Countdown to Ernie Grunfeld Firing

[payitforward]

ccj, it's not the fact that Blatche is a "flawed player" that frustrates me. It's the fact that he'll never live up to his tremendous potential because he's lazy and disintereseted in being anything more than a so-so player. It's a shameful waste of talent.

The Zards certainly made mistakes with Blatche but you let Andray off the hook by trying to pin all of the blame for his shortcomings on coaching and the Zards FO.

...Oh, I noticed you didn't mention the time that Blatche refused to go back into a game. I guess that was the fault of the Zards as well.

As for McGee, it wasn't about "player development" with his mom. It was that she thought the Zards were not fully utilizing her son, who she mistakenly believes is a potential superstar. Javale (or Pierre) is not as good a player as either he or his mother believes he is...and his minutes and play with Denver has proven that.

Blatche played up to a 21 PER, well above average, for the Nets last season. He's not a leaper and IMO does get just about all he can out of his natural talent. He is called lazy just like other former Wizards are called knuckle heads in part because they were associated with the loser franchise I've supported this past 40 years.

Blatche is a better player than Ernie is a GM, and to this date, Ted has been an owner IMO.

As for McGee, the defensive stats tell the story. Once he left the Wizards and got his great deal, I no longer felt the need to be a big supporter. I was more on his side than that of Wizard management. He's not as good as he or mom believe, but he's still just as good or better a player than EG or Ted are at what they do, IMO. Better because he's not mean spirited, petty, condescending, or reactionary in disloyal ways. Just my opinion.

The Wizards continually get it wrong but it's always on the players.

Take a look at Dray's numbers so far this season -- and, for that matter, take a look at Dray! He is totally out of shape again!

But, as bad as he is, I gotta agree: Ernie is a worse GM than Dray is a player. As to Ted, as I've said many times, his business is Monumental Sports; the Wizards are just one piece of that. All he's looking for is for the Wizards to do their bit for Monumental adequately. Butts in the seats? We'll see.

[payitforward]

New ESPN 30 for 30 about Ernie airs tonight!

When I spoke with Ernie, I was even more intrigued. He'd quietly endured struggles of his own, and his humility belied his distinct place in basketball history -- and his enduring role in its present.

http://espn.go.com/30for30/film?page=bernieandernie

I loved Bernard King -- I was in SF during his years w/ the Warriors and saw him many many times.

I saw Ernie play a little too -- I'm that old! But you know what, I don't care about his immigrant story and I don't believe in his humility. I think he's arrogant, self-important, and thinks he knows better than anyone else.

After being asked about 100 times, LR -- by me and many others -- why don't you tell us:

Why do you like Ernie Grunfeld as a GM? What's been good about him?

Do tell, friend -- we all want to know.

[payitforward]

Philly just got punked by GSW, will they have a fire on Wednesday to avenge that loss and prove to the world they're not bottom feeders? Let's hope they come back with a vengeance.

Could you imagine the s-storm that’ll ensue at 0-4 with the very real, very likely 0-8 record within a week?

This may make me sound like a bad fan, but I’m anxious, nervous, excited, hopeful the Wiz come out in Philly and roll-over. Ah, what an exciting time to be a Wizards fan.

I've been there before when EFJ was the HC so I get where you are coming from. Doesn't make you a bad fan if you feel the fix is in reach.

Hard to take a position that getting a legit good proven coach is a bad thing. I didn't think they could attract one before but they might have a better chance now. If they really don't want this season to be lost, 0-5 might be as far as they ride Randy.

Oh please....

[Ruzious]

New ESPN 30 for 30 about Ernie airs tonight!

When I spoke with Ernie, I was even more intrigued. He'd quietly endured struggles of his own, and his humility belied his distinct place in basketball history -- and his enduring role in its present.

http://espn.go.com/30for30/film?page=bernieandernie

I watched it... and gained respect for Ernie - the ex-player - a great college player, a solid pro, and a GREAT teammate and friend of one of the all-time greats. Watching Bernard King and the intensity he played with... I think only the greats have that. I also came away thinking Ernie is a New Yorker through and through, and I wonder how that's impacted his performance here. If part of the job is inspiration, he's certainly lacked that.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Please don't elevate Blatche to the level of "dissident."

Blatche may be "right" that the team was "uncaring" when they released him. Tit for tat, I guess -- he clearly didn't care about being a good basketball player, a well-conditioned athlete, a coachable guy or even a good teammate while he was in Washington. Aside from which, so? NBA teams aren't families -- they're businesses. It's not like the team purged a family member. They fired an employee -- an unproductive, uncoachable, unteachable employee. AND, they paid him $23 million on his way out the door.

Grunfeld, Leonsis and the front office have been about as inept as they could be. The mistakes they made in dealing with Blatche were not in releasing him, they were in imagining he could be part of their Big 3 and they were in giving him a contract extension he hadn't earned.

And in no way could they be construed as being in a "rush to trade" Blatche. He was with the team for 7 seasons. They gave him a bunch of chances and he pissed on all of them.

I was thinking the trade deadline move of McGee for injured Nene as a rush move. They rushed/panicked on the Gortat+pick for injured Okafor, too.

I think they rushed to amnesty Blatche.

Injured Nene? He came over and played his ass off! That said, I'd have kept JaVale, given him a qualifying offer, and let it play out. Nene was too big a risk.

But, yes, trading Okafor and a pick for a 6 month rental of Gortat is already playing out just the way we skeptics predicted it would -- but... didn't you *like* that trade? Less after we waived the other 2 guys, but still liked it somewhat?

Nene came in playing exceptionally well. Still, he missed games even the first year after the trade. Nene had been injured much of the season the Wizards traded for him. I posted as much, frequently, around the time of the trade. He didn't start having foot problems as a Wizard. That he played so well the first season, and was clearly much better than Javale is admittedly something that caught me off guard. But make no mistake about it, IMO Nene was damaged goods or else he never would have been traded to the Wizards.

