Ernie Grunfeld Podcast on WJFK

[Ji]

from today. Also interview with Randy Foye from today

http://www.wjfk.com/pages/1460207.php

[JWizmentality]

Cool. His heart is on the right side. I love this guy.

[nate33]

Pretty good interviews. You gotta give the Junkies credit. They asked some tough questions. They straight up told Randy Foye that one of them felt he was a "dime a dozen" player and they asked him to prove otherwise.

More good news: when Ernie was breaking down the depth at each position, he mentioned that there are 3 players who can play each position. When talking about the 2 guard, he said "At 2-guard, we have Nick Young, Mike Miller, Randy Foye can player there, as can Caron". No mentioned of Deshawn Stevenson.

[Bickerstaff]

Cool. His heart is on the right side. I love this guy.

That's funny, because Randy Foye's heart literally IS on the right side.

[standupwiz]

I think that not mentioning DS is more of the health issue. Maybe his back is worse than advertised. I just don't think the GM of the team is going to downgrade an asset w/o knowing full well he can't move the guy at least not now. It also says that the contract he gave him was a mistake.

[crackhed]

Pretty good interviews. You gotta give the Junkies credit. They asked some tough questions. They straight up told Randy Foye that one of them felt he was a "dime a dozen" player and they asked him to prove otherwise.

More good news: when Ernie was breaking down the depth at each position, he mentioned that there are 3 players who can play each position. When talking about the 2 guard, he said "At 2-guard, we have Nick Young, Mike Miller, Randy Foye can player there, as can Caron". No mentioned of Deshawn Stevenson.

also no mention of mike james (mentioned gil, randy & javaris at point).

[Bickerstaff]

I think that not mentioning DS is more of the health issue. Maybe his back is worse than advertised. I just don't think the GM of the team is going to downgrade an asset w/o knowing full well he can't move the guy at least not now. It also says that the contract he gave him was a mistake.

That's the impression I get too. James and DS are either going to retire, get released, or be inactive reserves. James has trade value as an expiring, but not enough that it would induce anyone to take on Deshawn's contract. Looks like the Wizards are going to have a young bench.

edit: As for Stevenson's deal being a mistake, show me one roster in the NBA without a couple scrubs with deals that make DS's contract look like a bargain.

[JWizmentality]

Cool. His heart is on the right side. I love this guy.

That's funny, because Randy Foye's heart literally IS on the right side.

Ummm, yeah...that's what I meant.

I see what you thought I was saying though.

Would make a cool movie seen.

"Where do you want it, in the head or the heart?"
"Shoot me in the heart"
*Bang!*

"Missed Biacth!!!!"

[Bickerstaff]

Cool. His heart is on the right side. I love this guy.

That's funny, because Randy Foye's heart literally IS on the right side.

Ummm, yeah...that's what I meant.

I see what you thought I was saying though.

Ha! Maybe we should print up some bumper stickers.

[Kanyewest]

After listening to the interview, I don't think EG snubbed Stevenson on purpose. He was disputing a point that the Wizards are not weak with big men since they Wizards have 3 guys that can play every position; and he went on to name the 3 players that could play each position in his argument. I don't think he mentioned Stevenson because he already made his point that 3 guys could play shooting guard. He didn't even point out that Gilbert could play shooting guard at stretches.

The good news for Stevenson is that Grunfeld said that there is an open competition for the starting job. He could see more time when the Wizards face these guys:

Wade
Carter
Joe Johnson
LeBron
Redd
Ray Allen
Ginobli
JR Smith
Brandon Roy
Kobe Bryant
Kevin Martin

Of course, Stevenson has to play more like he did in 06-07 and 07-08 than he did in 08-09.

[JWizmentality]

^^^ Nope. I think it was a Freudian slip. He was envisioning the team in his mind, and DeBrick was clearly not a part of his future plans. He wasn't even mentioned as one of the guys coming back from injury.

[barelyawake]

I'm just glad that no sport reporter, player from the Wiz or Wiz management ever mention defense in their interviews or press conferences. That way I don't have to think about it. It also sounds like we are basically done for the season. Which means we gave up on d; won't really try to "go for it" by trading for some defensive vets; have not much to look forward to in terms of a way out of being an average playoff team; and we'll miss out on another good lottery for really no reason. Thank God. Sorry guys. I was up EG's crack for years. At some point, it's put up or shut-up. Missing out on John Wall is huge. Why are we doing it if not to honestly shoot for it? That means trades. Trades I don't hear happening.

[closg00]

After listening to the interview, I don't think EG snubbed Stevenson on purpose. He was disputing a point that the Wizards are not weak with big men since they Wizards have 3 guys that can play every position; and he went on to name the 3 players that could play each position in his argument.

Ernie needs to become a white house spokesperson in the future because he serves-up whopper-lies with a straight face. After we shipped-out our beef w/o any being taken via the draft or FA so-far, Ernie continues to spin the fact that we have we really have no PF, and we have no muscle save Haywood. Ernie continues to prepare the public for a weak Washington Front court.

