How Grunfeld Does NOT Construct a Team

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

With foresight.

He doesn't seem to balance a roster with disparately skilled athletes.

He doesn't seem to evenly develop young players, big and small. (Backup PG, PF, and C are mysteries to me)

He doesn't seem to anticipate what this team will lack in the playoffs. (Post scoring, defending small ball PFs, length, go to players who are not merely catch and shoot players, intelligent play in crunch time post Pierce).

Gortat and Nene went the way of the dinosaur as a starting combination of players by the playoffs. With smaller, more mobile power forwards as the Atlanta Hawks utilized, Grunfeld did not seem to address DEFENDING SMALL BALL.

With rim protection being desirable, Grunfeld seems intent to add more and more wing players but ABSOLUTELY NO BIGS.

Foresight would TRY AND PROJECT MINUTES AND ROLES. I defy anyone in the Wizards organization to try and project the minutes of Dudley, Webster, Anderson, Neal, and Garrett Temple.

Does this mean Oubre will play at all? If not, who's watching him in the D-League? Where will he be? Practicing as what? A SF?

Foresee the mentorship of Otto Porter. Is he now a PF behind Nene? Behind Humphries? Behind Gooden? Or, does he start ahead of all those guys and defend the likes of Tristan Thompson or Chris Bosh.

If Otto is a SF, how many minutes will he play ahead of all the veterans EG has acquired?

How long before a YOUNG PLAYER IS IN WITTMAN'S dog house?

Grunfeld never seems to project minutes at PG, SG, SF, PF, and C with the short term and long term future of the team in mind.

Why not add a guy like Biyombo, Withey, Ajinca, or Branden Wright? Is it a sin to have a longer athlete. Personally, Portis or even taking a look at a player like Arnett Moutrie makes sense to me.

And how about backup PG, with Sessions being in his last contract year in mind? This team invested in Glen Rice. Nate Wolters looks decent right now as a backup, and he's the same age as Beal and Porter.

I expect this post will not be allowed to go on. Doesn't matter.

[FAH1223]

I agree CCJ

12 years now and this idiot EG can't alocate resources correctly to having a balanced roster. It's almost as if he wants to have a hole or multiple holes on the team every year.

[closg00]

2nd Round pick updates:

Tibor Pleiss terminated his contract with Spanish team FC Barcelona and will sign with the Utah Jazz. – via Mundo Deportivo

Euroleague star Nemanja Bjelica agrees to $11.7 million deal with Timberwolves

An S4 and a back-up Center ^, chips being cashed on reasonable deals. The Wizards are only recently getting-in on this with Sato and White. Some wanted Draymond Green instead of Sato.

[Kanyewest]

Some wanted Draymond Green instead of Sato.

I remember mostly Jae Crowder being talked about, who would have been a good pick. BTW, how dumb would Golden State have felt if someone in the 2nd round had taken Draymond especially since they took Festus Ezeli at the end of the first round. If the Warriors had taken Green earlier, they would still have Green on his rookie contract. I suppose they can justify that because they were the ones smart enough to pick him and perhaps Green's salary won't look as high when the cap jumps in 2016.

[jivelikenice]

CCJ, in general you're right about Ernie...He shouldn't be the GM here any longer and that's been known for a long time. That being said some of your comments specifically pertaining to this year are puzzling.

1. Development is on coaches. Now has Ernie helped hire the right coaches to develop?

2. I don't understand why they're less prepared to guard small ball. Isn't Dudley being there to help just that? He has experience playing the "stretch 4". The only stretch 4 on the roster last year couldn't play that role in the reg season and had to be preserved for the playoffs. Now they have a stretch 4 who can actually play that role in the regular season!

3. When you're projecting minutes, why do you continue the cite Webster and Temple? Do all 13 active players play on a given night? Why would you have a role carved out for Webster based on his play last year and his contract? Temple is a 5th guard type. A guy like Temple should play when other guys ahead of him are injured, he shouldn't be a regular part of the rotation.

4. They've never even pretended to have a role in mind for Oubre. They took the best player available on their board versus plugging a hole, an approach I applaud for a team that is still a few players away from being a legit title contender. His PT is on him and how he practices. Like most rookies, his PT will depend on development in practice and injuries ahead of him. Has Beal played an 82 game season? Are we saying Otto is going to go from in & out of the rotation to an 82 game starter? Come on. He's also not a high lottery pick. He's a middle of the 1st rd selection joining a playoff team. How many players in that situation have a guaranteed role in their rookie year?

5. When did Otto Porter become a PF? Have I missed an announcement? Now that being said, there's nothing wrong with him developing into a player who brings versatility and can handle 5-10 mpg at the 4.

6. I don't think Sessions is great. I would have liked a combo guard like Stuckey who could help if Wall had to miss a few games. I don't think a 3rd string pg adds that and unfortunately the roster spots don't exists to add one because they have guys like Webster and Temple under contract. Next year's combo guard is likely overseas right now and we hopefully see him in uniform in the fall of '16. There's no reason to block him.

