WOJ Bomb: Michael Winger becomes the Wizards President of Basketball Operations

[Kanyewest]

Plot twist: Winger is Pablo's original source for the Kawhi scoop. He left LA and now he's trying to burn them down remotely.

Or trying to get out in front of a pickle.

Winger was a major driving force from all accounts on getting Kawhi to LAC, as well as the Paul George trade for SGA.

I didn't watch the segment because it was far too long of an invest, but is there any implication that Winger has culpability in the Clippers trying to circumvent the cap if he was saying things like that (I assumed the caption with the video was coming from Winger, so maybe I'm wrong)?

According to Pablo’s sources, Winger said “how many fukking side deals have we made with Kawhi?”

Which tells me he probably wasn’t fully aware. Lawrence Frank and Steve Balmer are implicated way more.

Doc Rivers as well.

[FAH1223]

I don't know, even if he didn't have complete knowledge (let's go with he didn't know the full scope for argument sake), seems like he knew something was going on. He was the GM, not some intern in the front office, seems like the babe in the woods defense would fall pretty flat.

I agree. He probably knew some of this for sure.

And I bet it’s one of the reasons he came to DC!

Doc Rivers as well.

Doc Rivers of course! He was not in the front office after 2017 but he probably knows something!!

[DCZards]

I don't know, even if he didn't have complete knowledge (let's go with he didn't know the full scope for argument sake), seems like he knew something was going on. He was the GM, not some intern in the front office, seems like the babe in the woods defense would fall pretty flat.

Yes, it’s likely Winger knew some of what was going on and, assuming that “side deal” quote is legit, it’s clear that he was not happy about it. In fact, sounds like he was opposed to it.

[CntOutSmrtCrazy]

I don't know, even if he didn't have complete knowledge (let's go with he didn't know the full scope for argument sake), seems like he knew something was going on. He was the GM, not some intern in the front office, seems like the babe in the woods defense would fall pretty flat.

Yes, it’s likely Winger knew some of what was going on and, assuming that “side deal” quote is legit, it’s clear that he was not happy about it. In fact, sounds like he was opposed to it.

Calling complete BS.

The allegations go back to the 2019 recruitment of Leonard, Winger was there until May 2023, so almost 4 years still staying with the Clippers after the original fact. Doesn't matter what he said, and what he said was just commenting on the deals even if he was being incredulous (I don't know what his tone was, do you? was it jokingly, or kind of how many of these we gotta do to make this guy happy?), he's the GM of a franchise that allegedly had this happening. At best, if true, he was complicit, at worst I find as a GM of an NBA franchise he was abetting the practice.

[payitforward]

Unless I'm reading this wrong, wch is always possible of course, it would appear that you've got this worked out so that no possible set of facts would invalidate your "at best... at worst" conclusion.

Do I have that right? Or wd you really mean "no likely" rather than "no possible?'

What set of facts would be required, do you think, to invalidate both sides of your "at best... at worst..." conclusion?

[CntOutSmrtCrazy]

Unless I'm reading this wrong, wch is always possible of course, it would appear that you've got this worked out so that no possible set of facts would invalidate your "at best... at worst" conclusion.

Do I have that right? Or wd you really mean "no likely" rather than "no possible?'

What set of facts would be required, do you think, to invalidate both sides of your "at best... at worst..." conclusion?

Best case scenario is that it's not true, and the Clippers, as they've claimed, are on the right side of this.

But if you want to conveniently ignore the qualifiers I wrote like "allegedly" and "if true", have at it.

Back to the allegations though, they go back to 2019 when Leonard came on with LAC, and Dawkins had already been GM for 2 years and stayed about another 4. So if true, yes if true, not great. The quote in the FAH posted is suspect whether he was skeptical or not of the transactions, he's obligated as a GM to follow the CBA as part of his duties.

