Official Countdown to Firing"NoLowPostOffense"Grunfeld

[nate33]

Depends - if we want to clear salary in 2009, we have to make deals now, even if it's stuff like Songalia for Cook, or Songalia for SMEC.

SMEC?

Who is SM?

[MJG]

Depends - if we want to clear salary in 2009, we have to make deals now, even if it's stuff like Songalia for Cook, or Songalia for SMEC.

SMEC?

Who is SM?

Marion, I'm thinking, though that doesn't work.

[Silvie Lysandra]

Typo, I meant SCMC or "Sam Cassell's Expiring Contract"

[AAEXPRESS]

I am bothered by the fact that it seems that the Wiz are sort of complacent when it comes to fixing what ails them. Look at the blurb below:

Now I am not saying trade Butler or Jamison just to be trading them, but if trading them can improve the team then they have to go. Dont get me wrong Butler is one of my favorite players in the league, but if can bring back decent players, picks, etc., then he has to be on the block. The same with Jamison.



Is Anybody Safe in Washington?

Yes, actually, two of them: Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison. Despite the fact that Washington Wizards GM Ernie Grunfeld has been field a ton of calls from teams (and why wouldn't he be considering how poorly that team has played this season?), he told Ivan Carter of the Washington Post that his two cornerstones are staying put.

If our weekly chats here at HOOPSWORLD are indication, this is sad news for teams hoping to pry one of these two former All-Stars away from their current team. But one has to believe that what the Wiz are experiencing this year has little to do with Jamison and Butler, and much more to do with losing their $100 million man for another year's worth of injuries.

[Benjammin]

I have no problem with EG speaking GMese and not saying anything remotely interesting. However, if he is closed to moving Jamison and to a lesser extent Butler then it tells me one of three things: he's satisfied with a .500 or slightly above team if EVERYONE is healthy; two he's delusional in thinking that as presently constructed a healthy team is a contender; three he's under orders from Abe not to trade Jamison or Butler (I don't really believe that).

[nate33]

While I understand that management like veterans because they make fewer mistakes, the bias toward veterans seems to be unnaturally strong on this team. EG won't even entertain the notion of trading Jamison or Butler, and my guess is that he won't trade Songaila or Stevenson either.

Why is this the case? What is so great about or veterans or so incredibly bad about our youngsters that makes management so unwilling to trust them? Are our young guys so incredibly stupid and lazy that management has no faith that they'll ever learn proper basketball fundamentals?

If that's the case, it doesn't show up in the numbers. Going by on/off differential, Blatche and Young help the team more than any of the vets. McGuire and Crittenton aren't doing as well statistically, but they're not really hurting the team either. McGee is the only guy for whom the numbers show a consistantly negative affect on team performance. And that's not unreasonable for a raw rookie thrust into major minutes.

I'm trying real hard to understand EG's rationale. I don't think he is an idiot. There must be some reason that they're unwilling to unleash the youngsters. I just can't figure it out.

[LyricalRico]

I'm trying real hard to understand EG's rationale. I don't think he is an idiot. There must be some reason that they're unwilling to unleash the youngsters. I just can't figure it out.

I'm holding out hope that the strong lean towards the vets has been purely for showcasing. As of the 10th (tomorrow) we can package Mike James in a deal. I think Ernie's going to push hard over the next week or so to make a move by the deadline. Then, I have to think that Ernie will come out and be very vocal about the organization going in the direction of developing the younger players.

If that doesn't happen, I'll pretty much lose all faith in this team and organization.

[dobrojim]

While I understand that management like veterans because they make fewer mistakes, the bias toward veterans seems to be unnaturally strong on this team. EG won't even entertain the notion of trading Jamison or Butler, and my guess is that he won't trade Songaila or Stevenson either.

Why is this the case? What is so great about or veterans or so incredibly bad about our youngsters that makes management so unwilling to trust them? Are our young guys so incredibly stupid and lazy that management has no faith that they'll ever learn proper basketball fundamentals?

If that's the case, it doesn't show up in the numbers. Going by on/off differential, Blatche and Young help the team more than any of the vets. McGuire and Crittenton aren't doing as well statistically, but they're not really hurting the team either. McGee is the only guy for whom the numbers show a consistantly negative affect on team performance. And that's not unreasonable for a raw rookie thrust into major minutes.

