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I heard Wall talk about this after the Detroit game on ESPN. Only the Wizards could have a "players-only" meeting that backfires.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wizards-insider/wp/2018/01/21/the-wizards-had-a-players-only-meeting-and-it-apparently-didnt-go-well/?utm_term=.bb9ede5962ef

Wall holds a similar opinion. Players already had a chance to speak their minds, he said. And if games like the Charlotte loss happen again, then 14 guys sitting in a locker room will not be able to fix it. Wall extended his index finger to the ceiling and suggested the issue would have to be promoted to a higher power.

“Upstairs,” Wall said. “Front office got to figure it out.”

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2755277-bradley-beal-says-wizards-players-only-meeting-didnt-accomplish-much

When the main culprits are pointing fingers then the meeting doesn't work.

Zards lack veteran leadership. So I'm not surprised the meeting wasn't as successful as the players hoped. Not a big deal though.

DCZards wrote:Zards lack veteran leadership. So I'm not surprised the meeting wasn't as successful as the players hoped. Not a big deal though.

Umm, John Wall is an 8-year vet. Gortat is an 11-year vet. Morris is a 7-year vet. Mahinmi is a 9-year vet. Smith is a 9-year vet. Meeks is an 8-year vet. There are only 2 players on the team who are on their rookie deals.

I think it's a big deal. It's one thing if you have a bunch of guys that don't like each other but they all want to win. These guys are pointing fingers at one another and John is saying, well, maybe some of these guys need to go. Not everybody has to be best friends but you need to be professional on the court and the common goal should be to bust your ass to win. Like Brooks said the other night about that we're a brotherhood comment.

Reminds me of the 2009-10 season when there was a player who wasn't on the same page and it turned out to be Caron Butler. Right now, this situation appears to have different sides.

nate33 wrote:

DCZards wrote:Zards lack veteran leadership. So I'm not surprised the meeting wasn't as successful as the players hoped. Not a big deal though.

Umm, John Wall is an 8-year vet. Gortat is an 11-year vet. Morris is a 7-year vet. Mahinmi is a 9-year vet. Smith is a 9-year vet. Meeks is an 8-year vet. There are only 2 players on the team who are on their rookie deals.

They have veterans. They lack leadership.

80sballboy wrote:I think it's a big deal. It's one thing if you have a bunch of guys that don't like each other but they all want to win. These guys are pointing fingers at one another and John is saying, well, maybe some of these guys need to go. Not everybody has to be best friends but you need to be professional on the court and the common goal should be to bust your ass to win. Like Brooks said the other night about that we're a brotherhood comment.

Being professional on the court should mean not forcing shots. It should mean sharing the ball and playing the right way. Such as playing defense all game and not just saving energy for the offensive end. What is anybody not named John Wall or Bradley Beal going to say?

"Gee, I wish our "stars" would get their heads out their asses at the ends of winnable games that we keep losing for the same reasons"?

Kanyewest wrote:Reminds me of the 2009-10 season when there was a player who wasn't on the same page and it turned out to be Caron Butler. Right now, this situation appears to have different sides.

I remember that. Caron was playing very selfishly.

When those guys Butler and Jamison everybody got traded it was like a breath of fresh air. We got to see what team basketball looked like again after the shooters were gone. Their window had closed once EJ was fired. No team meetings could fix the problem that disenfranchised veterans felt.

nate33 wrote:

DCZards wrote:Zards lack veteran leadership. So I'm not surprised the meeting wasn't as successful as the players hoped. Not a big deal though.

Umm, John Wall is an 8-year vet. Gortat is an 11-year vet. Morris is a 7-year vet. Mahinmi is a 9-year vet. Smith is a 9-year vet. Meeks is an 8-year vet. There are only 2 players on the team who are on their rookie deals.

