Countdown to Ernie Grunfeld Firing (Part 2)

[dckingsfan]

You might be right - if we nosedive these last 12 games and then get swept - EG "might" get ousted. But EG and Witt are "probably" back next year. I would put the odds at 4 to 1 for a return.

[dckingsfan]

You might be right - if we nosedive these last 12 games and then get swept - EG "might" get ousted. But EG and Witt are "probably" back next year. I would put the odds at 4 to 1 for a return.

Looks like the Bobcats are going to continue to lose and keep us in 6th and Grunfeld and Wittman as GM and coach next year.

[gtn130]

Sadly I don't think slipping down to the 7th seed is really going to make a difference in what happens this off-season from the Wizards standpoint. As Nivek has mentioned, the Wizards success this year is solely judged on making the playoffs, it doesn't appear to matter what happens once they get there. If they face MIA and lose in 4, the season is still a success.

This is criminal. We've benefited from one of the easiest schedules in NBA history. We wouldn't make the playoffs 9/10 seasons with this roster and coaching staff. Viewing this season as a success after getting demolished in the first round of the playoffs and trading away our first round pick for a FA center in one of the deepest drafts ever is dishonest at absolute best.

It's really hard to believe we'll ever go anywhere with Leonsis at the helm.

[closg00]

Ted on Jan:

We have now had to slow down play without John Wall in the lineup, and we are asking players to play half court sets. This is a miss -match for their specific skill sets. Jan Vesely is in his second year of development. You always support a young, talented player, who is 7 feet tall, can run and is fundamentally sound. Jan has our support, and is working hard to develop his all-around game. But this is his second year in the NBA, and he is playing without a starting point guard who can push the pace of play. We shouldn’t be so fast to write him off as a player. This is easy to do in media but not something that is smart to do for our franchise.

I support Jan Vesely.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc- ... an-vesely/

So will Ted hold Ernie to account or not? Follow his public comments and prior history. No changes will be made in the FO or with the coaches.

[queridiculo]

The Bobcats are only 2 games behind us and we face them two more times. Be sure to set the DVR.

Sadly I don't think slipping down to the 7th seed is really going to make a difference in what happens this off-season from the Wizards standpoint. As Nivek has mentioned, the Wizards success this year is solely judged on making the playoffs, it doesn't appear to matter what happens once they get there. If they face MIA and lose in 4, the season is still a success. It's the journey, not the destination that matters to Ted. Maybe different standards will be set going forward, but the bar is so low right now, nothing is going to get in the way of that "mission accomplished" banner being displayed and extensions for everybody.

Can't wait for the streamers and confetti when Washington secures a playoff spot with a few games remaining.

I wonder, will that be the day the Wizards will start leaking the extensions of Grunfeld and Wittman? Of course such rumors would be followed by soft denials that the Wizards will make an announcement about the future direction of the franchise at the conclusion of the season.

So excting, the future looks bright for this franchise.

[leswizards]

Ted on Jan:

We have now had to slow down play without John Wall in the lineup, and we are asking players to play half court sets. This is a miss -match for their specific skill sets. Jan Vesely is in his second year of development. You always support a young, talented player, who is 7 feet tall, can run and is fundamentally sound. Jan has our support, and is working hard to develop his all-around game. But this is his second year in the NBA, and he is playing without a starting point guard who can push the pace of play. We shouldn’t be so fast to write him off as a player. This is easy to do in media but not something that is smart to do for our franchise.

I support Jan Vesely.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc- ... an-vesely/

So will Ted hold Ernie to account or not? Follow his public comments and prior history. No changes will be made in the FO or with the coaches.

I am not sure I follow your point. Jan Vesely is no longer with the team.

[leswizards]

A few people have made the point that keeping EG until his contract expires is no big deal because nothing is going to really happen until then. I disagree. A lot of prep work needs to be done for the draft, and for evaluating free agents, and designing an off season strategy. The sooner the Wizards get a new GM, the better the draft and the off season will go.

Also, the Wizards front office was unanimous in wanting Jan Vesely, and the only players publicly mentioned that Wizards front offer were interested prior to last season's draft were Larry Bennett and Otto Porter. Also, this front office has supported EG every step of the way. I would hope that almost the whole front office would go with EG. The sooner the Wizards get a new GM, the more time the GM has to assemble a competent front office.

[closg00]

Ted on Jan:

We have now had to slow down play without John Wall in the lineup, and we are asking players to play half court sets. This is a miss -match for their specific skill sets. Jan Vesely is in his second year of development. You always support a young, talented player, who is 7 feet tall, can run and is fundamentally sound. Jan has our support, and is working hard to develop his all-around game. But this is his second year in the NBA, and he is playing without a starting point guard who can push the pace of play. We shouldn’t be so fast to write him off as a player. This is easy to do in media but not something that is smart to do for our franchise.

