Official Countdown Grunfeld Era-2nd SuperStar?

[P'Oed]

I'm hoping the ONLY reason this trade was made was to officially remove the "Grunfeld Stamp" from this team. All of the talent you acquired was traded for virtually nothing. What a jackass. Please just get rid of this guy.

[AceDegenerate]

[Wizards2Lottery]

You have got to be **** kidding me Grunfeld.

[closg00]

Just got back from taking the kids to the movies. Say it ain't so, it's a straight Gilbert for Lewis swap? We had one of the worst contracts in the NBA and we traded it for one that is worse????? Anything else tied to this a 2nd round pick or something?

[AceDegenerate]

Just got back from taking the kids to the movies. Say it ain't so, it's a straight Gilbert for Lewis swap? We had one of the worst contracts in the NBA and we traded it for one that is worse????? Anything else tied to this a 2nd round pick or something?

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=A ... alks121810

The Magic also are nearing completion on a deal to send forward Rashard Lewis(notes) to the Wizards for Arenas, sources said. No other players or picks will be in that trade.

[WizarDynasty]

squezing orton, clark, and lewis would be optimal in this deal. I would probably give the ok. only big that i would give up is armstrong and yi.

well since he didn't get clark and lewis for arenas...he should be canned.

[doclinkin]

I'm late to the party but you can sign me up for this here O-fficial countdown. This is dogshxt. I defended Grunfeld for years but he's clearly checked out on DC and doesn't care any more. Just going thru the motions. Gawdawful trade.

[closg00]

I'm late to the party but you can sign me up for this here O-fficial countdown. This is dogshxt. I defended Grunfeld for years but he's clearly checked out on DC and doesn't care any more. Just going thru the motions. Gawdawful trade.

I'm sure that Ted will re-evaluate everything during the off-season. If we end-up playing before a few thousand people a night with the team completely lost, Flip & Ernie could both be gone.

[fishercob]

Ernie with a parting shot to Gilbert in the press release:

“When we re-signed Gilbert prior to the 2008-09 season, we envisioned a level of team success that we unfortunately were not able to achieve due to injuries and other factors beyond our control,” said Grunfeld. “We appreciate the contributions that he made to this franchise and this city and wish him the best of luck.”

No class. No responsibility for past failures.

F U C K YOU ERNIE!!!!

[mhd]

Also, Ernie on Lewis: "This was a way to possibly free up cap room for us down the road and also get some front-court help," Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld said in a telephone interview. "Rashard can shoot, rebound, play some defense and it never hurts when you have a player like John Wall to have another perimeter shooter".


EG is a fraud. I'd rather have Wes back as GM. At least Wes was oldschool and wouldn't tell open lies. Don't tell me that Lewis can rebound and defend. We've HAD HIM IN THE DIVISION FOR FIVE YEARS! WE KNOW HIS GAME!!!

[mhd]

Seriously, fire Ernie and hire Kevin Prtichard. If you want to rebuild, at least Pritchard will try and draft players and be aggressive. He won't be a total fraud by claiming Lewis is a rebounder and defender.

[LyricalRico]

*Yawn*

Folks said the same stuff after the Dallas trade last season, only to later realize that it was for the best. Well, this was just an extension of the purge initiated at least year's deadline. A lot of folks have come around on Ernie's post-Ted moves and once they get over their personal feelings for Gil they'll come around on this too. Even if folks get their wish and Ernie doesn't oversee the entire rebuild, years from now it'll be clear that this move benefited the team by better positioning them for the long-term. I have no doubts about that.

[AceDegenerate]

*Yawn*

Folks said the same stuff after the Dallas trade last season, only to later realize that it was for the best. Well, this was just an extension of the purge initiated at least year's deadline. A lot of folks have come around on Ernie's post-Ted moves and once they get over their personal feelings for Gil they'll come around on this too. Even if folks get their wish and Ernie doesn't oversee the entire rebuild, years from now it'll be clear that this move benefited the team by better positioning them for the long-term. I have no doubts about that.

*Yawn*

Once people get over their personal feelings for Ernie, they'll come around to the fact that he built the same mess that you were clamoring for him to break up. Ernie will not be here if/when this team ever sees success, that is something Ted can take to the bank.

[fishercob]

*Yawn*

Folks said the same stuff after the Dallas trade last season, only to later realize that it was for the best. Well, this was just an extension of the purge initiated at least year's deadline. A lot of folks have come around on Ernie's post-Ted moves and once they get over their personal feelings for Gil they'll come around on this too. Even if folks get their wish and Ernie doesn't oversee the entire rebuild, years from now it'll be clear that this move benefited the team by better positioning them for the long-term. I have no doubts about that.

To be clear, I'm not questioning the move. The quoted section of the press release though, was petty and pathetic. Taking the moves he's made out of the equation -- i.e. as a person -- Ernie's done little if anything to endear himself to Wizards fans.

[JonathanJoseph]

As a resident Ernie Grunfeld apologist (for lack of a better term), I'll chime with my trade thoughts in this thread.

