Milt Newton Hired as Timberwolves GM

[Nivek]

And so, front offices around the NBA continue to raid the Wizards of the franchise's savvy executives. Hard to argue with the kind of success the Wizards have had these past few years.

[Dat2U]

If only Ernie could be offered a better job elsewhere.

[closg00]

Doesn't this strengthens Ernie's hand when he pushes for an early extension? Ted would just as-soon extend Ernie and have him take-care of hiring these replacements.

As-far as the hiring, the entire sporting world of GM's, assistants, coaches etc is one big incestous swamp.

[SUPERBALLMAN]

I'd really like to see the Wizards replace Grunfeld with Troy Weaver. I believe it was CCJ who has brought him up here before.



From OKC's website:

Troy Weaver | Vice President/Assistant General Manager

Troy Weaver is entering his sixth season with Oklahoma City and his fourth as the team’s VP/Assistant General Manager. Weaver joined the Thunder in May of 2008 and assists Executive Vice President & General Manager Sam Presti with roster development and day-to-day basketball operations. In addition, he coordinates the team’s player personnel matters including NBA Draft preparation, player free agency and summer league roster.

Weaver held the position of Director of Player Personnel for the Utah Jazz in 2007-08. He spent three seasons (2004-07) as head scout for the Jazz before his promotion to Director of Player Personnel.

Prior to joining the Jazz, Weaver was an assistant coach at Syracuse University for four seasons (2000-04). The Orangemen won the 2003 NCAA National Championship led by Weaver recruit Carmelo Anthony. In addition to his experience at Syracuse, Weaver spent time as an assistant coach at New Mexico (1999-2000) and Pittsburgh (1996-99).

Prior to his collegiate coaching days, Weaver amassed an 85-17 record as an AAU coach in Washington, D.C. He guided the DC Assault to the 1996 AAU Tournament of Champions.

Weaver graduated with an associate’s degree from Prince George’s Community College (MD) in 1991, where he also played one season of basketball.

[closg00]

If only Ernie could be offered a better job elsewhere.

Remember when Ernie was up for renewal and perspective GM candidates were calling Ted? There were zero press accounts or rumors of any team being interested hiring Ernie...and there were several GM openings at the time. Ted renewed Ernie for two years w/o even talking to candidates, will he do it again?

[Ruzious]

Ernie Grunfeld's proteges are being given GM jobs... shaking my head. Tom Stoppard and Eugene Ionesco couldn't make this stuff up.

[hands11]

If only Ernie could be offered a better job elsewhere.

Remember when Ernie was up for renewal and perspective GM candidates were calling Ted? There were zero press accounts or rumors of any team being interested hiring Ernie...and there were several GM openings at the time. Ted renewed Ernie for two years w/o even talking to candidates, will he do it again?

It is highly likely he will. The better question is for how long and how much.

Other team hiring people from out team is a good sign. You get good people to come when they know they can later find other opportunities.

But even if EG isn't retained, I think he will get hired elsewhere. People will see what he and Ted got done in 3 years. If nothing else, he is an option for a from scratch rebuild project.

[Dat2U]

But even if EG isn't retained, I think he will get hired elsewhere. People will see what he and Ted got done in 3 years. If nothing else, he is an option for a from scratch rebuild project.

What's so impressive about making two seeing eye draft picks (Wall & Beal) and basically mucking up everything else? In 3 years we've won 29, 20 & 23 games. Before that we won 26 and the year before that, we won 19. How is that impressive? How is that progress? Are we on the 10 year rebuild plan?

Could he get hired as a scout or asst front office guy? Sure. Would he get another GM or Head of Basketball Ops job? Not likely.

[Wizardspride]

Ernie Grunfeld's proteges are being given GM jobs... shaking my head. Tom Stoppard and Eugene Ionesco couldn't make this stuff up.

Ernie protege or not, Milt is very respected around the league.

Heck, he's probably more respected than Ernie.

[hands11]

But even if EG isn't retained, I think he will get hired elsewhere. People will see what he and Ted got done in 3 years. If nothing else, he is an option for a from scratch rebuild project.