7. Brandon Wright is a full MLE guy who agreed while they were waiting on PP. I would have loved him but I think PP became a priority and they were stuck until a decision was made there.

8. They still have an empty roster spot! What big would you have preferred over AA at who was available when Anderson signed?

[Rafael122]

The season starts in 3 months, I'd put away the pitch forks. I think they have a move or two left to balance the roster out.

[closg00]

The season starts in 3 months, I'd put away the pitch forks. I think they have a move or two left to balance the roster out.

I'm tired of groveling during FA because we have historically had very few assets under development and our 2nd picks are always tossed like a hot potato. This team could have used both Pleiss and Nemanja Bjelica.....just a frustrated fan Raf.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

CCJ, in general you're right about Ernie...He shouldn't be the GM here any longer and that's been known for a long time. That being said some of your comments specifically pertaining to this year are puzzling.

1. Development is on coaches. Now has Ernie helped hire the right coaches to develop?

2. I don't understand why they're less prepared to guard small ball. Isn't Dudley being there to help just that? He has experience playing the "stretch 4". The only stretch 4 on the roster last year couldn't play that role in the reg season and had to be preserved for the playoffs. Now they have a stretch 4 who can actually play that role in the regular season!

3. When you're projecting minutes, why do you continue the cite Webster and Temple? Do all 13 active players play on a given night? Why would you have a role carved out for Webster based on his play last year and his contract? Temple is a 5th guard type. A guy like Temple should play when other guys ahead of him are injured, he shouldn't be a regular part of the rotation.

4. They've never even pretended to have a role in mind for Oubre. They took the best player available on their board versus plugging a hole, an approach I applaud for a team that is still a few players away from being a legit title contender. His PT is on him and how he practices. Like most rookies, his PT will depend on development in practice and injuries ahead of him. Has Beal played an 82 game season? Are we saying Otto is going to go from in & out of the rotation to an 82 game starter? Come on. He's also not a high lottery pick. He's a middle of the 1st rd selection joining a playoff team. How many players in that situation have a guaranteed role in their rookie year?

5. When did Otto Porter become a PF? Have I missed an announcement? Now that being said, there's nothing wrong with him developing into a player who brings versatility and can handle 5-10 mpg at the 4.

6. I don't think Sessions is great. I would have liked a combo guard like Stuckey who could help if Wall had to miss a few games. I don't think a 3rd string pg adds that and unfortunately the roster spots don't exists to add one because they have guys like Webster and Temple under contract. Next year's combo guard is likely overseas right now and we hopefully see him in uniform in the fall of '16. There's no reason to block him.

7. Brandon Wright is a full MLE guy who agreed while they were waiting on PP. I would have loved him but I think PP became a priority and they were stuck until a decision was made there.

8. They still have an empty roster spot! What big would you have preferred over AA at who was available when Anderson signed?

1. You cannot develop a young big man when you do not have one (except the pariah, Dejuan Blair). Further, you cannot develop when due to stupid team building, NO MINUTES ARE AVALIABLE. Oubre will not develop at SF. Porter will NEVER develop a comfort level of approaching 30 minutes at SF, because his opportunity has been denied as a result of 4 or 5 other SFs on the roster.

2. They're not better prepared to guard small ball. That's different from less prepared. Getting shooters who are in the 6'3" to 6'6" range won't cover 6'8" mobile forwards who have 3 point range. The Wizard acquired one guy who might really be a guard better, but he's only 19 and he's buried far down the depth chart.

3. WHEN I PROJECT MINUTES I TRY TO GIVE EVERYONE A CHANCE! Temple started the season well and he ended up appearing in four of the playoff games against Atlanta. Why project minutes for Humphries, when he had only one appearance in the Toronto series? As for Webster, his salary and this being a contract year each suggest that Webster might be at his best, which was good enough to start the year before Ariza came to the Wizards. By ASSUMING NOTHING PRODUCTION YOU GIVE NO OPPORTUNITY TO PRODUCE.

4. Oubre's role doesn't depend on practice or who's ahead of him. If I planned on bringing a friend to my apartment and leading that person into a wall closet, that person isn't going to socialize. Role has a lot to do with opportunity.

5. If Otto is a SF then WHEN IS HE GOING TO PLAY????? Dudley, Anderson, Webster each say hello. Minutes will not go the way you believe for Otto is my prediction.

6. Satoransky, backup PG next year? This year Sessions is it behind Wall. And Beal ... who's not a PG.

7 . Brandon Wright wasn't the only good big available.

8. I don't have a list in front of me of unsigned bigs, but virtually in of those available to be signed would have been better than Anderson.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

The season starts in 3 months, I'd put away the pitch forks. I think they have a move or two left to balance the roster out.

It's a long summer. Moves EG has made and not made are ruining next season.