This sucks. And it's squarely on Grunfeld.

This trade makes absolutely no sense, either in the short term or long term. I am an unabashed Gilbert Arenas fan but I would understand if you were to trade him for cap relief. But this trade did not accomplish that. In fact, if you believe that Arenas has one of the worst contracts in the NBA (which I do not), then all you've done here is trade for one of the absolute worst contracts in the NBA. Had this trade been for Vince Carter or Marcin Gortat and a 1st round pick, I'd be fine with it. But that's not the case.

If you believe that Arenas had to be moved (and many do, although I did not), then there was no rush to make this move. If the only thing you can get in return is a terrible contract, why make a move? If Arenas played out the season playing even as poorly as he's been playing recently, his trade value still skyrockets as he proves that he is healthy and costs $16M less to a trade partner. It's very clear that it was Orlando that initiated the trade interest (and the Magic/Suns trade confirms this), so Grunfeld should have been the person with the leverage in the negotiation. But the Wizards got nothing of value.

The idea that the Wizards gained something with less total dollars owed is laughable. Rashard Lewis has the least tradeable contract in the NBA (far worse than Arenas), and so we are stuck with a $20M/year paperweight. That Lewis' contract comes off the books in 2013 rather than Arenas' contract coming off the books in 2014 is of so little value it's shocking. The benefit certainly goes to Leonsis' wallet, but that shouldn't be an issue. Arenas is a difference maker as a player (even the "new" Gil) and has real value as a player on the floor. Lewis is not a difference maker and serves very little purpose. If rebuilding and going younger was the goal, all we've done is trade for a player who is going to take playing time from Booker or even Thornton, who still has some (if very little ) promise. From a pure basketball standpoint, adding a soft, jump shooting PF is a disasterous fit.

Sorry, I could keep going, but I don't see a positive aspect to this and it is a major, major move. This is about $20M in cap space that has been tied up in a poor player and a poor fit for the next 2-3 years. EVERY other move Grunfeld has made post-Pollin has been made with youth and cap flexibility in mind and I was in favor of all of those. This move actually subtracts from those efforts. Arenas served a clear purpose and had the potential to be a very effective fit next to Wall and Josh Howard (and that the Wizards only gave the Wall/Arenas backcourt 1 start is pretty much unforgivable).

The one remaining reason that this could have been "necessary" was Arenas' attitude or mindset, which perhaps had become an issue. And if that's the case, then it would fall squarely on Grunfeld's shoulders for how badly he threw Arenas under the bus after the incident. Management 101 includes people skills, and no one is happy when they know their boss makes a public spectacle out of your mistakes.

I am distraught over the end of the Gilbert Arenas era in DC (and that may color my analysis). I do not think it needed or should have ended this way. This move has an enormous impact on my view of the job Grunfeld has done, and keep in mind that I was one of maybe two people (Rico?) to have been in favor of the Butler/Haywood/Stevenson deal. Unless this move has a significant positive impact on team chemistry, it looks like a disaster.

[closg00]

As a resident Ernie Grunfeld apologist (for lack of a better term), I'll chime with my trade thoughts in this thread.

This sucks. And it's squarely on Grunfeld.

This trade makes absolutely no sense, either in the short term or long term. I am an unabashed Gilbert Arenas fan but I would understand if you were to trade him for cap relief. But this trade did not accomplish that. In fact, if you believe that Arenas has one of the worst contracts in the NBA (which I do not), then all you've done here is trade for one of the absolute worst contracts in the NBA. Had this trade been for Vince Carter or Marcin Gortat and a 1st round pick, I'd be fine with it. But that's not the case.

If you believe that Arenas had to be moved (and many do, although I did not), then there was no rush to make this move. If the only thing you can get in return is a terrible contract, why make a move? If Arenas played out the season playing even as poorly as he's been playing recently, his trade value still skyrockets as he proves that he is healthy and costs $16M less to a trade partner. It's very clear that it was Orlando that initiated the trade interest (and the Magic/Suns trade confirms this), so Grunfeld should have been the person with the leverage in the negotiation. But the Wizards got nothing of value.

The idea that the Wizards gained something with less total dollars owed is laughable. Rashard Lewis has the least tradeable contract in the NBA (far worse than Arenas), and so we are stuck with a $20M/year paperweight. That Lewis' contract comes off the books in 2013 rather than Arenas' contract coming off the books in 2014 is of so little value it's shocking. The benefit certainly goes to Leonsis' wallet, but that shouldn't be an issue. Arenas is a difference maker as a player (even the "new" Gil) and has real value as a player on the floor. Lewis is not a difference maker and serves very little purpose. If rebuilding and going younger was the goal, all we've done is trade for a player who is going to take playing time from Booker or even Thornton, who still has some (if very little ) promise. From a pure basketball standpoint, adding a soft, jump shooting PF is a disasterous fit.