What's so impressive about making two seeing eye draft picks (Wall & Beal) and basically mucking up everything else? In 3 years we've won 29, 20 & 23 games. Before that we won 26 and the year before that, we won 19. How is that impressive? How is that progress? Are we on the 10 year rebuild plan?

Could he get hired as a scout or asst front office guy? Sure. Would he get another GM or Head of Basketball Ops job? Not likely.

We will see won't we.

What I predict is.. its very likely ( as in 80% or better ) that Ted retains him.

And I predict that if he doesn't, he will get another high level front office job...if not specifically as a GM.

[closg00]

They have been mismanage for so long, that was the time to start building slower.

Hands was correct when he wrote the above recently Grunfeld HAS mismanaged the team for a long time.

Prediction. If Grunfeld is fired as a GM for his 3rd time, he will NOT be hired again as GM for ANY team.

[payitforward]

I doubt Ernie would be looking for another GM job; my guess is he's milking the current gig with his next step being retirement. He has plenty of $$ and is in his mid-sixties.

[montestewart]

Ernie Grunfeld's proteges are being given GM jobs... shaking my head. Tom Stoppard and Eugene Ionesco couldn't make this stuff up.

Ernie protege or not, Milt is very respected around the league.

Heck, he's probably more respected than Ernie.

One persons protege is another person's underling, looking up at a mustachioed glass ceiling and thinking, "Time to move on."

It may come as a relief to go to a situation where everyone doesn't have to be 100% on the same page, to a man, on each decision.

Outside of GMs, it's hard for me to tell who is good among front office personnel. How do you tell? What do you judge them by? What about Newton makes him respected? Didn't he help set up D-League or something?

[hands11]

I doubt Ernie would be looking for another GM job; my guess is he's milking the current gig with his next step being retirement. He has plenty of $$ and is in his mid-sixties.

Is he really that old ?

I figured in his mid 50's.

PIF When you aren't sure what you are talking about, you ever consider looking it up ?

He was born April, 1955. That's not mid 60's He is 58

[hands11]

They have been mismanage for so long, that was the time to start building slower.

Hands was correct when he wrote the above recently Grunfeld HAS mismanaged the team for a long time.

Prediction. If Grunfeld is fired as a GM for his 3rd time, he will NOT be hired again as GM for ANY team.

That's it Closg. Keep working on those splicing and misrepresenting facts skills. We'll get you a job on Fox Noise yet.

[Wizardspride]

Ernie Grunfeld's proteges are being given GM jobs... shaking my head. Tom Stoppard and Eugene Ionesco couldn't make this stuff up.

Ernie protege or not, Milt is very respected around the league.

Heck, he's probably more respected than Ernie.

One persons protege is another person's underling, looking up at a mustachioed glass ceiling and thinking, "Time to move on."

It may come as a relief to go to a situation where everyone doesn't have to be 100% on the same page, to a man, on each decision.

Outside of GMs, it's hard for me to tell who is good among front office personnel. How do you tell? What do you judge them by? What about Newton makes him respected? Didn't he help set up D-League or something?

Click on the link to read the rest.
http://www.nba.com/wizards/news/newton_081021.html


Milton M. Newton is in his 10th season with the Washington Wizards organization. As the Wizards Vice President of Player Personnel, he is actively involved in the procurement of players through the draft and free agency, heads the scouting department for the franchise, and assists with the management of the salary cap. Newton has been instrumental in the team’s rebuilding effort that has added Bradley Beal, Jan Vesely, Chris Singleton and Shelvin Mack through the last two NBA drafts to a core that already featured John Wall, Trevor Booker and Kevin Seraphin. Newton created Washington's comprehensive scouting database that includes players from the collegiate level and professional ranks encompassing the world. He coordinates the Wizards' pre-draft scouting efforts, as well as facilitates the team’s workouts of prospective draftees, player interviews and is in charge of building the Wizards’ NBA Summer League team that competes in Las Vegas every summer. Newton also serves on the NBA’s Undergraduate Advisory Committee.