I support Jan Vesely.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc- ... an-vesely/

So will Ted hold Ernie to account or not? Follow his public comments and prior history. No changes will be made in the FO or with the coaches.

I am not sure I follow your point. Jan Vesely is no longer with the team.

That entire quote by Ted was unnecessary. I was following-up on a point Nate had made earlier (below) about Ted. I'm saying Ted's opinion and words are worthless. Ted supported Jan and therefore Ernie.

I dunno.

We all beat Ted up about his stubbornness, but this is the future of his franchise we're talking about. EG and Wittman have contracts that are expiring. He wouldn't be firing them, he would merely be refraining from extending them. I really think Ted is going to have to think long and hard about this. If we finish 43-41 and barely limp into the playoffs as the 7th seed thanks only to the contributions of a bunch of over-the-hill vets with no future; Ted's gotta consider it in his evaluation.

Even Ted has to understand that EG has done a horrible job at acquiring and grooming young talent. He's got to realize that this team is basically John Wall plus a bunch of overpaid mercenaries on the downside of the career, most of whom have expiring contracts. He can't possibly believe EG has done a good job. At best, he may consider it a barely adequate job. But even so, if other viable GM candidates are out there, he's going to have to at least talk to them.

Honestly, I think a 7th seed and 4-0 sweep or a 4-1 trouncing is going to leave the door open to can EG. I think EG is safe only if we get a top 6 seed and play at least 6 games in the first round.

[DCZards]

A few people have made the point that keeping EG until his contract expires is no big deal because nothing is going to really happen until then. I disagree. A lot of prep work needs to be done for the draft, and for evaluating free agents, and designing an off season strategy. The sooner the Wizards get a new GM, the better the draft and the off season will go.

Also, the Wizards front office was unanimous in wanting Jan Vesely, and the only players publicly mentioned that Wizards front offer were interested prior to last season's draft were Larry Bennett and Otto Porter. Also, this front office has supported EG every step of the way. I would hope that almost the whole front office would go with EG. The sooner the Wizards get a new GM, the more time the GM has to assemble a competent front office.

EG should be replaced (Wittman as well) but it should wait until the end of the season. The disruption caused by replacing EG now outweighs your concerns about prepping for the draft, free agency, etc.

[hands11]

The Bobcats are only 2 games behind us and we face them two more times. Be sure to set the DVR.

Sadly I don't think slipping down to the 7th seed is really going to make a difference in what happens this off-season from the Wizards standpoint. As Nivek has mentioned, the Wizards success this year is solely judged on making the playoffs, it doesn't appear to matter what happens once they get there. If they face MIA and lose in 4, the season is still a success. It's the journey, not the destination that matters to Ted. Maybe different standards will be set going forward, but the bar is so low right now, nothing is going to get in the way of that "mission accomplished" banner being displayed and extensions for everybody.

Since there are stages teams go through and levels of success, I doubt Ted sees things as black and white as you are suggesting he will.

Will he be happy they make the playoffs. Sure he will.
Would be he be happier at 4th seed then 8th. Hard to imagine he wouldn't.

Saying Ted will judge their success "solely" on a playoff appearance regardless of what seed or how they preform in the playoff, I think is unlikely.

I think what Ted has to say in a public statement will be different depending on the level of success they have. If they squeak in and get sweep, I think he would say something appropriate like...

We had a goal of making the playoffs this year and we did and that's a step in the right direction. Thats good for all our players and the organization. We hadn't had this level of success in while so it was good get there. The young players needed that experience and the franchise needed it to help attract the better FAs that have more chooses in where they land. But simply getting there isn't enough. The next step is to get their and win and win a series, and then challenge for a title. That's what we have to get working on now.

And then everything else follows about EG and Randy. What he say next will provide some insight into where they are in the process with those decisions and it will be the first information we have gotten in a while to help understand what he is thinking in regards to the front office and coach.

One way or another, we are going to know more then we know now in the next 30 days. Maybe all we get is a time table on the decision. Maybe its something about the process. Maybe he say something that show his support of EG. Who knows. But I think there will be something in what he says that will shed some light on what they will do next.

Now once in the playoffs, we wanted to do better then we did and that what we need to focus on now. We need to keep improving the roster and developing our talent.

[dckingsfan]

Now once in the playoffs, we wanted to do better then we did and that what we need to focus on now. We need to keep improving the roster and developing our talent.

Hence why EG has to go...