Sorry, I could keep going, but I don't see a positive aspect to this and it is a major, major move. This is about $20M in cap space that has been tied up in a poor player and a poor fit for the next 2-3 years. EVERY other move Grunfeld has made post-Pollin has been made with youth and cap flexibility in mind and I was in favor of all of those. This move actually subtracts from those efforts. Arenas served a clear purpose and had the potential to be a very effective fit next to Wall and Josh Howard (and that the Wizards only gave the Wall/Arenas backcourt 1 start is pretty much unforgivable).

The one remaining reason that this could have been "necessary" was Arenas' attitude or mindset, which perhaps had become an issue. And if that's the case, then it would fall squarely on Grunfeld's shoulders for how badly he threw Arenas under the bus after the incident. Management 101 includes people skills, and no one is happy when they know their boss makes a public spectacle out of your mistakes.

I am distraught over the end of the Gilbert Arenas era in DC (and that may color my analysis). I do not think it needed or should have ended this way. This move has an enormous impact on my view of the job Grunfeld has done, and keep in mind that I was one of maybe two people (Rico?) to have been in favor of the Butler/Haywood/Stevenson deal. Unless this move has a significant positive impact on team chemistry, it looks like a disaster.

JoJo is that really you?

[JonathanJoseph]

As a resident Ernie Grunfeld apologist (for lack of a better term), I'll chime with my trade thoughts in this thread.

This sucks. And it's squarely on Grunfeld.

This trade makes absolutely no sense, either in the short term or long term. I am an unabashed Gilbert Arenas fan but I would understand if you were to trade him for cap relief. But this trade did not accomplish that. In fact, if you believe that Arenas has one of the worst contracts in the NBA (which I do not), then all you've done here is trade for one of the absolute worst contracts in the NBA. Had this trade been for Vince Carter or Marcin Gortat and a 1st round pick, I'd be fine with it. But that's not the case.

If you believe that Arenas had to be moved (and many do, although I did not), then there was no rush to make this move. If the only thing you can get in return is a terrible contract, why make a move? If Arenas played out the season playing even as poorly as he's been playing recently, his trade value still skyrockets as he proves that he is healthy and costs $16M less to a trade partner. It's very clear that it was Orlando that initiated the trade interest (and the Magic/Suns trade confirms this), so Grunfeld should have been the person with the leverage in the negotiation. But the Wizards got nothing of value.

The idea that the Wizards gained something with less total dollars owed is laughable. Rashard Lewis has the least tradeable contract in the NBA (far worse than Arenas), and so we are stuck with a $20M/year paperweight. That Lewis' contract comes off the books in 2013 rather than Arenas' contract coming off the books in 2014 is of so little value it's shocking. The benefit certainly goes to Leonsis' wallet, but that shouldn't be an issue. Arenas is a difference maker as a player (even the "new" Gil) and has real value as a player on the floor. Lewis is not a difference maker and serves very little purpose. If rebuilding and going younger was the goal, all we've done is trade for a player who is going to take playing time from Booker or even Thornton, who still has some (if very little ) promise. From a pure basketball standpoint, adding a soft, jump shooting PF is a disasterous fit.

Sorry, I could keep going, but I don't see a positive aspect to this and it is a major, major move. This is about $20M in cap space that has been tied up in a poor player and a poor fit for the next 2-3 years. EVERY other move Grunfeld has made post-Pollin has been made with youth and cap flexibility in mind and I was in favor of all of those. This move actually subtracts from those efforts. Arenas served a clear purpose and had the potential to be a very effective fit next to Wall and Josh Howard (and that the Wizards only gave the Wall/Arenas backcourt 1 start is pretty much unforgivable).

The one remaining reason that this could have been "necessary" was Arenas' attitude or mindset, which perhaps had become an issue. And if that's the case, then it would fall squarely on Grunfeld's shoulders for how badly he threw Arenas under the bus after the incident. Management 101 includes people skills, and no one is happy when they know their boss makes a public spectacle out of your mistakes.

I am distraught over the end of the Gilbert Arenas era in DC (and that may color my analysis). I do not think it needed or should have ended this way. This move has an enormous impact on my view of the job Grunfeld has done, and keep in mind that I was one of maybe two people (Rico?) to have been in favor of the Butler/Haywood/Stevenson deal. Unless this move has a significant positive impact on team chemistry, it looks like a disaster.

JoJo is that really you?

Yes, it might just be that I am perfectly capable of objective thought.

[Silvie Lysandra]

The majority of GENERAL BOARD posters thought we got hosed, which is striking considering how much that place hates Arenas.

[Wizards2Lottery]

At this point who got hosed or not is besides the question. When looking at the big picture, Ernie had a solid 5-6 year window to build a team and the end results suggest that it was an epic fail.

Are we really trying to commit another 2-3 years to Ernie. Does one decade of Wizards basketball have to be defined by a guy whose teams have never won a single 2nd round playoff game or made it past the first round more than once?

[LyricalRico]

This sucks. And it's squarely on Grunfeld.

You are dead to me.