I'm trying real hard to understand EG's rationale. I don't think he is an idiot. There must be some reason that they're unwilling to unleash the youngsters. I just can't figure it out.

Maybe I'm projecting but I seriously doubt EG considers the 2 DS's untouchable.
He's just not going to say, yeah I'd like to unload payer x,y, or z in public.

But I largely agree with you re who should be playing more. Although I think we may
disagree on Critt who iirc, doesn't have an impressive +/-, but who I'd like to see get
> 25 mpg most nights simply because James is both bad, and not part of our future plans.

Let's see what happens wrt PT after the trading deadline.

[AAEXPRESS]

Does anyone know what's going on with our coaching situation, because if EG turns the reins over to Wes Jr. or Tapscott he should be fired.

[nate33]

Does anyone know what's going on with our coaching situation, because if EG turns the reins over to Wes Jr. or Tapscott he should be fired.

Continuity baby!

[mhd]

Taps isn't the coach next year. Stein said in a snippet I posted that EG is telling other teams "with a new coach...healthy". I think Flip is the odds on choice. He won't be in a pressure market at all. He's the best of both defensive and offensive mixes, and he knows the NBA game.

WE ARE TANKING.

[Kanyewest]

While I understand that management like veterans because they make fewer mistakes, the bias toward veterans seems to be unnaturally strong on this team. EG won't even entertain the notion of trading Jamison or Butler, and my guess is that he won't trade Songaila or Stevenson either.

Why is this the case? What is so great about or veterans or so incredibly bad about our youngsters that makes management so unwilling to trust them? Are our young guys so incredibly stupid and lazy that management has no faith that they'll ever learn proper basketball fundamentals?

If that's the case, it doesn't show up in the numbers. Going by on/off differential, Blatche and Young help the team more than any of the vets. McGuire and Crittenton aren't doing as well statistically, but they're not really hurting the team either. McGee is the only guy for whom the numbers show a consistantly negative affect on team performance. And that's not unreasonable for a raw rookie thrust into major minutes.

I'm trying real hard to understand EG's rationale. I don't think he is an idiot. There must be some reason that they're unwilling to unleash the youngsters. I just can't figure it out.

At this point, Stevenson and DSong are untradeable. Nobody is going to give young talented players or draft picks for these guys. The only possible players you can receive for these guys is another team's garbage.

[nate33]

At this point, Stevenson and DSong are untradeable. Nobody is going to give young talented players or draft picks for these guys. The only possible players you can receive for these guys is another team's garbage.

I think Songaila is tradeable. Yes, we'd end up trading him for somebody's garbage, but it could be garbage with a shorter contract.

Songaila for Pavlovic would help Cleveland in their playoff run.
Songaila for Scalabrine and Cassell helps Boston.
Songaila for Cook helps Orlando.

[Kanyewest]

At this point, Stevenson and DSong are untradeable. Nobody is going to give young talented players or draft picks for these guys. The only possible players you can receive for these guys is another team's garbage.

I think Songaila is tradeable. Yes, we'd end up trading him for somebody's garbage, but it could be garbage with a shorter contract.

Songaila for Pavlovic would help Cleveland in their playoff run.
Songaila for Scalabrine and Cassell helps Boston.
Songaila for Cook helps Orlando.

Trading for another injured body in Pavlovic doesn't make much sense and the Wizards would all but guarantee Jamison playing 40 minutes per game.

That trade doesn't help Boston enough in my opinion, especially if Sam Cassell decides to return sometime this season. They would probably rather just have the salaries expire.

Song for Cook helps Orlando on the court but not in their budget. It will add to Orlando's payroll which could put them in luxury tax territory if they resign Turkoglu to an extension

[hands11]

Right you are. Pack was pretty awesome. He was never the same after that. You just reminded me of all the injuries that year and how they were putting it together come the end of the season. I thought that team was set for a good 3-4 run. Then it all just blow up. Nash and the little Irishman coach were gone.. The Wes/Abe show took over and we returned to the dessert of despair.

We had Rasheed, Webber and Howard. Georgie Muresan, Pack, Legler

This was his last year here.
http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/WSB/1996.html
Webber hardly played. Pack got hurt. Sheed got hurt.

