mohammed10's Official "Ted's Wizards" Thread

[doclinkin]

Okay Let's Talk Teddy then (Maybe rename the thread 'All Things Ted Leonsis' or something?):

To build a great team, you need to get on the 12 step program:

1. Talent - Drafted and developed.
2. Create “Magic” in the form of team chemistry.
3. Respect for the coach and staff.
4. A system and a philosophy and a team constructed to fit that system.
5. Infrastructure capable of capitalizing on success. Passion around everything we do.
6. Continuity. Dependability and consistency of message and approach. Fairness doctrine for all.
7. The highest paid player has to be the most coachable and respectful player. And the best player.
8. Great cap management to keep team’s core together. A selflessness by the team’s stars and a belief that winning is all that matters. That is “the secret.”
9. Health.
10. Luck.
11. Love and respect from the community and fan base. Focus on “Happiness” as we are in this together!
12. Determination and toughness. Singular focus on the higher calling from everyone in the organization. Winning a Championship!

1. Distinct from Hockey in the NBA you can't draft and stockpile talent in the minor leagues. The Wiz could do a better job of developing the talent they do draft by using he minor league system they do have, but the limited roster size keeps an even playing field. Limited contract length also prevents you from locking up under-developed assets long term and training them in your system.

The 'develop' aspect gives hope that the team might create a local squad out of the BMore/PG County All-Stars we develop out here. Would be nice to have a pipeline to the local talent, like I been saying since way back when. Establish brand loyalty early. Nike-style.

Would be nice to see the team build two similar squads, teaching a similar team in NBA and D-League to minimize the learning curve issues, and to teach fundamentals at the Developmental level. Even to bring up coaching talent through the ranks.

Drafting talent requires a prolonged suckery. And a Lucky suckery in the right year. Stockpiling young talent doesn't win, they need positive examples of how to play the right way, take the right kind of shortcuts to winning in this league. Guys with championship rings on the roster or the bench or both. And the presumption is that the top talent will also be a high character person.

Unless you mean 'drafting' in the sense of recruiting. And in that case: you can pull talent from overseas, identified via fierce and active scouting department. Stat ninjas. Keep your ears to the ground. Take winners from Euroball etc.

2. Needs definition. Now if you're talking about adding complementary skills to maximize player strengths and minimize weaknesses, well, yes. Gil does best playing next to a n alpha-dog ballhandler so they can share the load ala Larry Hughes. But you'd need a system that allows for that. And The other guy would have to be unselfish and a good defender. So sure, if you put Brandon Roy next to Gil you're golden. Make it happen, Teddy.

3. Top down, or bottom up? I suppose top down means the players understand that the coach is alpha in all situations. And the front office will have to follow their lead, even if they risk alienating their top player in a contract year.

There's a lot to play with here in playing virtual GM. Teddy will have a grace period while he re-works the team. I think we can afford to suck nobly even if he decides to blow up the team a bit.

8. Does this team have any 'core' players? Haywood maybe?

11. I've got a ton of suggestions for him once he's in the emperor's seat. That's the aspect I'm looking forward to most, even if I'm not his season-ticket-holding top client.

[doclinkin]

I'd like to see it:

What's your version of Ted's 12 step plan. How would you accomplish each step.

[Hoopalotta]

We talkin' turkey on Teddy in here?