You don't become a leader based on how long you've been in the league. Leadership is deeper than that.

man, its gotta be hard to sit there and listen if Wall is the one speaking in a team meeting. Let's just be honest here, he's one of the main culprits of the effort issue if not THE main culprit. No wonder that sort of thing didn't really work.

the quotes are actually hilarious in that article. Beal said "some people didn't get to say what they wanted to say"

Wall "everyone got a chance to say what they needed to say, its up to Ernie to figure it out"


LOL, 100% sound like Wall wants Gortat or Porter gone. "upstairs, front office gotta figure it out" what an awful quote from the face of the franchise. Pretty much reveals why the team meeting went wrong.

NatP4 wrote:man, its gotta be hard to sit there and listen if Wall is the one speaking in a team meeting. Let's just be honest here, he's one of the main culprits of the effort issue if not THE main culprit. No wonder that sort of thing didn't really work.

Why am I not surprised that you are quick to blame Wall for the failure of the meeting...based on zero evidence that it was his fault or that he was the "one speaking."

As a fan, I'm more concerned with what happens on the court. The Charlotte loss was beyond ugly. But the Zards played well against Detroit. Let's hope that continues.

NatP4 wrote:the quotes are actually hilarious in that article. Beal said "some people didn't get to say what they wanted to say"

Wall "everyone got a chance to say what they needed to say, its up to Ernie to figure it out"


LOL, 100% sound like Wall wants Gortat or Porter gone. "upstairs, front office gotta figure it out" what an awful quote from the face of the franchise. Pretty much reveals why the team meeting went wrong.

I mentioned that but deleted the comment. I concur.

I'd bet serious money much of the issue is with the P&R coverages. Some guys want to switch everything, others don't.

Chocolate City Jordanaire wrote:

NatP4 wrote:the quotes are actually hilarious in that article. Beal said "some people didn't get to say what they wanted to say"

Wall "everyone got a chance to say what they needed to say, its up to Ernie to figure it out"


LOL, 100% sound like Wall wants Gortat or Porter gone. "upstairs, front office gotta figure it out" what an awful quote from the face of the franchise. Pretty much reveals why the team meeting went wrong.

I mentioned that but deleted the comment. I concur.

I could sit here and try to think of a worse comment after a team meeting, but I honestly think "upstairs, front office gotta figure it out" might be the absolute worst.

DCZards wrote:

NatP4 wrote:man, its gotta be hard to sit there and listen if Wall is the one speaking in a team meeting. Let's just be honest here, he's one of the main culprits of the effort issue if not THE main culprit. No wonder that sort of thing didn't really work.

Why am I not surprised that you are quick to blame Wall for the failure of the meeting...based on zero evidence that it was his fault or that he was the "one speaking."

As a fan, I'm more concerned with what happens on the court. The Charlotte loss was beyond ugly. But the Zards played well against Detroit. Let's hope that continues.

try to use common sense here. You have team meetings to fix things internally that can be fixed. What is the one obvious thing that can be fixed with this team? the answer is effort. Which players don't consistently play hard? I'll let you figure that one out. The face of the franchise and star player came out saying "Upstairs, front office gotta figure it out" immediately after this meeting.

try and read between the lines a little bit. I promise you it isn't that hard

What Wall said on Friday

Are you guys sure that this is about Kieff not wanting to take criticism or maybe the rest of the team think Wall/Beal are the main problem so they get sick of them pointing the finger at everyone else. Like it's Wall/Beal are separating themselves from the rest of the team, maybe Oubre and or Kieff aside.

Honestly it could be anything but I don't like the fact that Wall/Beal went public with it, at least not this soon. It separates the locker room and guys will start not to trust them

Kanyewest wrote:Reminds me of the 2009-10 season when there was a player who wasn't on the same page and it turned out to be Caron Butler. Right now, this situation appears to have different sides.

That player = Marcin Gortat

The way he's been running his mouth these past few seasons, it's pretty apparent that he's been a major strain on locker room chemistry. I thought this would be his last season in DC, but now it looks like he may not even make it past the trade deadline.

What's the best offer can we make to get Favors expiring deal from Utah? I wonder if they'll take Morris + Gortat at the deadline..