Randy Wittman and Sam Cassell named assistant coaches

Post #1 » by **Maritimer** » Thu May 21, 2009 9:12 pm

As per John Schuhmann (NBA.com writer) from Twitter.

Interesting hires.

FreeBalling · Post #2 » by **FreeBalling** » Thu May 21, 2009 9:18 pm

I like it!

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/wizard ... rdsinsider

Benjammin · Post #3 » by **Benjammin** » Thu May 21, 2009 9:22 pm

I'm glad it's official. I'm especially excited to see Sam I am work with Gil. Now we need an assistant to work with our big guys, and it would be great to keep Dave Hopla around because he gets serious results in improving shooting.

DaRealHibachi · Post #4 » by **DaRealHibachi** » Thu May 21, 2009 9:24 pm

Benjammin wrote:I'm glad it's official. I'm especially excited to see Sam I am work with Gil. Now we need an assistant to work with our big guys, and it would be great to keep Dave Hopla around because he gets serious results in improving shooting.

Hopla isn't returning...

This shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone, but I was just told by two plugged in sources that Phil Hubbard, Randy Ayers and Dave Hopla will not return next season. My sources said that those three have already been informed that their contracts will not be renewed after they expire on June 30 and that all three are already looking for employment elsewhere. Wes Unseld Jr. is still under contract and will be back, I'm told.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/wizard ... ng_st.html

fishercob · Post #5 » by **fishercob** » Thu May 21, 2009 9:24 pm

Woo! Can't wait to see Gil break out Sam's "giant testicles dance" when he hits a buzzer beater in Cleveland during next year's playoffs. :-)

Dan Steinberg's life just got a lot better.

Benjammin · Post #6 » by **Benjammin** » Thu May 21, 2009 9:38 pm

DaRealHibachi wrote:
Benjammin wrote:I'm glad it's official. I'm especially excited to see Sam I am work with Gil. Now we need an assistant to work with our big guys, and it would be great to keep Dave Hopla around because he gets serious results in improving shooting.

Hopla isn't returning...

This shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone, but I was just told by two plugged in sources that Phil Hubbard, Randy Ayers and Dave Hopla will not return next season. My sources said that those three have already been informed that their contracts will not be renewed after they expire on June 30 and that all three are already looking for employment elsewhere. Wes Unseld Jr. is still under contract and will be back, I'm told.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/wizard ... ng_st.html

Thanks, I had not seen that. I wonder if Gene Banks will be a member of the staff, or not.

Hawaii · Post #7 » by **Hawaii** » Thu May 21, 2009 9:48 pm

I'm very interested in seeing how Cassell makes the transition from player to coach, and I'm glad he's doing it with us.

Chocolate City Jordanaire · Post #8 » by **Chocolate City Jordanaire** » Thu May 21, 2009 9:49 pm

I don't know about little Wes. Too bad about Hopla. Sorry to read that when all I wanted to say was:

GREAT NEWS about SAM I AM.

Honestly, what better mentor could Gil and the rest of them have than a guy with a couple rings, and one who took Flip as far as he has gotten?

I love Sam Cassell's competitiveness and his straight-to-the-point critical thinking skills.

The Wizards are not adding a suck up.

closg00 · Post #9 » by **closg00** » Thu May 21, 2009 10:01 pm

Good news

Wes Unseld Jr....Wiz employee 4-life :nonono:

fishercob · Post #10 » by **fishercob** » Thu May 21, 2009 10:04 pm

I continue to protest the mistreatment of Wes Jr on these boards for the sins of his father. How would you all like to be judged based on what your parents did or didn't do. The kid went to Hopkins for heaven's sake and has dutifully worked his way up in the organization. Please give the Wes Jr hate a rest.

Post #11 » by **Klomp** » Thu May 21, 2009 10:10 pm

Sam is a good hire. He's a great basketball mind, and he won't be shy about telling Gilbert what he's doing well. As for Wittman.....well, at least he isn't your head coach. That's all I have to say about him.

What's the over under on a third assistant by the name of Latrell Sprewell? Then make a trade for KG, sign Szczerbiak this offseason, get Darrick Martin, Ervin Johnson, Troy Hudson, and Gary Trent out of retirement, and you have the Minnesota Timberwolves that went to the Western Conference Finals.

mohammed10 · Post #12 » by **mohammed10** » Thu May 21, 2009 10:31 pm

closg00 wrote:Good news Wes Unseld Jr....Wiz employee 4-life

edfmx86 · Post #13 » by **edfmx86** » Thu May 21, 2009 10:44 pm

just read the news, guys

im pretty stoked for you guys, i always thought that Cassell would make a great coach! Good luck with him!

clubbing_caveman · Post #14 » by **clubbing_caveman** » Thu May 21, 2009 10:46 pm

Too bad about Hopla. He does a great job in getting players to shoot better. Not sure why he's been let go...perhaps he's done all he could do with this team???
Anyway, I like the hire of Cassell. He will be able to bring the young guards along. Not sure about Wittman. Maybe he too is a good teacher, but he certainly isnt a good on-the-floor/game coach. Then again, that isnt going to be his role as the assistant coach. I'll be looking for input from others regarding his strengths...

Zerocious · Post #15 » by **Zerocious** » Thu May 21, 2009 10:49 pm

fishercob wrote:I continue to protest the mistreatment of Wes Jr on these boards for the sins of his father. How would you all like to be judged based on what your parents did or didn't do. The kid went to Hopkins for heaven's sake and has dutifully worked his way up in the organization. Please give the Wes Jr hate a rest.

you think he could crack a smile every once in a while?

i'm sad to see hopla go, i'm sure brendan is too. i guess the foul shooting on this team isn't that bad, and what kind of improvement % has he brought to the team as a whole. dang shame though, thanks for the tix hopla

Post #16 » by **LyricalRico** » Thu May 21, 2009 10:57 pm

Wow, a proven NBA coach and quality assistants. What a novel idea.

Higga · Post #17 » by **Higga** » Thu May 21, 2009 11:18 pm

Everywhere Sam I Am goes that team wins...

Post #18 » by **miller31time** » Thu May 21, 2009 11:40 pm

Minnesota fans,

What are Wittman's strengths? I know you don't think to highly of him but he has to be able to do something right....right?

mohammed10 · Post #19 » by **mohammed10** » Fri May 22, 2009 1:46 am

LyricalRico wrote:Wow, a proven NBA coach and quality assistants. What a novel idea.

newslowsad · Post #20 » by **newslowsad** » Fri May 22, 2009 1:56 am

Goodbye Mr. Ayers!