Alright then, here it is, this is the REAL Leonis plan in it's full form, rather than that power point bubblegum wrapper write up that was listed previously.

http://www.hogshaven.com/2009/2/26/7729 ... es-his-ten

What I have learned about a rebuild to date: A 10 point plan. A Washington Capitals perspective:
1. Ask yourself the big question: "Can this team--as constructed--ever win a championship?" If the answer is yes -- stay the course and try to find the right formula -- if the answer is no, then plan to rebuild. Don't fake it--really do the analytics and be brutally honest. Once you have your answer, develop the game plan to try to REALLY win a championship. Always run away from experts that say, "We are just one player away." Recognize there is no easy and fast systemic fix. It will be a bumpy ride--have confidence in the plan--"trust and verify: the progress -- but don't deviate from the plan."
2. Once you make the decision to rebuild--be transparent. Articulate the plan and sell it loudly and proudly to all constituencies, the media, the organization, the fans, your partners, family and anyone who will listen. Agree to what makes for a successful rebuild--in our case it is "a great young team with upside that can make the playoffs for a decade and win a Stanley Cup or two."
3. Once you decide to rebuild--bring the house down to the foundation--be consistent with your plan--and with your asks--we always sought to get "a pick and a prospect" in all of our trades. We believed that volume would yield better results than precision. We decided to trade multiple stars at their prime or peak to get a large volume of young players. Young players will get better as they age, so you have built in upside. Youngsters push vets to play better to keep their jobs, and they stay healthier, and they are more fun--less jaded by pro sports.
4. Commit to building around the draft. Invest in scouting, development, and a system. Articulate that system and stay with it so that all players feel comfortable-- know the language-- know what is expected of them-- read the Oriole Way*. It worked and it is a great tutorial. Draft players that fit the system, not the best player. Draft the best player for the system. Don't deviate or get seduced by agents, media demands, or by just stats or hype. Envision how this player will slide into your system.
5. Be patient with young players-- throw them in the pool to see if they can swim. Believe in them. Show them loyalty. Re-sign the best young players to long term high priced deals. Show the players you are very loyal to them as compared to free agents who achieved highly for another team. Teach them. Celebrate their successes. Use failures as a way to teach and improve. Coaches must be tough but kind to build confidence.
6. Make sure the GM, coach, owner and business folks are on the EXACT same page as to deliverables, metrics of success, ultimate goal, process and measured outcomes. Always meet to discuss analytics and don't be afraid of the truth that the numbers reveal. Manage to outcomes. Manage to let the GM and coach NOT be afraid of taking risks, and make sure there are no surprises. Over communicate. Act like an ethnic family--battle around the dinner table--never in public. Be tight as a team. Protect and enhance each other. Let the right people do their jobs.
7. No jerks allowed. Implement a no jerk policy. Draft and develop and keep high character people. Team chemistry is vital to success. Make sure the best and highest paid players are coachable, show respect to the system, want to be in the city, love to welcome new, young players to the team, have respect for the fan base, show joy in their occupation, get the system, believe in the coaches, have fun in practice, and want to be gym rats. Dump quickly distractions. Life is too short to drink bad wine.
8. Add veterans to the team via shorter term deals as free agents. Signing long-term, expensive deals for vets is very risky. We try to add vets to the mix for two year or three year deals. They fill in around our young core. They are very important for leadership, but they must complement the young core (NOT try to overtake them or be paid more than them). Identify and protect the core. Add veterans to complement them, not visa versa.
9. Measure and improve. Have shared metrics--know what the progress is--and where it ranks on the timeline-- be honest in all appraisals; don't be afraid to trade young assets for other draft picks to build back end backlog-- know the aging of contracts-- protect "optionality" to make trades at deadlines or in off season; never get in cap jail. Having dry powder is very important to make needed moves.
10. Never settle--never rest--keep on improving. Around the edges to the plan, have monthly, quarterly and annual check ups. Refresh the plan when needed but for the right reasons-- "how are we doing against our metrics of success and where are we on our path to a championship." Never listen to bloggers, media, so called experts--to thine own self be true. Enjoy the ride.

[DaRealHibachi]

^^^^
Great Read!!!

[mohammed10]

Hoop-

Thanks for re-posting that. Excellent read!

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Wow, after reading the 10-pt plan I already know how Ted must feel about EG.

Sorry, Rico.

Ted knows how to build a winner!

[willbcocks]

Wow, that 10-point-rebuild-the-capitals plan is the most exciting thing related to the Wizards all year.