I did like the Gortat trade before the players were waived. I didn't like the first game result and it appears the real value of the deal is something the Wizards didn't appreciate at all. Brown could have helped the Wizards and retaining him might have helped ease Gortat's transition, as well as improved the chances of resigning him. Gortat should have been viewed as a piece to pair with Vesely, not Booker. The buzz of the trade wore off quickly with the losses and the realization that the Wizards burned a draft pick with no guarantees. Marshall might have some game but we'll never know.

[tontoz]

The EG defenders had a lot to say before the season started. Haven't heard much from them lately.

[LyricalRico]

The EG defenders had a lot to say before the season started. Haven't heard much from them lately.

Not sure what you want us to say. The team is off to a slow start, but it's a long season and the playoff expectation is still in-tact at this point. No need to react emotionally game-by-game.

[tontoz]

The EG defenders had a lot to say before the season started. Haven't heard much from them lately.

Not sure what you want us to say. The team is off to a slow start, but it's a long season and the playoff expectation is still in-tact at this point. No need to react emotionally game-by-game.

How about acting objectively to a team that obviously has so much dead wood on the bench? How about being objective about a GM that has a decade long winning percentage below 40%?

[Dat2U]

The EG defenders had a lot to say before the season started. Haven't heard much from them lately.

Not sure what you want us to say. The team is off to a slow start, but it's a long season and the playoff expectation is still in-tact at this point. No need to react emotionally game-by-game.

Or season-by-season...

[queridiculo]

The EG defenders had a lot to say before the season started. Haven't heard much from them lately.

Not sure what you want us to say. The team is off to a slow start, but it's a long season and the playoff expectation is still in-tact at this point. No need to react emotionally game-by-game.

Or season-by-season...

Or decade-by-decade...

[LyricalRico]

Hey, I've already said that if the team doesn't take a step forward this year by making the playoffs then Ernie should go and I'm not backing away from that. But I'm not giving up on the season either. Let's see what happens when Randy tweaks the rotation, or if any other minor moves get made.

[montestewart]

The EG defenders had a lot to say before the season started. Haven't heard much from them lately.

Not sure what you want us to say. The team is off to a slow start, but it's a long season and the playoff expectation is still in-tact at this point. No need to react emotionally game-by-game.

Or season-by-season...

Yes, let's wait until EG's career with the Wizards has drawn to a close. With that emotional distance, we can have a calm and rational discussion about his merits. I'll serve tea and cakes.

[nate33]

C'mon people. Show some patience, would you? The rebuild has only taken 5 years, during which, we've played at a 24 wins per season pace. Aren't you going to give him a chance?

[Dat2U]

But I'm not giving up on the season either. Let's see what happens when Randy tweaks the rotation, or if any other minor moves get made.

Maybe in another 2-3 weeks?

[nate33]

What's messed up is that we are essentially healthy right now. 2-6 would be forgivable if Nene or Wall, or even Beal was hurt.

[montestewart]

What's messed up is that we are essentially healthy right now. 2-6 would be forgivable if Nene or Wall, or even Beal was hurt.

Too strong!

[noworriesinmd]

I totally dislike EG has our GM, but show me a schedule in which we have at most more than 2 extra wins in our record. Our beginning schedule is BRUTAL. I agree we have no bench, but did you expect them to beat some of the best teams in the league with a new player and our #3 draft pick on IR..

I want to bash the team...but I'm also a realist and I don't live in a fantasy world.

[verbal8]

I totally dislike EG has our GM, but show me a schedule in which we have at most more than 2 extra wins in our record. Our beginning schedule is BRUTAL. I agree we have no bench, but did you expect them to beat some of the best teams in the league with a new player and our #3 draft pick on IR..

I want to bash the team...but I'm also a realist and I don't live in a fantasy world.

The Miami and OKC losses aren't shocking. However the team is still only 2-3 outside of those games. That doesn't make the play-offs. Also troubling is the +/- of -3 that typically of a team a mid 30s win total. If you want to get a little more advanced, the SRS of -3.5 is probably slightly worse.

[leswizards]

Hey, I've already said that if the team doesn't take a step forward this year by making the playoffs then Ernie should go and I'm not backing away from that. But I'm not giving up on the season either. Let's see what happens when Randy tweaks the rotation, or if any other minor moves get made.

Considering that EG has blown every first round pick not in the top 3, I am not certain why whether the Wizards make the playoffs is relevant to judging him. Let us assume the Wizards make the playoffs. So what? Next off season, Trevor Ariza and Marcin Gortat will be free agents, and the Wizards will already have a lot of money committed to Wall, Nene, and Webster, with the team still needing to keep salary space available for Beal. EG has built a team that is still far off from being championship level, but already maybe capped out.

[montestewart]

Hey, I've already said that if the team doesn't take a step forward this year by making the playoffs then Ernie should go and I'm not backing away from that. But I'm not giving up on the season either. Let's see what happens when Randy tweaks the rotation, or if any other minor moves get made.

Considering that EG has blown every first round pick not in the top 3, I am not certain why whether the Wizards make the playoffs is relevant to judging him. Let us assume the Wizards make the playoffs. So what? Next off season, Trevor Ariza and Marcin Gortat will be free agents, and the Wizards will already have a lot of money committed to Wall, Nene, and Webster, with the team still needing to keep salary space available for Beal. EG has built a team that is still far off from being championship level, but already maybe capped out.

Yep, and variations of the above were arguments against the Nene and Okariza acquisitions. Sometimes it seems that Terd and Ernie have only a level one, "don't spend more than X" appreciation of the cap.