And in Abe fashion, Nash inherited his coach picked by the owner. A man names Wes Unsled. Nash had to GM around the owners coach who undermined him for 3 years before he got to pick his own guy...Lyham. A year later we were up 18 wins.

That's why I say to those who bash on EG.. leave it alone. If we are lucky, he will be the GM when the team gets sold and we have a new owner. I would be very scared if your counting on Abe to pick two quality GMs in a row.

The last time we were here, we were just a little to impatient and we changed GMs.
http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-832989.html

Yeah, and Cal Cheany (sp?) was on that team. Even guys like Brent Price and McIlvaine had their moments. Was that the year that Webber separated his shoulder... twice. And Gheorge always had a tough time staying healthy. It was odd how Nash's teams always had lots of injuries - same thing happened to him when he was GMing New Jersey. But he did seem to go off the deep end when he was the Portland GM - stocking up on Russian forwards and other oddities.

Mhd, Nash did make it known to Juwan Howard that he wanted Kidd - who I think went a pick before Howard. It was probably a negotiating thing - because the Wiz needed Howard to sign relatively cheaply. Nash shouldn't have said it - but Howard took like a sissy and blew it way out of proportion. It was hardly a diss - as EVERYBODY would have taken Kidd over Howard. Kidd was a phenominal PG prospect.

Now that you mention that, I do recall us being tight for signing Howard. He wanted a multi-year deal right out of the gate for several mil a year. Nash and him went back and forth and then Nash said, here is the deal. We will only sign you to one year for a think 1M. Go get it done and if you do, we will get your that larger package. Jawine was a total baby about the whole thing. Came back after the year with his ... you dissed me talk. Abe immediately caved on his GM so Nash agreed to leave. All of this was really on Abe. He is such a two faced back stabber to upper management all except for his love affair with Unseld.

He did the same back stab to MJ which was shameless.

Abe is just a tough one to deal with. Some things make you respect and love him, but there are plenty of reasons to no care at all or respect the man.

And bottom line. He is the owner of this mostly failed franchise. He had a few good front office people over the many years but mostly, he has made bad decisions. He was Dan Snyder before there was a Dan Snyder.

[hands11]

I wish I could be a GM and spend 10 minutes saying absolutely nothing of note but still get an article about it.

The calls could be seen as twofold: there's interest in Butler and Jamison, even with Jamison signing an extension, one could argue his deal will look like a bargain b/c he's only make about $12 million a year. Or b/c the Wizards are so bad this year, some teams are trying to fleece Grunfeld. I'm sure Jamison or Butler would be moved for the right deal. This was Ernie's way of saying: improve your offers.

It may be. While that sounds good, I think he has told them that over the phone. Maybe there is something to saying it publicity so they all know he is saying the same thing to all of them.

The other side of him getting this published is to let us know he is fielding calls. Isn't that what people here wanted to know. It's PR. So that is what was accomplished. We know he is taking calls but he is playing hard to get. He is also telling us, keep your chin up. We have some talent.

I'm sure he would like nothing more then to say the time table for GA and Haywood. That is the PR move he waiting to make. And those days are drawing closer and closer.

[LyricalRico]

Trading for another injured body in Pavlovic doesn't make much sense and the Wizards would all but guarantee Jamison playing 40 minutes per game.

Wow, gotta say you're way off base on this one.

First, Pavlovic's deal for next year is non-guaranteed and even if it were it still ends a year sooner than Songaila's. So injury or not this move would be a big help to us financially, especially if you want the team to re-sign Haywood.

Second, the argument that Jamison would see increased minutes isn't valid since Songaila plays most of his minutes at C. And we can always waive Dixon and sign a cheap stiff for the rest of the year if we need another body.

[hands11]

I have no problem with EG speaking GMese and not saying anything remotely interesting. However, if he is closed to moving Jamison and to a lesser extent Butler then it tells me one of three things: he's satisfied with a .500 or slightly above team if EVERYONE is healthy; two he's delusional in thinking that as presently constructed a healthy team is a contender; three he's under orders from Abe not to trade Jamison or Butler (I don't really believe that).

And please explain why you wouldn't believe that last line.

[mohammed10]

Am I the only one this side of Ji who thinks GMEG isn't going to make ANY trade come the deadline?

TANK CITY, BABY

[Soup's Uncle]

^ I think we're standing pat. EG ain't doin jack!