Milwaukee Bucks Rumors: Darvin Ham a frontrunner for Wizards job?
The Milwaukee Bucks are in the midst of a battle in this year’s NBA Finals, but some things will assuredly change no matter how this season ends.
Faces and names will change not just in the Bucks’ locker room, but with a number of assistant coaches up for head coaching jobs around the league as of late, Mike Budenholzer’s staff could be without key figures as well.
More from Bucks Rumors
- Bucks’ Thanasis Antetokounmpo reveals he nearly joined a different team
- NBA Rumors: Bucks eyeing young combo guard with one roster spot left
- NBA Rumors: Bucks attended a workout for former first round draft pick
- NBA Free Agency Rumors: Milwaukee Bucks targeting sharpshooting wing
- Important Milwaukee Bucks’ rumors on day 2 of 2023 NBA Free Agency
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, lead Bucks assistant coach Darvin Ham is considered to be a frontrunner for the Washington Wizards’ head coaching vacancy. Woj also noted that fellow Bucks assistant coach Charles Lee has risen as a finalist in the process.
Of course, this isn’t Ham nor Lee’s first dance when it comes to being considered a finalist or a frontrunner for vacancy this offseason.
Both Ham and Lee were reportedly up for the Celtics’ vacancy before that ultimately went to Ime Udoka and the same were being considered by the Orlando Magic before they recently settled on Jamahl Mosley. Lee was also considered a finalist in the New Orleans Pelicans’ head coach search before they reportedly settled on Suns assistant Willie Green.
Will Darvin Ham soon depart the Milwaukee Bucks for a coaching job elsewhere?
While Lee is being considered for the role as well, there’s been some buzz between Ham and the Wizards recently. The Athletic’s Fred Katz, the beat writer for the Wizards, made note that there is support within the building for Ham to get the job after having interviewed with the organization earlier this month and had played the Wizards for a season over his eight-year NBA career.
The Wizards recently interviewed Bucks assistant Darvin Ham for their head coach opening, sources tell @davidaldridgedc and myself, and there’s some support for him in the building. Ham, 47, played the 1997-98 season with the Wizards.
— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) July 3, 2021
With his playing experience, tactical acumen and overwhelming success he has enjoyed right alongside Budenholzer both in Atlanta and now in Milwaukee, it’s hardly a surprise why the Wizards are looking towards Ham’s direction as well as Lee for that matter.
Of course, it’s also important to note that Wes Unseld Jr., the other reported frontrunner in the Wizards’ search, holds a certain weight within the Wizards organization. The son of late Hall of Fame center Wes Unseld Sr., Unseld Jr. got his first assistant job with the Wizards back in 2005 where he stayed for the ensuing six seasons and had cut his teeth working under his father when he served as the team’s general manager.
Considering his presence serving as the lead assistant for the Denver Nuggets under Michael Malone, Unseld Jr. is certainly a qualified assistant in his own right.
Next. As Jrue Holiday goes, so do the Milwaukee Bucks in NBA Finals. dark
We’ll just have to see whether Ham or Lee will be making their step up into the head coaching ranks. For now, both have business to attend to going into Game 4 of the NBA Finals Wednesday night.