Just for posterity, I'll post what I wrote and what I expect will be removed from Ted's Take....
I'll echo what others have said (and continue to say year after frustrating year) -- this is a problem that starts with the top.
I don't know what your intentions are in terms of player/personnel changes (and I'm assuming something will be done soon whether it be a coaching change, roster trade, etc) but please keep in mind that with a franchise that's in the place we are currently, minor moves or coaching changes are akin to re-arranging deck chairs on the Titanic.
This team needs a culture change and as I said in the beginning of this post - it starts at the top. I know you are a man that cares deeply about winning and even more deeply about your connection with your base. It's commendable and rare and I truly appreciate it. So if you're in fact reading these comments, please don't get discouraged or read over them with the attitude that "they're just upset at the poor record and are being irrational" -- the message of these posters and thousands more who don't post here but are true fans of the team is sound -- the GM position has to be changed.
I've always liked Ernie Grunfeld the person but have always questioned Ernie Grunfeld the general manager. I think his intentions are good but his execution, eye for talent, consistency and long-term goal are questionable at best. Even healthy, this Wizards team simply isn't that good. Yes, if Nene (a player who has struggled with injuries throughout his career) and Wall (who has had his troubles as well) play 82 games each, then we might creep up to 40 wins and a quick first round exit but what's truly unfortunate but predictable is that our ceiling simply isn't very high.
And the reason our ceiling isn't very high is because of the short-sighted moves made by Mr. Grunfeld. Moves like trading our 5th pick for Randy Foye and Mike Miller (something that was almost unanimously detested by fans and pundits alike when the trade was made). Moves like trading a soon-to-be 20mil expiring contract in Rashard Lewis for two redundant and overpriced players in Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza. Had we kept Lewis, cut him (and only payed the 9mil guaranteed in his deal) and amnestied Blatche, we would have had max capspace. Now, your counter to this is presumably "what superstar would come to Washington" and you're correct - none. But players like James Harden or (to a lesser extent) Ryan Anderson might have. I'll take them over Ariza and Okafor and I think you would too.
The Vesely selection will go down as a bad pick and this is where Mr. Grunfeld's eye for talent comes into question. So what we were told at draft day was that he loved Jan's transition/athletic ability next to Wall. But unfortunately, there's a lot more to the game of basketball than athletic ability. We could have made almost any other pick and we would have come up with a better player (Leonard, Walker, etc).
I'm sorry to ramble like this, Mr. Leonsis, but I'm a very frustrated fan. And this frustration hasn't been because of the 0-12 start -- I'm frustrated because of the direction of this team, long-term. I've been a passionate fan of this franchise for over 15 years now and have spent countless amounts of money on merchandise and tickets. I've gotten friends of mine interested in basketball and the Wizards simply because of my own personal obsession with them.
Mr. Grunfeld's management of this franchise to this point has really made me re-think my own fanhood of this organization and if he is retained for much longer, I'm afraid I can't support a team that has been my life ever since I was 8 years old.
Thanks for taking the time to read this and other comments, Mr. Leonsis. Your commitment to bringing a winning team to D.C is greatly appreciated and I really hope that better pieces are put in place to give your passion and vision something to work with.
- A very frustrated fan