[crackhed]

agree w/ur overall sentiment ccj

i believe ernie is a decent evaluator of talent, but i also think he's prone to the occasional gamble. for every solid move he makes he follows up with head scratchers.. and at the end of the day the net gain is minimal. but the team has gotten better and he deserves credit for that... though i'd argue mostly due to the progress of the high draft picks, not necessarily his trade genius

[80sballboy]

CCJ, in general you're right about Ernie...He shouldn't be the GM here any longer and that's been known for a long time. That being said some of your comments specifically pertaining to this year are puzzling.

1. Development is on coaches. Now has Ernie helped hire the right coaches to develop?

2. I don't understand why they're less prepared to guard small ball. Isn't Dudley being there to help just that? He has experience playing the "stretch 4". The only stretch 4 on the roster last year couldn't play that role in the reg season and had to be preserved for the playoffs. Now they have a stretch 4 who can actually play that role in the regular season!

3. When you're projecting minutes, why do you continue the cite Webster and Temple? Do all 13 active players play on a given night? Why would you have a role carved out for Webster based on his play last year and his contract? Temple is a 5th guard type. A guy like Temple should play when other guys ahead of him are injured, he shouldn't be a regular part of the rotation.

4. They've never even pretended to have a role in mind for Oubre. They took the best player available on their board versus plugging a hole, an approach I applaud for a team that is still a few players away from being a legit title contender. His PT is on him and how he practices. Like most rookies, his PT will depend on development in practice and injuries ahead of him. Has Beal played an 82 game season? Are we saying Otto is going to go from in & out of the rotation to an 82 game starter? Come on. He's also not a high lottery pick. He's a middle of the 1st rd selection joining a playoff team. How many players in that situation have a guaranteed role in their rookie year?

5. When did Otto Porter become a PF? Have I missed an announcement? Now that being said, there's nothing wrong with him developing into a player who brings versatility and can handle 5-10 mpg at the 4.

6. I don't think Sessions is great. I would have liked a combo guard like Stuckey who could help if Wall had to miss a few games. I don't think a 3rd string pg adds that and unfortunately the roster spots don't exists to add one because they have guys like Webster and Temple under contract. Next year's combo guard is likely overseas right now and we hopefully see him in uniform in the fall of '16. There's no reason to block him.

7. Brandon Wright is a full MLE guy who agreed while they were waiting on PP. I would have loved him but I think PP became a priority and they were stuck until a decision was made there.

8. They still have an empty roster spot! What big would you have preferred over AA at who was available when Anderson signed?

1. You cannot develop a young big man when you do not have one (except the pariah, Dejuan Blair). Further, you cannot develop when due to stupid team building, NO MINUTES ARE AVALIABLE. Oubre will not develop at SF. Porter will NEVER develop a comfort level of approaching 30 minutes at SF, because his opportunity has been denied as a result of 4 or 5 other SFs on the roster.

2. They're not better prepared to guard small ball. That's different from less prepared. Getting shooters who are in the 6'3" to 6'6" range won't cover 6'8" mobile forwards who have 3 point range. The Wizard acquired one guy who might really be a guard better, but he's only 19 and he's buried far down the depth chart.

3. WHEN I PROJECT MINUTES I TRY TO GIVE EVERYONE A CHANCE! Temple started the season well and he ended up appearing in four of the playoff games against Atlanta. Why project minutes for Humphries, when he had only one appearance in the Toronto series? As for Webster, his salary and this being a contract year each suggest that Webster might be at his best, which was good enough to start the year before Ariza came to the Wizards. By ASSUMING NOTHING PRODUCTION YOU GIVE NO OPPORTUNITY TO PRODUCE.

4. Oubre's role doesn't depend on practice or who's ahead of him. If I planned on bringing a friend to my apartment and leading that person into a wall closet, that person isn't going to socialize. Role has a lot to do with opportunity.

5. If Otto is a SF then WHEN IS HE GOING TO PLAY????? Dudley, Anderson, Webster each say hello. Minutes will not go the way you believe for Otto is my prediction.

6. Satoransky, backup PG next year? This year Sessions is it behind Wall. And Beal ... who's not a PG.

7 . Brandon Wright wasn't the only good big available.

8. I don't have a list in front of me of unsigned bigs, but virtually in of those available to be signed would have been better than Anderson.

This entire offeseason has been geared towards KD. Remember that, so EG, while missing out on some bigs he should have at least attempted to get, is being instructed by Ted to create as much cap room as possible. He's also not signing guys to long-term deals. He might even be drafting guys (hope not), who have some kind of KD relationship. It's absurd if he did that with Oubre but to me, that's more on Ted than anything else. EG has become more of a puppet because he completed f-ed up the Swaggy P, Jan V., Javale, Crawford and Blatche era. Seems like even Porter was a pick to appease Ted (both Hoyas).

5. Dudley already said he's coming off the bench at the 4 and 3. Witt loves veterans, we all know, but he also loves defense. I can see him playing Anderson behind Porter and Neal, esp. if Neal goes cold or plays point. Anderson, Dudley, Neal, Sessions, and Nene off the bench with either Hump or Gooden rotating in, is pretty darn good and much better than last year's options (after Butler went cold and Hump got hurt).