[verbal8]

I think the Developmental League has some use and I think the Wizards under Leonsis will take advantage of it. However I think the closest to the "minor" leagues in the NBA is owning rights to foreign players. I think there will be a lot of 2nd Round picks drafted and stashed in Europe for a couple years.

[doclinkin]

Alright then, here it is, this is the REAL Leonis plan in it's full form, rather than that power point bubblegum wrapper write up that was listed previously.

http://www.hogshaven.com/2009/2/26/7729 ... es-his-ten

What I have learned about a rebuild to date: A 10 point plan. A Washington Capitals perspective:
1. Ask yourself the big question: "Can this team--as constructed--ever win a championship?" If the answer is yes -- stay the course and try to find the right formula -- if the answer is no, then plan to rebuild. Don't fake it--really do the analytics and be brutally honest. Once you have your answer, develop the game plan to try to REALLY win a championship. Always run away from experts that say, "We are just one player away." Recognize there is no easy and fast systemic fix. It will be a bumpy ride--have confidence in the plan--"trust and verify: the progress -- but don't deviate from the plan."

2. Once you make the decision to rebuild--be transparent. Articulate the plan and sell it loudly and proudly to all constituencies, the media, the organization, the fans, your partners, family and anyone who will listen. Agree to what makes for a successful rebuild--in our case it is "a great young team with upside that can make the playoffs for a decade and win a Stanley Cup or two."

3. Once you decide to rebuild--bring the house down to the foundation--be consistent with your plan--and with your asks--we always sought to get "a pick and a prospect" in all of our trades. We believed that volume would yield better results than precision. We decided to trade multiple stars at their prime or peak to get a large volume of young players. Young players will get better as they age, so you have built in upside. Youngsters push vets to play better to keep their jobs, and they stay healthier, and they are more fun--less jaded by pro sports.

4. Commit to building around the draft. Invest in scouting, development, and a system. Articulate that system and stay with it so that all players feel comfortable-- know the language-- know what is expected of them-- read the Oriole Way*. It worked and it is a great tutorial. Draft players that fit the system, not the best player. Draft the best player for the system. Don't deviate or get seduced by agents, media demands, or by just stats or hype. Envision how this player will slide into your system.

5. Be patient with young players-- throw them in the pool to see if they can swim. Believe in them. Show them loyalty. Re-sign the best young players to long term high priced deals. Show the players you are very loyal to them as compared to free agents who achieved highly for another team. Teach them. Celebrate their successes. Use failures as a way to teach and improve. Coaches must be tough but kind to build confidence.

6. Make sure the GM, coach, owner and business folks are on the EXACT same page as to deliverables, metrics of success, ultimate goal, process and measured outcomes. Always meet to discuss analytics and don't be afraid of the truth that the numbers reveal. Manage to outcomes. Manage to let the GM and coach NOT be afraid of taking risks, and make sure there are no surprises. Over communicate. Act like an ethnic family--battle around the dinner table--never in public. Be tight as a team. Protect and enhance each other. Let the right people do their jobs.

7. No jerks allowed. Implement a no jerk policy. Draft and develop and keep high character people. Team chemistry is vital to success. Make sure the best and highest paid players are coachable, show respect to the system, want to be in the city, love to welcome new, young players to the team, have respect for the fan base, show joy in their occupation, get the system, believe in the coaches, have fun in practice, and want to be gym rats. Dump quickly distractions. Life is too short to drink bad wine.

8. Add veterans to the team via shorter term deals as free agents. Signing long-term, expensive deals for vets is very risky. We try to add vets to the mix for two year or three year deals. They fill in around our young core. They are very important for leadership, but they must complement the young core (NOT try to overtake them or be paid more than them). Identify and protect the core. Add veterans to complement them, not visa versa.

