opted to sit out last year. 

It became apparent this April that Brooks was going to have his choice of jobs before the 2016-17 season. ESPN.com's Marc Stein reported the Wizards were looking at him to take over as their head coach. 

Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders noted Brooks had "interest" in coaching the Los Angeles Lakers if they decided to move on from Byron Scott. 

Ultimately, the Wizards were able to get in on Brooks early enough and present a compelling argument for their future.

Even though the Wizards disappointed with a 41-41 record in 2015-16, they made back-to-back playoff appearances and won one series each of the previous two years. They still have John Wall, Bradley Beal and Marcin Gortat under contract. 

Ben Golliver of Sports Illustrated noted how Brooks' previous relationship with Westbrook will play a role in his ability to coach Wall:

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[Brooks] understands how to let a very dynamic athlete go free a little bit. And that's really what [Wall] needs, in my opinion. He's such an amazing player—we're talking about a top-five point guard. Maybe you're gonna coach him around the margins a little bit, try to reduce the turnovers. ... But really you have to let him do what he does, and that's exactly what happened in Oklahoma City with Westbrook.

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Brooks has proved himself as a coach who can take over a team in transition and find sustained success. This time he won't have Durant and Westbrook to help, but Wall and Beal are a strong duo who can lead an Eastern Conference contender.  

Brooks did not get the credit he deserved in Oklahoma City, at least based on how his tenure with the team ended. He was a terrific coach who led the Thunder to an appearance in the NBA Finals and kept them competitive last year when things seemed bleak. 

The 50-year-old Brooks is a smart talent evaluator who has been able to develop young players. Combine that with his sustained success from his previous gig, and Brooks and Washington should have a marriage that yields great results soon.