[TGW]

A few people have made the point that keeping EG until his contract expires is no big deal because nothing is going to really happen until then. I disagree. A lot of prep work needs to be done for the draft, and for evaluating free agents, and designing an off season strategy. The sooner the Wizards get a new GM, the better the draft and the off season will go.

Also, the Wizards front office was unanimous in wanting Jan Vesely, and the only players publicly mentioned that Wizards front offer were interested prior to last season's draft were Larry Bennett and Otto Porter. Also, this front office has supported EG every step of the way. I would hope that almost the whole front office would go with EG. The sooner the Wizards get a new GM, the more time the GM has to assemble a competent front office.

EG should be replaced (Wittman as well) but it should wait until the end of the season. IMO, the disruption caused by replacing EG now outweighs your concerns about prepping for the draft, free agency, etc.

OMG we did it!!!! We got Zards to come to the darkside!



LyricalRico you are next!

[DCZards]

A few people have made the point that keeping EG until his contract expires is no big deal because nothing is going to really happen until then. I disagree. A lot of prep work needs to be done for the draft, and for evaluating free agents, and designing an off season strategy. The sooner the Wizards get a new GM, the better the draft and the off season will go.

Also, the Wizards front office was unanimous in wanting Jan Vesely, and the only players publicly mentioned that Wizards front offer were interested prior to last season's draft were Larry Bennett and Otto Porter. Also, this front office has supported EG every step of the way. I would hope that almost the whole front office would go with EG. The sooner the Wizards get a new GM, the more time the GM has to assemble a competent front office.

EG should be replaced (Wittman as well) but it should wait until the end of the season. IMO, the disruption caused by replacing EG now outweighs your concerns about prepping for the draft, free agency, etc.

OMG we did it!!!! We got Zards to come to the darkside!



LyricalRico you are next!

No news here, TGW. I said at least two months ago that EG should be replaced.

[closg00]

Welcome to the brotherhood Zard

[mohammed10]

Welcome to the brotherhood Zard

I prefer to think of us as the Darkside. Our membership is growing...

[verbal8]

A few people have made the point that keeping EG until his contract expires is no big deal because nothing is going to really happen until then. I disagree. A lot of prep work needs to be done for the draft, and for evaluating free agents, and designing an off season strategy. The sooner the Wizards get a new GM, the better the draft and the off season will go.

Long term replacing EG is the best move to make. The sooner the better for the reasons you mention. If the Wizards line-up a new GM before other teams replace theirs, it gives them a jump on raiding the staff of other teams.

Unfortunately I think it is highly unlikely before the end of the season. The two teams that made in-season front office moves were only outside shots to get into the play-offs when they made the moves. I think firing EG would be seen as a short-term distraction, and would interfere with the "all-in for the play-offs this season" mentality that seems to be guiding the Wizards.

[hands11]

The original thread started Nov 2012, just months after EG was extended for two years.

Anyone that thought Ted was going to fire him instead of honoring the two year commitment were not dealing in reality.

The day Ted signed that contract, he was committed to having him here two years. Period. Then he would reevaluate the situation. Consider his options and make another decision.

As an owner of an NBA franchise, I have to assume Ted spends time talking with other owners, looking at other franchises and keeping track of other GMs. He would also look at how other front offices are structured.

So if you were Ted, how would you need things structured and how are the Wizards structured? If EG was to go, how would you structure things differently or would you keep the same structure ?

I guess first things first, how are the Wizards structured ?

http://www.nba.com/wizards/wizards-re-s ... ont-office

What is EG current role ? If a new GM was to get added, how would that process of evaluating be taking place ? What team of people would be doing it ? Is the Wizards front office structured in a typical way right now ? And lastly, does the fact that Ted is owner of more then one franchise mean he needs things structure differently ? He clearly doesn't have the time to be equally involved in multiple franchises like he could if he focused on just one.

[nate33]

There is hope:

Daryl Morey admits GM's browse message boards.

[leswizards]

The original thread started Nov 2012, just months after EG was extended for two years.

Anyone that thought Ted was going to fire him instead of honoring the two year commitment were not dealing in reality.

The day Ted signed that contract, he was committed to having him here two years. Period. Then he would reevaluate the situation. Consider his options and make another decision.

Considering that there is a long history of GM's getting fired before there contracts are over, I think you are the one who is not dealing in reality if your truly believe that is it not possible that Ted could fire EG before his contract is up.

I am not saying he is going to be fired before then. I just think it is ridiculous (and rude) that someone could make such absolute statement questioning other people's grasp of reality when there is a long history of GM's getting fired before their contracts are up.

[leswizards]

There is hope:

Daryl Morey admits GM's browse message boards.

Yeah, but our GM is milellie111.