9. Measure and improve. Have shared metrics--know what the progress is--and where it ranks on the timeline-- be honest in all appraisals; don't be afraid to trade young assets for other draft picks to build back end backlog-- know the aging of contracts-- protect "optionality" to make trades at deadlines or in off season; never get in cap jail. Having dry powder is very important to make needed moves.

10. Never settle--never rest--keep on improving. Around the edges to the plan, have monthly, quarterly and annual check ups. Refresh the plan when needed but for the right reasons-- "how are we doing against our metrics of success and where are we on our path to a championship." Never listen to bloggers, media, so called experts--to thine own self be true. Enjoy the ride.

Interesting but again there are question marks how adaptable this is to the NBA with it's shorter contracts and shallower rosters. #3 I think is where the model misses. The volume vs precision equation doesn't work when you have a limited roster. The pick and a prospect trades are nipped in the bud of you don't have somewhere to store and season young talent. What proportion of your 15-man roster do you allocate to developing players? 5 players? Ten?

There are a few semi-successful teams who have built from the ground up with youth right now and begun to taste a few wins: OKC, Memphis, Portland. But most teams become champs with veterans. You can grow your own with a lucky pick, true, but can't count on cleverness to create that luck. Difference-making superstar young talent tends to show up rarely. Like once a decade. Is the team prepared to suck for a decade to stockpile picks in hopes of a future LeBron?

As a billionaire Teddy has the luxury of sucking a bit and taking a hit on selling tickets. But it's tough to teach a culture of victory on a team that gets used to losing. And strings of losses tend to fill the building with fans of the visiting team.

In the volume vs precision argument, in the NBA, Precision is paramount. That's the aspect that Teddy needs to pour his resources into. In the NBA the place where you have to be cleverer than most is in evaluating and recruiting undervalued talent. You get fewer chances, you have to maximize your oportunities. In effect I would prioritize Ted's #6 over his #3. You have to outsmart the competition.

This shows up not only in draft scouting, but in overseas talent, in bench players, etc. And in trades. Teams like LA, Boston, Detroit all won championships after trades to bring in undervalued (or disgruntled) stars. Granted they had to stockpile talent to do so. But they won in short order with that all-in quick fix. That flips Ted's #8 like judo.

San Antonio won with home grown talent, that's the closest thing to the Teddy model. Stockpiling 2nd round picks overseas (and 1st rounders -- Tiago Splitter is still in the chamber for them) and drawing on these reserves as needed. Portland and perhaps Houston have begun to borrow from that model. But you need your Tim Duncan. Your Greg Oden has to remain healthy. Otherwise you're stuck in the no-man's land of never sucking well enough to win the whole dang thang.

So. Big Brains of Wizboard-dom. Let's see if we can create a better priority list than Teddy's. I like large parts in principle, but I want to see what other suggestions we'd have to form that bulletproof plan.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

doclinkin, I would love to become a scouting consultant for Ted Leonsis.

My plan? As far as evaluating talent and trading big contracts for prospects and picks, I'd love to be a part of that. I tend to see things a ways off, before others see them coming. Many times folks think I don't have a clue. Until about two or three years later. I'd have to figure out a way not to offend anybody with ideas they just can't fathom. Probably have to work in another state ... and not be on the carpet often at all. Maybe send a proxy to talk for me. I'd prefer to stay right where I am.

One thing I do NOT believe much in is workouts, other than to see what a guy's fitness level is and how he presents. At various workouts and camps, guys like Kwame Brown and Nikoloz Tskitishvili have stood out. I'd just go by performance over time, but I'd factor in character stuff, intangibles, and what coaches at all levels have said about the player.

doc, your list of teams that do things the right way could also include Houston. Guys like Brooks and Landry are no surprise they're good at this level. Neither is Ariza, who I thought was good way back when he was a Knick, and when he was with the Magic. Before LAL got him his big contract. Chuck Hayes is a baller. Darryl Morey didn't think he's too short. I would go a lot by performance. Not what a dude looks like.