Agree about not getting 6-9 guys who can defend. Yet Golden State didn't need that because Drayond Green is a 6-7 (6-5?) freak who can defend anybody. Millsap is 6-7 and plays center in smallball lineups. I know, Dudley isn't nearly as good as those two players but maybe they hope Porter someday can or of course, if KD arrives.
6.Yes, Neal does play point guard. He did in San Antonio and other places. While he's not very good, he's better than Beal.

[TGW]

Here's my biggest problem with Grunfeld...and it's a fundamental one.

You have an all-star talent in Wall that clearly can make teammates look better than they are, and he's only improving with every passing year.

For the love of everything, why can't he get another bonafide ALL-STAR on the team? Outside of Wall, Grunfeld has failed (hence the nickname "Grunfailed") to find another all-star calibre talent to build around Wall. Players like Gortat, Beal, Nene, Pierce, Ariza, Okafor, Porter, etc., are decent mid-tier talents that can contribute to a winning team, but that's where their talents end. Maybe Beal someday makes an all-star team, but his path to stardom has been slow and irritating. For every step he makes forward (ballin' in the playoffs), he takes like two steps back (injuries, inconsistency in the regular season).

It's frustrating to watch teams with 2 or 3 all-stars, but the Wizards, despite having capspace and multiple high draft picks, haven't been able to find ONE OTHER ALL-STAR CALIBRE TALENT. That's why I feel there's no way Durant leaves his current team. Ibaka and Westbrook are much better than anyone on this current Wizards team outside of Wall, so why leave a team with proven all-star talent and a good GM for a so-so situation with a very mediocre GM.

Hopefully, Durant sees a team with Wall, gets enamored with playing in his hometown and in a weaker conference. I don't think it's enough.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

CCJ, in general you're right about Ernie...He shouldn't be the GM here any longer and that's been known for a long time. That being said some of your comments specifically pertaining to this year are puzzling.

1. Development is on coaches. Now has Ernie helped hire the right coaches to develop?

2. I don't understand why they're less prepared to guard small ball. Isn't Dudley being there to help just that? He has experience playing the "stretch 4". The only stretch 4 on the roster last year couldn't play that role in the reg season and had to be preserved for the playoffs. Now they have a stretch 4 who can actually play that role in the regular season!

3. When you're projecting minutes, why do you continue the cite Webster and Temple? Do all 13 active players play on a given night? Why would you have a role carved out for Webster based on his play last year and his contract? Temple is a 5th guard type. A guy like Temple should play when other guys ahead of him are injured, he shouldn't be a regular part of the rotation.

4. They've never even pretended to have a role in mind for Oubre. They took the best player available on their board versus plugging a hole, an approach I applaud for a team that is still a few players away from being a legit title contender. His PT is on him and how he practices. Like most rookies, his PT will depend on development in practice and injuries ahead of him. Has Beal played an 82 game season? Are we saying Otto is going to go from in & out of the rotation to an 82 game starter? Come on. He's also not a high lottery pick. He's a middle of the 1st rd selection joining a playoff team. How many players in that situation have a guaranteed role in their rookie year?

5. When did Otto Porter become a PF? Have I missed an announcement? Now that being said, there's nothing wrong with him developing into a player who brings versatility and can handle 5-10 mpg at the 4.

6. I don't think Sessions is great. I would have liked a combo guard like Stuckey who could help if Wall had to miss a few games. I don't think a 3rd string pg adds that and unfortunately the roster spots don't exists to add one because they have guys like Webster and Temple under contract. Next year's combo guard is likely overseas right now and we hopefully see him in uniform in the fall of '16. There's no reason to block him.

7. Brandon Wright is a full MLE guy who agreed while they were waiting on PP. I would have loved him but I think PP became a priority and they were stuck until a decision was made there.

8. They still have an empty roster spot! What big would you have preferred over AA at who was available when Anderson signed?

1. You cannot develop a young big man when you do not have one (except the pariah, Dejuan Blair). Further, you cannot develop when due to stupid team building, NO MINUTES ARE AVALIABLE. Oubre will not develop at SF. Porter will NEVER develop a comfort level of approaching 30 minutes at SF, because his opportunity has been denied as a result of 4 or 5 other SFs on the roster.

2. They're not better prepared to guard small ball. That's different from less prepared. Getting shooters who are in the 6'3" to 6'6" range won't cover 6'8" mobile forwards who have 3 point range. The Wizard acquired one guy who might really be a guard better, but he's only 19 and he's buried far down the depth chart.

3. WHEN I PROJECT MINUTES I TRY TO GIVE EVERYONE A CHANCE! Temple started the season well and he ended up appearing in four of the playoff games against Atlanta. Why project minutes for Humphries, when he had only one appearance in the Toronto series? As for Webster, his salary and this being a contract year each suggest that Webster might be at his best, which was good enough to start the year before Ariza came to the Wizards. By ASSUMING NOTHING PRODUCTION YOU GIVE NO OPPORTUNITY TO PRODUCE.