Well, I guess signing Lang to a couple of 10-days is about what I expect from this org IF that.

[Kanyewest]

The Wizards have a lot of defensive pieces on this team already (Stevenson, McGuire, Blatche, Haywood, Mike James). Foye is still young enough that he can learn how to play some defense. Hopefully, Arenas and Butler can contribute more on the defensive end since they conserve more energy on the offensive end and play fewer minutes per game. I already think Jamison gives as much as he can on the defensive end, but the presence of Haywood will make him look better on the defensive end

Yes the Wizards are not championship contenders because they don't have enough postseason experience. Hopefully, the Wizards can make a deep run to the playoffs with this roster and then we can talk about them being contenders. If they make a deep run in the playoffs, it will make young pieces like Young, Blatche, and McGee even more valuable in a trade.

My biggest problem right now is that the Wizards could lose a piece in the offseason. But at this point the Wizards will have $24 million of salary coming off the books in 2010 which could be enough to keep Haywood, Foye, Miller, and DMac. The Wizards might have to let someone go if one of them gets offered more than they are worth because they also have to look down the road to keep 2011 free agents like Butler, Blatche, and Young.

[Kanyewest]

Ernie needs to become a white house spokesperson in the future because he serves-up whopper-lies with a straight face. After we shipped-out our beef w/o any being taken via the draft or FA so-far, Ernie continues to spin the fact that we have we really have no PF, and we have no muscle save Haywood. Ernie continues to prepare the public for a weak Washington Front court.

Well, I guess signing Lang to a couple of 10-days is about what I expect from this org IF that.

I agree with this. In fact he started about talking about depth in the center position by saying the Wizards have 3 guys who can play center. Then he named the point guard, shooting guard, and small forward position. Then he came back to the power forward position last as to draw the least attention upon it; since Blatche and McGuire are probably best suited to play another position than power forward.

[barelyawake]

The Wizards have a lot of defensive pieces on this team already (Stevenson, McGuire, Blatche, Haywood, Mike James).

You mentioned two players who won't play; a player who has less of a role (if any at all now) since the trade (and because of his lessened role will more than likely bolt now); and an idiot.

Foye is still young enough that he can learn how to play some defense.

Foye, himself, didn't mention defense once. He has no defensive instincts. This concept that a player "could" learn defense is ridiculous. It happens MAYBE 5% of the time.

Hopefully, the Wizards can make a deep run to the playoffs with this roster and then we can talk about them being contenders. If they make a deep run in the playoffs, it will make young pieces like Young, Blatche, and McGee even more valuable in a trade.

You get the fact that we've been through this BS once right? We've had two sets of "Wiz kids" whom got us close to nothing in trade (ok Caron, and that's it for YEARS worth of development). As a result, we lost out on LeBron etc etc etc... Now, we're going to keep pretending next year is the year... then next year... then next year... Meanwhile, we miss out on all the great drafts.

[Kanyewest]

Well I don't think Mike James will have a role on this team on a game to game basis. I still think Stevenson could still get minutes against the likes of Wade, Joe Johnson, and Vince Carter and that's just in our own division. Hopefully, Nick Young develops and learns to play defense (which according to you is a 5 % possibility) but if he doesn't Stevenson could take his playing time. Javaris Crittenton from what I've seen plays defense as well.

I haven't watched Foye much in Minnesota aside from Wizard games but he was very solid defender under Jay Wright; much like his teammate Kyle Lowry who displayed his defensive prowness in the 2009 postseason. Having Brendan Haywood protect the paint instead of Al Jefferson or Kevin Love will also help him defensively. Foye did mention that his job here will not be to score so that's a start.

All players get better defensively as they gain more experience. Guys don't enter the league as great defenders. You need experience to become a good defender. The Wizards have one of those guys on the team who LEARNED how to play defense; DeShawn Stevenson.

I honestly believe that Flip COULD use the bench to threaten guys to play harder on the defensive end. Don't know if he will though.

You think this year was a great draft? Interesting. A lot of people called this draft the worst since 2000. Time will reveal who is right though.

[Wizards2Lottery]

Individual defense is so overrated. A team as good offensively as us doesn't need spectacular defenders. If everyone can buy into a concept and give the same effort every possession, we will be a average to good defense.

[barelyawake]

You think this year was a great draft? Interesting. A lot of people called this draft the worst since 2000. Time will reveal who is right though.

Not this year, G. Next year. Next year has the great draft. Again, I'm really not b**ching at you. I'm just yelling at the sky (so sorry if it comes off wrong). Just getting rather sick of this fantasy "next year that never comes" business. It all seems like smoke and no reality. It's time someone talks about reality. We've been living with smoke for about a decade, if not longer. We had the Wiz kids, Jordan, and the second and even third set of Wiz kids. All of which were BS. Again, I'm yelling at the sky, not arguing with you. I've reached my EG limit. I'm starting to hate his approach. I understand it. And I'm starting to loathe it.

[JWizmentality]

^^What's up BA? You're one of my fav posters, but you've sounded really depressing lately when things aren't even that bad. What's up dude?