Not that it was anything like contemporary NBA with guaranteed contracts, a model for success that I loved was that of Bill Russell's Celtic teams. They had specialists who were good in their own areas. Russell defended. So did KC Jones. Cousy was their floor general. Heinsohn and Sam James scored. So did Nelson. Hondo Havlicek was their sixth man. Red Auerbach knew these guys were good well before they were Celtics and went to great lengths to acquire them. He didn't go get three of the same kind of players. That team had all kinds of balance and they were a team.

doc, I think the Wizards wouldn't even have to be bad that long if they'd make a couple radical moves.

[BanndNDC]

This team is just horribly constructed from top to bottom. no effort no chemistry no intelligence no team. the worst thing about them is that the only two players that i would consider good building blocks are free agents (miller and wood). i cant even begin to fathom where to start fixing this team because i am so down on almost all the components.

the two things i like best about the leonsis plans are 1) the importance of team chemistry and 2) the importance of transparency and honesty with the fans.

as CCJ says we need players that have complementary roles. unfortunately we have a team without rebounders (the nitty gritty kind and not the garbage kind that jamison excels at), without passers and without defenders. it's a team of shooters and one on one players without someone to pass to the shooters and someone to get second chance points it's a game by game gamble on whether or not the shooters are hot.

slowly but surely EG destroyed the team i fell in love with. the team with great chemistry and role players became a team of selfish one on one players. argh.

[doclinkin]

doc, your list of teams that do things the right way could also include Houston. Guys like Brooks and Landry are no surprise they're good at this level. Neither is Ariza, who I thought was good way back when he was a Knick, and when he was with the Magic. Before LAL got him his big contract. Chuck Hayes is a baller. Darryl Morey didn't think he's too short. I would go a lot by performance. Not what a dude looks like.

Not that it was anything like contemporary NBA with guaranteed contracts, a model for success that I loved was that of Bill Russell's Celtic teams. They had specialists who were good in their own areas. Russell defended. So did KC Jones. Cousy was their floor general. Heinsohn and Sam James scored. So did Nelson. Hondo Havlicek was their sixth man. Red Auerbach knew these guys were good well before they were Celtics and went to great lengths to acquire them. He didn't go get three of the same kind of players. That team had all kinds of balance and they were a team.

doc, I think the Wizards wouldn't even have to be bad that long if they'd make a couple radical moves.

And that's the aspect missing from Teddy's plan. The raison detre for this board really -- considering we're at page three of a trade thread that was newborn yesterday. How do you build chemistry from scratch, when even the worst team has something less than a one-in-four chance of the top ticket, and not every draft has a franchise quality player or champion-to-be.

Ted's 12-point plan says nothing much about shrewd horsetrading except that you trade assets for picks. Not a bad idea except teams hate to give up future first rounders. 2nd rounders to draft and stash fine. We all know that we could fill a roster with 2nd round productive talent. But even there you have a short evaluation period before you have to make tough choices at the back end of your bench.

I didn't include Houston in my list of teams that built from the draft because they haven't been able to -- after Yao they were too good to suck well, and too cursed with injury to succeed. Instead they've traded their way to contention. They've begun to build with elite-commando stat samurais and front office Shoguns. They can't draft the secondary superstar so they've built by trading for undervalued properties. Remains to be seen if they can win a chip like this, Yao needs to be healthy, or they need to stop playing so well without him and pull a Spurs Duncan/Admiral success story. But yes they are following the news story of Lakers, Detroit, Boston in trading their way to success.

I want Teddy to prepare to do the same. Put that in your 12-point plan.

Mods, can we get a re-title on this thread thanks?

[doclinkin]

This team is just horribly constructed from top to bottom. no effort no chemistry no intelligence no team. the worst thing about them is that the only two players that i would consider good building blocks are free agents (miller and wood). i cant even begin to fathom where to start fixing this team because i am so down on almost all the components.