[Kanyewest]

I don't know, even if he didn't have complete knowledge (let's go with he didn't know the full scope for argument sake), seems like he knew something was going on. He was the GM, not some intern in the front office, seems like the babe in the woods defense would fall pretty flat.

I agree. He probably knew some of this for sure.

And I bet it’s one of the reasons he came to DC!

Doc Rivers as well.

Doc Rivers of course! He was not in the front office after 2017 but he probably knows something!!

Doc Rivers gave money to the Aspiration co founder’s charity and also gave a motivational speech at Aspiration.

[CntOutSmrtCrazy]

From the main board, I think this is the shortened version of what FAH posted originally, Winger knew, according to reporting, there were side deals going on. If you know about something that is happening, even though you might not have been driving it, means you are culpable.

[x]

Read on Twitter

?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2021369190146605508%7Ctwgr%5E5978b1ade7777d7f5499aab4efc671e292e3f391%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fforums.realgm.com%2Fboards%2Fviewtopic.php%3Ft%3D2474976start%3D640[/x]

I watched that segment, some damning information in that about this scandal.

I can't imagine the NBA just saying Winger gets a free pass just because he's on another team given that he was there for the vast majority of the scandal, though he was gone by the time they reactivated the shady LLC (one of the supposed ways to funnel the payments to Leonard and his team), so there's that. There's also this:

[x]

Read on Twitter

?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2022373537386832106%7Ctwgr%5E5978b1ade7777d7f5499aab4efc671e292e3f391%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fforums.realgm.com%2Fboards%2Fviewtopic.php%3Ft%3D2474976start%3D640[/x]

So this whole thing started the same year Winger arrived.

Let's also remember, Winger is a lawyer by training. There's a there here.

[payitforward]

Unless I'm reading this wrong, wch is always possible of course, it would appear that you've got this worked out so that no possible set of facts would invalidate your "at best... at worst" conclusion.

Do I have that right? Or wd you really mean "no likely" rather than "no possible?'

What set of facts would be required, do you think, to invalidate both sides of your "at best... at worst..." conclusion?

Best case scenario is that it's not true, and the Clippers, as they've claimed, are on the right side of this.

But if you want to conveniently ignore the qualifiers I wrote like "allegedly" and "if true", have at it.

Back to the allegations though, they go back to 2019 when Leonard came on with LAC, and Dawkins had already been GM for 2 years and stayed about another 4. So if true, yes if true, not great. The quote in the FAH posted is suspect whether he was skeptical or not of the transactions, he's obligated as a GM to follow the CBA as part of his duties.

I didn't argue with you. I have no reason to argue with you & no desire to. I just asked a question -- trying to be sure I understood what you meant.

To be sure, for clarity, if an investigation demonstrates that Winger participated in something counter the rules of the league, then obviously he should suffer for doing so. I don't imagine anyone would disagree with that -- certainly no one should.

[AFM]

Winger needs to pay for his sins, but it has nothing to do with the Leonard thing.

[CntOutSmrtCrazy]

Unless I'm reading this wrong, wch is always possible of course, it would appear that you've got this worked out so that no possible set of facts would invalidate your "at best... at worst" conclusion.

Do I have that right? Or wd you really mean "no likely" rather than "no possible?'

What set of facts would be required, do you think, to invalidate both sides of your "at best... at worst..." conclusion?

Best case scenario is that it's not true, and the Clippers, as they've claimed, are on the right side of this.

But if you want to conveniently ignore the qualifiers I wrote like "allegedly" and "if true", have at it.

Back to the allegations though, they go back to 2019 when Leonard came on with LAC, and Dawkins had already been GM for 2 years and stayed about another 4. So if true, yes if true, not great. The quote in the FAH posted is suspect whether he was skeptical or not of the transactions, he's obligated as a GM to follow the CBA as part of his duties.

I didn't argue with you. I have no reason to argue with you & no desire to. I just asked a question -- trying to be sure I understood what you meant.

