Hours after the Clippers announced they will keep Vinny Del Negro on board as head coach, it looks like the Wizards will elect to do the same with interim coach Randy Wittman, who took over midseason for Flip Saunders. Washington finished with the second-worst record in the NBA in 2011-12, but did finish the season with a 6-game winning streak. Bullets Forever has the details of the report, which first came from ESPN Radio 980 DC’s Scott Jackson: “In a move that has become more and more of an inevitable one as the days have gone on, Randy Wittman will be the Washington Wizards’ head coach next season, general manager Ernie Grunfeld told ESPN 980’s Scott Jackson. Wittman will return after posting an 18-31 record after taking over for Flip Saunders in mid-January. The news isn’t surprising because the Wizards haven’t been involved in any coaching rumors since the season ended. Once Ted Leonsis made the decision to give general manager Ernie Grunfeld a two-year contract extension, it ushered in the path for Wittman to return as well. Grunfeld has repeatedly said that he thought Wittman did a good job with the team last year.”
UPDATE (9:30 p.m.): The Wizards organization has yet to confirm the details, and reports now only say Wittman is “likely” to be retained—and is still technically under contract. Nothing is finalized as of yet.