Prior to joining the Wizards organization, Newton was instrumental in spearheading the creation of the National Basketball Development League. He assisted in the development of league policies and procedures and served as the Director of Player Personnel for three years. In that role, Newton was responsible for the evaluation, recruitment and signing of all players, and assisting the Executive Director in the league's day-to-day basketball operations. In the league's first two years of operation, Newton assisted in the development of 22 players that were promoted from the NBDL to the NBA.

Previously, Newton spent two years as a scout with the Philadelphia 76ers. He was responsible for assessing the talent of college players, advance scouting of other teams and assisted with evaluating and selecting draft choices. In addition, he also served as the Assistant Director for the USA Men's Basketball program from 1995-99. With USA Basketball, Newton coordinated the National Team trials, training camps, exhibition games and team competitions, and served as a liaison for the USA Men's Basketball teams at international competitions. During his five-year tenure with USA Basketball, Newton contributed to the success of Dream Team III at the XXIII Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, Ga.
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[montestewart]

That info more or less matches my memory, and helping set up the D-League stood out as an accomplishment. The problem with the rest is that he is an underling to EG, and his accomplishments sound similar to EG's accomplishments: getting Wall and Beal as obvious choices with high draft picks, and largely failing to use other picks well. Did he scout Vesely and Singleton? I'm wondering how you distinguish the accomplishments and abilities of sub-GM front office personnel from those of the GM. Part of my curiosity is wondering if EG has been stifling creative thinking and contrary views or standing in the way of subordinates who could potentially do his job better.

[Wizardspride]

That info more or less matches my memory, and helping set up the D-League stood out as an accomplishment. The problem with the rest is that he is an underling to EG, and his accomplishments sound similar to EG's accomplishments: getting Wall and Beal as obvious choices with high draft picks, and largely failing to use other picks well. Did he scout Vesely and Singleton? I'm wondering how you distinguish the accomplishments and abilities of sub-GM front office personnel from those of the GM. Part of my curiosity is wondering if EG has been stifling creative thinking and contrary views or standing in the way of subordinates who could potentially do his job better.

I'll be honest, I'm not as critical of EG as most.

Alot of the draft picks were players I wanted at the time: Singleton, Mack etc.

So it would be kind of hypocritical for me to trash him too much.

[montestewart]

That info more or less matches my memory, and helping set up the D-League stood out as an accomplishment. The problem with the rest is that he is an underling to EG, and his accomplishments sound similar to EG's accomplishments: getting Wall and Beal as obvious choices with high draft picks, and largely failing to use other picks well. Did he scout Vesely and Singleton? I'm wondering how you distinguish the accomplishments and abilities of sub-GM front office personnel from those of the GM. Part of my curiosity is wondering if EG has been stifling creative thinking and contrary views or standing in the way of subordinates who could potentially do his job better.

I'll be honest, I'm not as critical of EG as most.

Alot of the draft picks were players I wanted at the time: Singleton, Mack etc.

So it would be kind of hypocritical for me to trash him too much.

I was OK with Singleton myself, but the difference between me and EG is I'm just a fan that wants the team to be better (and barely follows college ball) and he's a professional paid millions to make the team better. I pay part of his salary. A very tiny part of it.

[Ruzious]

That info more or less matches my memory, and helping set up the D-League stood out as an accomplishment. The problem with the rest is that he is an underling to EG, and his accomplishments sound similar to EG's accomplishments: getting Wall and Beal as obvious choices with high draft picks, and largely failing to use other picks well. Did he scout Vesely and Singleton? I'm wondering how you distinguish the accomplishments and abilities of sub-GM front office personnel from those of the GM. Part of my curiosity is wondering if EG has been stifling creative thinking and contrary views or standing in the way of subordinates who could potentially do his job better.

I'll be honest, I'm not as critical of EG as most.

Alot of the draft picks were players I wanted at the time: Singleton, Mack etc.

So it would be kind of hypocritical for me to trash him too much.

I was OK with Singleton myself, but the difference between me and EG is I'm just a fan that wants the team to be better (and barely follows college ball) and he's a professional paid millions to make the team better. I pay part of his salary. A very tiny part of it.

Yeah, I think an NBA GM who's made millions of dollars at his job should be held to a little higher standard than fans who get paid nothing by NBA teams.

I also expect a surgeon to do a better job of surgery than I would. But that's just me.