Here's a thumbnail sketch of what we need, though Ted will hire people to tell him this:

Trophy-winning teams, with few exceptions, have a top-quality two-way low-post player as a keystone. You need someone who can score efficiently with high percentage plays as a bail-out option when things get tough and start to bang and grind. They need to be able to intimidate and alter shots, collect the rebound to prevent second chance points.

Teams require a transcendent ball-handling perimeter player with a sense of the clutch who can hit improbable shots and raise their game when the impossible becomes necessary. It helps if they are a reasonably competent perimeter defender. Or at least an intelligent defender who is not a liability in your scheme.

You need one predatory perimeter lockdown artist to force the opponent superstar into that 'improbable' zone.

The rest is mix-and-match. You need a three-point sniper. A productive rebounder. Passers who can hit open shots. Stretch forwards to open attack lanes for perimeter slashers. Slashers to force fouls on opponents and soften them up for late-game defense.

I doubt Leonsis gets a chance to do much before the trade deadline. And sadly one of the 'most coachable' etc players also has a fatal flaw as a key building block. So most of his future plans have to be left for the offseason.

Priority one would be:

Retain Haywood, make him a team captain. He's bright, cares about defense first, has learned how to be a professional and has learned the danger of the media. Even at a hefty price he'll be a productive trade piece if the team doesn't contend quick enough to satisfy his peak.

The rest is almost all luck and horsetrading. No time to delve into that right now.

[LyricalRico]

I agree with doc that you can't really equate hockey and basketball. Hockey has deeper rosters and a much more mature minor league system. I think they also have more rounds in their drafts. That means that the Caps can get a large amount of prospects and just stash them in their very own minor league system for years without having to count them on their main roster.

Even with the NBDL, the NBA doesn't even come close to having that kind of developmental system in place to allow teams to rebuild. Sorry, but I don't think Ted's plan translates all that much to the NBA.

[Illuminaire]

The most encouraging thing to me regarding Ted's plan is that he doesn't think of it as some universal gospel. Quote from the article that list was posted in (emphasis mine):

We originally asked Ted how he would move forward with the Redskins given their current state, and he respectfully replied that he could only speak to what he knows, hockey. He also noted that his perspective should be taken with a grain of salt since the Capitals have not yet hoisted a Stanley Cup

Those are the words of a man who has a humble attitude regarding his own knowledge and capabilities. Ted seems willing to learn, something that would be hard to say about most other owners in this town. From what we've seen of Mr. Leonsis so far, it seems safe to assume that he will at least attempt to adapt to the differences between the NHL and NBA. That process may take a few tries (and a few years), but right now, Ted's the only source of optimism I have for this franchise. x.x

[Ruzious]

I think we go bogged down in #3 and seem to assume that because that doesn't translate exactly from hockey. You can still build through the draft in hoops - it might be even easier, because in hockey it typically takes draftees a couple of years before they see the NHL - and because there are more players in hockey, 1 rookie isn't going to make as much impact there as 1 rookie in baskerville. I'd go with Ted's 10 - with just minor tweakage. The Wiz have gotten where they are by NOT following them.

Of course, you always want to be smarter than the next guy - but to put as one of your points that you're going to get the better of trades... meh. Find a Kevin McHale out there, and become his best friend.

[daSwami]

daSwami's two-step plan for Wizards success:

1) draft the basketball equivalent of Ovechkin.

2) sit back and pretend you're a genius

[LyricalRico]

daSwami's two-step plan for Wizards success:

1) draft the basketball equivalent of Ovechkin.

2) sit back and pretend you're a genius

[Donkey McDonkerton]

daSwami's two-step plan for Wizards success:

1) draft the basketball equivalent of Ovechkin.

2) sit back and pretend you're a genius

Brilliant

[TheKingOfVa360]

I hope Teddy gets the team. A total rebuild is overdue.