4. Oubre's role doesn't depend on practice or who's ahead of him. If I planned on bringing a friend to my apartment and leading that person into a wall closet, that person isn't going to socialize. Role has a lot to do with opportunity.

5. If Otto is a SF then WHEN IS HE GOING TO PLAY????? Dudley, Anderson, Webster each say hello. Minutes will not go the way you believe for Otto is my prediction.

6. Satoransky, backup PG next year? This year Sessions is it behind Wall. And Beal ... who's not a PG.

7 . Brandon Wright wasn't the only good big available.

8. I don't have a list in front of me of unsigned bigs, but virtually in of those available to be signed would have been better than Anderson.

This entire offeseason has been geared towards KD. Remember that, so EG, while missing out on some bigs he should have at least attempted to get, is being instructed by Ted to create as much cap room as possible. He's also not signing guys to long-term deals. He might even be drafting guys (hope not), who have some kind of KD relationship. It's absurd if he did that with Oubre but to me, that's more on Ted than anything else. EG has become more of a puppet because he completed f-ed up the Swaggy P, Jan V., Javale, Crawford and Blatche era. Seems like even Porter was a pick to appease Ted (both Hoyas).

5. Dudley already said he's coming off the bench at the 4 and 3. Witt loves veterans, we all know, but he also loves defense. I can see him playing Anderson behind Porter and Neal, esp. if Neal goes cold or plays point. Anderson, Dudley, Neal, Sessions, and Nene off the bench with either Hump or Gooden rotating in, is pretty darn good and much better than last year's options (after Butler went cold and Hump got hurt).

Agree about not getting 6-9 guys who can defend. Yet Golden State didn't need that because Drayond Green is a 6-7 (6-5?) freak who can defend anybody. Millsap is 6-7 and plays center in smallball lineups. I know, Dudley isn't nearly as good as those two players but maybe they hope Porter someday can or of course, if KD arrives.
6.Yes, Neal does play point guard. He did in San Antonio and other places. While he's not very good, he's better than Beal.

We'll see how things play out, 80s. I just felt like venting.

[nate33]

With foresight.

1. He doesn't seem to balance a roster with disparately skilled athletes.

2. He doesn't seem to evenly develop young players, big and small. (Backup PG, PF, and C are mysteries to me)

3. He doesn't seem to anticipate what this team will lack in the playoffs. (Post scoring, defending small ball PFs, length, go to players who are not merely catch and shoot players, intelligent play in crunch time post Pierce).

4. Gortat and Nene went the way of the dinosaur as a starting combination of players by the playoffs. With smaller, more mobile power forwards as the Atlanta Hawks utilized, Grunfeld did not seem to address DEFENDING SMALL BALL.

5. With rim protection being desirable, Grunfeld seems intent to add more and more wing players but ABSOLUTELY NO BIGS.

6. Foresight would TRY AND PROJECT MINUTES AND ROLES. I defy anyone in the Wizards organization to try and project the minutes of Dudley, Webster, Anderson, Neal, and Garrett Temple.

7. Does this mean Oubre will play at all? If not, who's watching him in the D-League? Where will he be? Practicing as what? A SF?

8. Foresee the mentorship of Otto Porter. Is he now a PF behind Nene? Behind Humphries? Behind Gooden? Or, does he start ahead of all those guys and defend the likes of Tristan Thompson or Chris Bosh.

9. If Otto is a SF, how many minutes will he play ahead of all the veterans EG has acquired?

10. How long before a YOUNG PLAYER IS IN WITTMAN'S dog house?

11. Grunfeld never seems to project minutes at PG, SG, SF, PF, and C with the short term and long term future of the team in mind.

12. Why not add a guy like Biyombo, Withey, Ajinca, or Branden Wright? Is it a sin to have a longer athlete. Personally, Portis or even taking a look at a player like Arnett Moutrie makes sense to me.

13. And how about backup PG, with Sessions being in his last contract year in mind? This team invested in Glen Rice. Nate Wolters looks decent right now as a backup, and he's the same age as Beal and Porter.

14. I expect this post will not be allowed to go on. Doesn't matter.

I numbered your points to make it easier to address them in kind.

1. Agreed. For instance, all of our bigs are position defenders and not shot blockers.

2. There has been no young developing backup PG because Wall is our developing PG. He wanted to combine Wall with a veteran. I think this is the first season we can be sure that Wall is essentially fully developed, so it may be time to look for another young guy, but you can only draft who is available. We had a developing backup C in Seraphin who never turned the corner. It's back to the drawing board at that position. Drafting Portis would have made sense, but I'm not going to judge until I see how things pan out a bit. If EG honestly felt Oubre was a tier above Portis, I can't fault him for taking BPA.

