Countdown to Ernie Grunfeld Firing

[FAH1223]

The other thread went off course.

Enough is enough.

10th season as GM.

No playoffs since 2008.

Squandered lotto picks

Wasted 2nd round picks

Knee jerk trades

Mediocrity even when the Wizards were a playoff team in a WEAK Eastern conference.

Why can't we have a real GM?

[closg00]

Remember, Ted will change nothing as-long as he is filling seats and selling $10 beers on game-night.

[sashae]

WHAT ME WORRY

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Back in April, EG got a new deal.

Mike Prada of www.bulletsforever.com had good reason to write what he did back then.

http://www.bulletsforever.com/2012/4/24 ... ed-leonsis

In Keeping Ernie Grunfeld, Washington Wizards Pass On Opportunity To Consider Starting
Fresh

What concerns me more is the process by which Leonsis and the Wizards made this decision.

Regardless of how well Grunfeld may have done in the past two years, this was a chance for the Wizards to start fresh. The Wizards have some young talent, a superstar-quality player and enough cap space in the summer to make some sort of free-agent splash, even if not for a max-contract player. It could have still fit "The Plan" just fine, since now is the time when the push towards contention needed to begin.
Instead, it appears Leonsis made his mind up to bring Grunfeld back a while ago. Via Michael Lee's report.

According to multiple league sources, Leonsis in recent weeks has refused to correspond with agents representing prospective Wizards’ general managers interested in replacing Grunfeld. The team’s owner since the spring of 2010, Leonsis negotiated only with Grunfeld.

I'd feel a little better about the Wizards' decision if they went through the hiring process and then decided Grunfeld was the best fit for the job. Interviewing isn't the same as hiring. If there were candidates interested in the position, it really doesn't hurt much to hear them out. Maybe they demonstrate great enthusiasm for the position and a great plan for the future.

[WizKid25]

test

[truwizfan4evr]

Damn i was hoping i wake up to good news Ernie being fired.

[80sballboy]

Ted has never fired a GM with the Caps or Wiz so why should he start now? He just wants a puppet.

[DANNYLANDOVER]

Right now, I want Ted to sell the team more than I want Ernie fired. It's quite clear that he isn't interested in bringing a championship to the capital of the United States. Aren't there any other billionaires from around here?

[closg00]

Right now, I want Ted to sell the team more than I want Ernie fired. It's quite clear that he isn't interested in bringing a championship to the capital of the United States. Aren't there any other billionaires from around here?

Ted selling the team would be even better, but Ernie getting fired is slightly more-likely.

[montestewart]

Right now, I want Ted to sell the team more than I want Ernie fired. It's quite clear that he isn't interested in bringing a championship to the capital of the United States. Aren't there any other billionaires from around here?

I hear Uncle Sam prints money in his basement

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Right now, I want Ted to sell the team more than I want Ernie fired. It's quite clear that he isn't interested in bringing a championship to the capital of the United States. Aren't there any other billionaires from around here?

Ted selling the team would be even better, but Ernie getting fired is slightly more-likely.

Maybe Induveca can invest in Uncle Sam, and the good old U. S. of A.; by buying the Wizards from Uncle Ted Leonsis. Induveca would be revered in DC as Wizards owner. The bar has been set so low he would be instantly considered the best local sports owner. I have not met Induveca but I know he'd be a better owner than Snyder or Leonsis.

If he needs to put together a group of minority owners, I can max out my credit cards and at least get seven or eight hundred dollars to become a part owner. Heck, I will put in 'leven fifty.

[montestewart]

It would be hilarious if there was a 5% minority ownership consortium of Wiz board owners. We would give the majority owner such a headache.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

It would be hilarious if there was a 5% minority ownership consortium of Wiz board owners. We would give the majority owner such a headache.

I would speak as if my 25,000 were 250 million, monte. Security wouldn't even let me in the building. They would screen my calls. My picture would be up with the words, "Do not let this man enter!"

If I ever attended a shareholder meeting I'd say words to the effect, "I don't care what the other 95% of y'all say. It's not my fault you guys lack critical thinking skills."