To be sure, for clarity, if an investigation demonstrates that Winger participated in something counter the rules of the league, then obviously he should suffer for doing so. I don't imagine anyone would disagree with that -- certainly no one should.

I wasn't arguing, just rebutting. But, also in fairness, when you make a statement like "it would appear that you've got this worked out so that no possible set of facts would invalidate your "at best... at worst" conclusion" it comes off a bit, well, argumentative.

[payitforward]

...in fairness, when you make a statement like "it would appear that you've got this worked out so that no possible set of facts would invalidate your "at best... at worst" conclusion" it comes off a bit, well, argumentative.

Do me a favor & think that through again. Only, this time use the whole sentence I wrote, which began: "Unless I'm reading this wrong, wch is always possible of course...."

Now what do you think??

[FAH1223]

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

[badinage]

^^ I don’t know what this is saying. It makes no sense.

And I sure as shinola don’t put ANY store in the posting of some guy online — not a journalist, not a columnist, not a writer; a guy online — who attended a q-and-a. Do we know how he listens — with what attentiveness and acuity? How he processes information? No. We don’t.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Did they get called in to Mr. Leonsis' office after this debacle? Or, did they have to reassure the boss about the vision of the season remaining.

My guess is they'll discuss Coach Keefe.

[DCZards]

I was at the q-and-a for season ticket holders last night as well.

Among other things, Winger talked about getting an outstanding player like Ky with the 24th pick and had high praise for his work ethic and leadership.

He also said that Will Riley has an “interesting wiggle” that’s hard to defend…and that opponents will say “oh shxt” when confronted with the defensive wall they’ll face when Sarr and Davis are on the court together.

Winger said the Zards look for “two-way players who can defend multiple positions” but of course he wasn’t specific as to who they like in this year’s draft.

[The Consiglieri]

It's part of the reason I think certain guys probably aren't the pick unless we're locked in by tier (say we get the 4th pick and Boozer's still there (I know, I know, he won't be), or if we pick 8th, and all that's left is possible superstar Acuff etc. There are guys superficially at least that seem very much his kind of player and others that don't, I am curious what other people w/more nuanced and better understanding think though, and that's pretty much everyone here I would imagine.

[FAH1223]

I was at the q-and-a for season ticket holders last night as well.

Among other things, Winger talked about getting an outstanding player like Ky with the 24th pick and had high praise for his work ethic and leadership.

He also said that Will Riley has an “interesting wiggle” that’s hard to defend…and that opponents will say “oh shxt” when confronted with the defensive wall they’ll face when Sarr and Davis are on the court together.

Winger said the Zards look for “two-way players who can defend multiple positions” but of course he wasn’t specific as to who they like in this year’s draft.

Did Winger say anything about teaching defense? or was that tweet not true?

[DCZards]

I was at the q-and-a for season ticket holders last night as well.

Among other things, Winger talked about getting an outstanding player like Ky with the 24th pick and had high praise for his work ethic and leadership.

He also said that Will Riley has an “interesting wiggle” that’s hard to defend…and that opponents will say “oh shxt” when confronted with the defensive wall they’ll face when Sarr and Davis are on the court together.

Winger said the Zards look for “two-way players who can defend multiple positions” but of course he wasn’t specific as to who they like in this year’s draft.

Did Winger say anything about teaching defense? or was that tweet not true?

I didn’t hear any specific comments about D during the Q and A. Maybe it was in a side conversation.

[badinage]

I can imagine him saying: we’re emphasizing effort and communication on defense this year, given how young and inexperienced most of these guys are, and given where they are in their physical development. We’re trying to build a culture, first and foremost, and that starts with playing hard and being talkative on the floor.

I can even imagine him saying: there are intricacies galore in playing defense, both team defense and man to man, and we’ll be emphasizing those more and more as we move into this next phase of the rebuild … schooling them in the nuances and subtleties that can really add up, both for them as players, but also for us as a team.

What I *can’t* imagine is what the X’er dude “reported.”

Reminder, folks: “social media” isn’t media.