3. I think the fact that our team has consistently fared better in the playoffs than the regular season belies your complaint. I'm sure EG would like better, more intelligent, more creative players, but all teams do. There's only so much one can do. When Pierce left, Dudley was easily the best available replacement given our long term cap restraints. It's hard to bash EG over this. He at least added Neal who can create some offense on his own. Wall, Beal and Porter will all continue to improve in this regard.

4. What else could EG have done? What versatile Draymond Green-like PF was available for the MLE on a one-year deal this offseason?

5. I really felt EG blew it by failing to acquire Biyombo. In a perfect world, he should have added Biyombo and then moved Blair to Dallas for a TPE. That would have addressed the rim protection complaint, the versatile lineup complaint, and the developing young big complaint, all with one move. But other than Biyombo, I didn't see any difference-making bigs available in free agency who wouldn't have screwed up our KD2DC plan.

6. Dudley - backup SF (or possibly the starter) and he will play 5-10 minutes a night at PF. 25-30 minutes total
Webster - won't play unless it's to showcase him for a trade
Anderson - I don't know. There aren't a lot of minutes for him behind Porter and Dudley. Will probably only play if someone is hurt.
Neal - backup SG and will play 10-20 minutes a night.
Temple - 3rd string PG and SG and situational defensive ace. Will get lots of DNPs when everyone is healthy but will become the backup PG or SG if a guard gets hurt.

7. Oubre won't play except in garbage time or injury - pretty much what Blair did last year. He won't be on the active roster unless someone gets hurt, and even then he won't play. He'll only be needed in the rotation if two wings get hurt.

8. Porter is hopefully our starting SF. He will play alongside Dudley for 10 minutes a night. I'm not sure which of them will be labeled the PF during that formation. Dudley will be his mentor - and a very good one.

9. Porter will start or be the first SF off the bench behind Dudley.

10. I don't know.

11. Sure he does. Our long term rotation will be Wall, Beal, Porter, Durant, Gortat - with Oubre at backup SG/SF and Humphries at backup PF/C.

12. EG blew it in not adding Biyombo. Wright went for a full MLE in Memphis, a better team who plays in his home town. Even if we made the same offer, it's unlikely that he would have come here. Ajinca also signed very quickly to stay in New Orleans. Withey is still out there. If we can move Blair for a TPE, I'd go get him. The fact that he is still out there probably means nobody wants him much. My guess is that whether or not we sign him isn't going to matter.

13. Backup PG's aren't hard to find. For now, EG is chiefly concerned with staying far enough under the cap to land Durant. I'm hoping we draft a backup PG next year. If not, a guy like Sessions may be available for the vet minimum.

14. Why would you expect this post to be censored or locked?

Overall, I feel that you and some others on this board have unreasonable expectations. EG can't turn water into wine. His options were limited since we couldn't take on any long term deals except maybe one contract valued at $4M or less. In my opinion, his only "mistakes" were Oubre over Portis and Henderson over Biyombo. I think it's too early to know whether Oubre over Portis was actually a mistake or if it was shrewdly taking BPA over need. Time will tell. I think Henderson over Biyombo was indefensible. I see no role for Henderson unless there are major injuries. Once better options were off the table, I felt that signing Henderson was better than doing nothing at all; but the problem was that EG should have acted sooner to sign a different player who fills more short term and long term needs.

[TheSecretWeapon]

One way in which ALL of CCJ's complaints can legitimately be used to bash Grunfeld: every constraint in acquiring talent is the result of decisions Grunfeld made.

[DCZards]

Good post, Nate. I particularly agree with points # 2, 5, 11 and 13.

Regarding Oubre, I was “all-in” for Portis. Thought he might be the S4 that the Zards need. But none of us know if Portis or Kelly will turn out to be the better pro. Oubre was widely considered the BPA when he was drafted so I understand why EG went there. From what I’ve seen of Oubre both on film and during yesterday’s SL game, I think he has a legitimate shot of being what I would call a five-tool guy –- defense, rebounding, 3 pt. shooting, penetration and motor. (Yes, Kelly does need to learn to pass.) Time will tell.

I believe Anderson will get those 10-20 minutes at backup SG, not Neal. Anderson is a better all around player who, as TSW reported, has had his best years recently. Neal, on the other hand, has been pretty mediocre the last couple of years.

I agree that Dudley will be a good mentor for Porter and Oubre. Jared appears to be a smart, hardworking, personable dude. And he’ll knock down a lot of 3s with all the open looks he’ll get playing with JWall.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

With foresight.

1. He doesn't seem to balance a roster with disparately skilled athletes.

2. He doesn't seem to evenly develop young players, big and small. (Backup PG, PF, and C are mysteries to me)

3. He doesn't seem to anticipate what this team will lack in the playoffs. (Post scoring, defending small ball PFs, length, go to players who are not merely catch and shoot players, intelligent play in crunch time post Pierce).

4. Gortat and Nene went the way of the dinosaur as a starting combination of players by the playoffs. With smaller, more mobile power forwards as the Atlanta Hawks utilized, Grunfeld did not seem to address DEFENDING SMALL BALL.