Some folks, you can't take them any where. I'm one of them.

You're right, monte.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

(I originally posted this in another thread, but I think it belongs here.)

We have a deadline with doomsday, according to the Mayan calendar. The end occurs some time next month. Are any of you nervous? Anybody superstitious?

I am not nervous or superstitious. I am not into numerology either, but I know a little bit about numbers. The numbers 7, 11, and 13 are associated with luck, good and bad. Those numbers might bad for Ernie Grunfeld real soon. (FYI Here's a great link to scripture number significance.) If I were to go by the numbers, I could make a prediction.


To have a little fun, I predict the end of EG as GM will come 11/14/12 or 11/15/12.

On 11/13/12, the Wizards play Charlotte. Just like we're all gonna get it in a month when the world comes to an end; this Tuesday, 11/13/12, marks the beginning of EGs end. Like Moses getting a glimpse of the Promised Land, Wizard fans will get a glimpse of what might be without Ernie because he's gonna get his first. (If the failsafe Mayan calendar and my prediction both come true, of course). Why do I say this? The numbers don't lie!

By the numbers, twelve represents completion or perfection. Thirteen represents a bad omen or rebellion. Eleven is associated with disorder and luck of fulfillment. Therefore, 11/13/12 is the perfect day for Ted Leonsis to rebel and to dissociate himself from Ernie Grunfeld, who will become unfulfilled after being fired. That day, 11/13/12, marks the beginning of a sequence of events that can set captive Wizard fans free….

A loss to the Bobcats is essential. If the Bobcats defeat the Wizards, Washington will have lost six straight. Six is another unfulfilling number, as both man and serpent were created the sixth day. Ted will go beast mode on Ernie following a loss to put the Wizards three games behind the lowly Bobcats. Because no one gets fired on the front end of a road game, the next day, 11/14/12, the second back-to-back road game, all will appear calm when the Wizards play at Dallas. Washington will likely drop to 0-7 after that game. Bingo! Seven is the number of perfection, completeness, and the fulfillment of a covenant. Loss number seven should be sufficient. It could end Ernie's run. FINALLY!

Lucky seven losses is when Wizard fans will hear the most unlikely, welcome, news in years. Ernie will be fired.

[closg00]

I'm an opinionated Milwaukee fan from a few of the other threads.

I enjoy weighing in on these Grunfeld threads every six-months or so because the guy was toxic for our franchise when he was with us.

Both Milwaukee and Washington have (had) one thing in common. A beloved yet completely incompetent and meddling owner. In our case it is Herb Kohl. In your case Abe. Both guys like the idea of "winning now" rather than spending years in the high lotto. Both guys are(were) up in age. Kohl is 76 and I think Abe died at 87 (?)

While it would be easy to blame all of Ernie Grunfeld's bad moves on meddling owners, I think that allows him off the hook. The bottom line is that the guy has been a GM from August 1999 (Bucks) through the current day (Wizards). In those 12.5 years, the guy has really made zero signature moves where you go "Wow, that was a great GM....that move(s) turned our franchise around"

IIn the draft world, he absolutely sucks. He doesn't find you Westbrooks, Serge Ibaka's or Wesley Matthews. Instead he finds you Marcus Haislips and Nick Young's at best.

In the contract world, he overpays everyone for fear of "losing an asset". Whether it was giving Tim Thomas $68 million to stay in Milwaukee, $20 million along with Scott Williams and a future #1 (Josh Smith) for Anthony Mason or your situations with the Arenas, etc bad contracts or trading the #5 pick away twice.

What Grunfeld excels at are two things:

a) He knows how to suck up to his owner.You guys can read into the Kohl/Polin/Grunfeld situation on a number of levels. The bottom line is that he's obviously a good insider politician, otherwise he doesn't last nearly as long as he has.

b) Grunfeld is more than adept at working the phones and getting deals done involving overpaid veterans.He engages in a bunch of "activity" involving veterans that you assume he might know what he's doing. Sometimes he blows enough future assets to put together a 43-win team. But in the end, you mistake that "activity" for being a good GM.

Just my two cents. You guys won't get significantly better until you clean house and get a new front office.