Washington Wizards offer Denver Nuggets assistant head coach Wes Unseld Jr.

The Washington Wizards are offering the franchise head coach position to Denver Nuggets associate head coach Wes Unseld Jr., with a deal expected to be finalized in the coming days, sources told ESPN.

A formal deal will result in a remarkable homecoming: Unseld’s late father, Wes Unseld, is the most important figure in franchise history: a Basketball Hall of Fame player, coach, and executive with Washington.

Unseld completed two days of talks in Washington on Friday, including with owner Ted Leonsis. Wizards management, including chief executive Tommy Sheppard, and Unseld’s agent Brian Elfus are expected to begin contract negotiations on Saturday that should lead to a long-term deal, sources said.

Unseld will be the seventh African-American coach to hire in eight positions this offseason in the NBA. New Orleans is finalizing a deal with Suns assistant Willie Green, and Portland (Chauncey Billups), Atlanta (Nate McMillan), Orlando (Jamahl Mosley), Boston (Ime Udoka) and Dallas (Jason Kidd) have hired African-American coaches. Four of them – including Unseld, Mosley, Billups and Green – are assistants who get first-time opportunities as head coaches.

Unseld grew up in the Wizards organization, working for 14 years in scout and coaching roles before becoming one of the league’s rising star assistant coaches. He has spent the past six seasons with the Nuggets, where he was instrumental in one of the league’s most impressive builds from a championship contender. Unseld has been the defensive coordinator for the Nuggets, helping the franchise improve dramatically in this area.

Unseld replaces Scott Brooks, who was fired after five seasons as head coach. The Wizards have reached the Eastern Conference playoffs, losing in five games to No. 1 seed Philadelphia. Wizards star Bradley Beal has one more year on contract. Prior to joining the Nuggets, Unseld held assistant coaching positions with Golden State and Orlando. He was also a finalist for the Orlando Magic job that went to Mosley last week.

Wes Unseld Sr. passed away a year ago. He was NBA MVP in 1969 and won the NBA Finals MVP in 1978 after leading Washington to its only NBA Championship.