5. With rim protection being desirable, Grunfeld seems intent to add more and more wing players but ABSOLUTELY NO BIGS.

6. Foresight would TRY AND PROJECT MINUTES AND ROLES. I defy anyone in the Wizards organization to try and project the minutes of Dudley, Webster, Anderson, Neal, and Garrett Temple.

7. Does this mean Oubre will play at all? If not, who's watching him in the D-League? Where will he be? Practicing as what? A SF?

8. Foresee the mentorship of Otto Porter. Is he now a PF behind Nene? Behind Humphries? Behind Gooden? Or, does he start ahead of all those guys and defend the likes of Tristan Thompson or Chris Bosh.

9. If Otto is a SF, how many minutes will he play ahead of all the veterans EG has acquired?

10. How long before a YOUNG PLAYER IS IN WITTMAN'S dog house?

11. Grunfeld never seems to project minutes at PG, SG, SF, PF, and C with the short term and long term future of the team in mind.

12. Why not add a guy like Biyombo, Withey, Ajinca, or Branden Wright? Is it a sin to have a longer athlete. Personally, Portis or even taking a look at a player like Arnett Moutrie makes sense to me.

13. And how about backup PG, with Sessions being in his last contract year in mind? This team invested in Glen Rice. Nate Wolters looks decent right now as a backup, and he's the same age as Beal and Porter.

14. I expect this post will not be allowed to go on. Doesn't matter.

I numbered your points to make it easier to address them in kind.

1. Agreed. For instance, all of our bigs are position defenders and not shot blockers.

2. There has been no young developing backup PG because Wall is our developing PG. He wanted to combine Wall with a veteran. I think this is the first season we can be sure that Wall is essentially fully developed, so it may be time to look for another young guy, but you can only draft who is available. We had a developing backup C in Seraphin who never turned the corner. It's back to the drawing board at that position. Drafting Portis would have made sense, but I'm not going to judge until I see how things pan out a bit. If EG honestly felt Oubre was a tier above Portis, I can't fault him for taking BPA.

3. I think the fact that our team has consistently fared better in the playoffs than the regular season belies your complaint. I'm sure EG would like better, more intelligent, more creative players, but all teams do. There's only so much one can do. When Pierce left, Dudley was easily the best available replacement given our long term cap restraints. It's hard to bash EG over this. He at least added Neal who can create some offense on his own. Wall, Beal and Porter will all continue to improve in this regard.

4. What else could EG have done? What versatile Draymond Green-like PF was available for the MLE on a one-year deal this offseason?

5. I really felt EG blew it by failing to acquire Biyombo. In a perfect world, he should have added Biyombo and then moved Blair to Dallas for a TPE. That would have addressed the rim protection complaint, the versatile lineup complaint, and the developing young big complaint, all with one move. But other than Biyombo, I didn't see any difference-making bigs available in free agency who wouldn't have screwed up our KD2DC plan.

6. Dudley - backup SF (or possibly the starter) and he will play 5-10 minutes a night at PF. 25-30 minutes total
Webster - won't play unless it's to showcase him for a trade
Anderson - I don't know. There aren't a lot of minutes for him behind Porter and Dudley. Will probably only play if someone is hurt.
Neal - backup SG and will play 10-20 minutes a night.
Temple - 3rd string PG and SG and situational defensive ace. Will get lots of DNPs when everyone is healthy but will become the backup PG or SG if a guard gets hurt.

7. Oubre won't play except in garbage time or injury - pretty much what Blair did last year. He won't be on the active roster unless someone gets hurt, and even then he won't play. He'll only be needed in the rotation if two wings get hurt.

8. Porter is hopefully our starting SF. He will play alongside Dudley for 10 minutes a night. I'm not sure which of them will be labeled the PF during that formation. Dudley will be his mentor - and a very good one.

9. Porter will start or be the first SF off the bench behind Dudley.

10. I don't know.

11. Sure he does. Our long term rotation will be Wall, Beal, Porter, Durant, Gortat - with Oubre at backup SG/SF and Humphries at backup PF/C.

12. EG blew it in not adding Biyombo. Wright went for a full MLE in Memphis, a better team who plays in his home town. Even if we made the same offer, it's unlikely that he would have come here. Ajinca also signed very quickly to stay in New Orleans. Withey is still out there. If we can move Blair for a TPE, I'd go get him. The fact that he is still out there probably means nobody wants him much. My guess is that whether or not we sign him isn't going to matter.

13. Backup PG's aren't hard to find. For now, EG is chiefly concerned with staying far enough under the cap to land Durant. I'm hoping we draft a backup PG next year. If not, a guy like Sessions may be available for the vet minimum.

14. Why would you expect this post to be censored or locked?

Overall, I feel that you and some others on this board have unreasonable expectations. EG can't turn water into wine. His options were limited since we couldn't take on any long term deals except maybe one contract valued at $4M or less. In my opinion, his only "mistakes" were Oubre over Portis and Henderson over Biyombo. I think it's too early to know whether Oubre over Portis was actually a mistake or if it was shrewdly taking BPA over need. Time will tell. I think Henderson over Biyombo was indefensible. I see no role for Henderson unless there are major injuries. Once better options were off the table, I felt that signing Henderson was better than doing nothing at all; but the problem was that EG should have acted sooner to sign a different player who fills more short term and long term needs.

To point 4, after watch both Looney and Portis on video step out to defend the perimeter and quickly recover numerous times, Grunfeld could have anticipated either of them could become strong small ball defenders. GS drafted Looney, and I expect he will become a better player than Harrison Barnes, and potentially just as good in time as Draymond Green. Watch the playoffs next season and see if 20 year old (21 by then) Looney and Portis (more doubtful due to Bulls depth) contribute.

To point 6, I still say Wittman will play veterans and young guys will find a way to the doghouse. Makes no sense at all adding Anderson at $4M if the plan is to never player him. He will play. Otto will play less than he should. Washington will rely on veterans and Porter will lapse into bad play is my guess at what will happen.

To point 7, drafting Oubre was absurd. Planning on waiting year(s) is dumb, especially when there were better, young players available at other positions.

I think he made a great mistake when he added Anderson after having added Dudley. That move ensured redundancy and no minutes for one player. I said this last year when he stupidly added Blair after Humphries, and then re-signed Seraphin. A fourth or fifth grade student knows how to divide 48 by 4. EG doesn't seem to.

I think adding Oubre with too many veterans was very wasteful and very dumb. Draft Tyus Jones or just stick with Jerian Grant would have been far better moves than drafting a 19 -year old who won't do anything meaningful. A third PG has more of a shot than a fifth or sixth swing man.

Above I'm sure you mean Henderson instead of Anderson. We agree.

[TheSecretWeapon]

CCJ: Your post has me looking at the end of the first round, really for the first time. I think some of those teams later in the draft got some prospects with nice potential -- Wright to Toronto, Portis to Chicago, RHJ to Brooklyn, Hunter to Boston, Looney to GSW jump out.

Tyus Jones seems like a #SoTimberwolves selection.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I think Grunfeld couldn't have done much worse than to give away picks just to take a player who will not be as good as the players you just mentioned, TSW.

Wright will probably be a better player than Grant because he's an exceptionally good defender. Grant would have been a decent pick, and one ready to play right away. No need to draft both Neal and Anderson if Grant or Wright were the pick; and the second rounders this moron of a GM gives away could have been saved.

Portis and Looney will be better than Oubre--I think it's a matter of a little or a whole lot better. (I think a whole lot better).

I have my doubts but RJ Hunter. I think Oubre might be just as good because he's a couple years younger with more raw talent IMO.

I'm neutral on Hollis Jefferson.

All I know is I think Ernie Grunfeld is a really weak GM. I'm sick of him. I think he consistently messes up all but foolproof picks.

[jivelikenice]

Overall, I feel that you and some others on this board have unreasonable expectations. EG can't turn water into wine. His options were limited since we couldn't take on any long term deals except maybe one contract valued at $4M or less. In my opinion, his only "mistakes" were Oubre over Portis and Henderson over Biyombo. I think it's too early to know whether Oubre over Portis was actually a mistake or if it was shrewdly taking BPA over need. Time will tell. I think Henderson over Biyombo was indefensible. I see no role for Henderson unless there are major injuries. Once better options were off the table, I felt that signing Henderson was better than doing nothing at all; but the problem was that EG should have acted sooner to sign a different player who fills more short term and long term needs.

This is where I get frustrated as well. We can all agree that Ernie at some point did not deserve an extension. But that doesn't mean you can't look at each move or current plan independently and with reasonable expectations. They are not taking on any long term money and had the MLE, BAE, and TPE to work with. When they lost Pierce it opened up another hole that needed to be addressed. They recovered to add three capable shooters, a desperate need for this team all on one year deals. Neal can pkay either backcourt position, Anderson can play either wing position, and Dudley and play both forward roles, be the stretch 4, and can even play some 2. Versatility and shooting.

Oubre Jr. IMO was a great pick IMO. Just in two SL games you see his defensive potential and ability to get to the line. His potential is off the charts....Best part about him?
"That work ethic resurfaced Sunday night. Frustrated with his performance earlier in the day, which included several missed jumpers, Oubre Jr. called his trainer, Drew Hanlen, and the pair worked out at UNLV’s practice court at 10 p.m. The Wizards were off Monday, but he wanted to hone his jump shot and didn’t want to wait."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/wizards/wizards-kelly-oubre-jr-returns-to-las-vegas-to-continue-his-basketball-education/2015/07/13/08ce5dac-298c-11e5-a250-
Do we know how Portis v Oubre will end up? No...but they obviously had KOJr as the BPA on the board. I frankly have never seen so much criticism because a team didn't DIDN'T go need over BPA on their board.

Regarding a rim protector, J Michael seems to think they're not done and he typically seems to have a firm grasp on what this FO is up to. Wait & see I guess....