Countdown to Ernie Grunfeld Firing (Part 2)

[closg00]

It pains me to say this.... It would be extremely foolish for Ariza or Gortat to sign with the Wizards day one.
Each will get pitched from multiple teams, some with better prospects this us.
A lot of people keep on saying that Miami can't afford Gortat, but the only thing that matters to JBJ is winning.
Endorsements pays the bills not his NBA salary.

I wonder what EG's pitch is?

They are over a barrel and both Ariza and Gortat know it. There will be no home team discount. A lot of teams appear to be flush with cap space and ready to spend it.

Gortat's agent will sit-back and let Ernie over-pay like he always does. TA, probably goes elsewhere.

[gtn130]

This is the problem with that fun playoff run we want on -- it confounds the issues with how this roster was built, and it allows for Ted and EG to justify standing pat. Ted can easily say now that we were only a game or two away from the ECF, and making large changes wouldn't make sense. Wall, Beal and Porter are so young and can only improve. The sky is the limit, and it's a great day to be a Wizards fan.

The reality is that the East is going to get a lot tougher, and the odds of us making it past the second round of the playoffs with this roster, assuming we resign Ariza and Gortat, are really low. Our one single hope is that Beal becomes an elite franchise player.

The really frustrating part of this is that Wizards fans already went through this, as the Gilbert Arenas teams were boxed into the exact same corner -- few options in terms of upgrading the roster because we were up against the cap with zero young talent to speak of. I think almost anyone could see this coming basically the day we traded for Okafor and Ariza. Leonsis wants to safely and consistently make the playoffs, and he'll happily forfeit any championship equity in pursuit of that.

Sounds like the same stuff that was said before last season started. And the year before.

You knows what different today from before the last draft ? Not much if anything.

They had a late 46th pick where they could add a young talent and they walked out with 2M and a young talent signed to the summer league.

This board is so over reactive.

Let the annual melt down commence.

I'm really not sure what you're even trying to say, but I pretty clearly framed my post within the belief that the Wizards' singular goal this season is to retain Ariza and Gortat and to maintain continuity at any and all cost.

So I don't quite understand what I'm overreacting to -- I'm simply opining that maintaining the status quo is bad for the organization and pushes us farther away from the ultimate goal of contending for a championship.

And honestly, I have no idea why you're celebrating Leonsis walking away with $2M. I guess it makes you happy when billionaires get marginally richer? That $2M does absolutely nothing to benefit the team, but I'm glad you have Ted's back I guess .

[closg00]

Please surprise us Ernie by improving the team by the end of the off-season.

[TGW]

This is why using a little foresight as a GM is so important.

Resigning Webster to that terrible contract was an ill-advised and poorly thought out move. Webster got the MLE, although he was clearly an injury risk (me and several others thought it was a bad signing). You already had Ariza and Porter under contract when they resigned him.

How does this affect the team now? Well, that nice big 8.5M TPE is going to put the team at or near the lux tax, which means that the FO may not use it. If Webster isn't on the roster, it isn't a problem. Now you have a whole bunch of money tied up on a player that an injury risk making the MLE, which is affecting other potential moves.

A lack of foresight once again hurts the Wizards, thanks to Ernie.

[LyricalRico]

Well, that nice big 8.5M TPE is going to put the team at or near the lux tax, which means that the FO may not use it.

It's not that cut-and-dry. They don't have to use the whole TPE at once. So they can still use it to add a player (or players) making less than that amount, and still remain under the luxury tax this season.

Also, since the TPE is good for a full year, they can use it in 2015 on draft night or even during the first couple weeks of the FA period next summer. At that point, they'd be far enough under whatever the new tax line would be to use the full amount.

Still lots of options IMO. No need to be so fatalistic only a couple days after the trade.

[mohammed10]

I woke up this morning and no Wizards trades!

Ernie is definitely slacking...

[closg00]

If-only Ernie could do some of the parts of his job besides trades.

Keeping reading this board Ernie & Ted, our advice is free. (Although you should be cutting checks to CCJ, Kevin and some others)

[rockymac52]

Well, that nice big 8.5M TPE is going to put the team at or near the lux tax, which means that the FO may not use it.

It's not that cut-and-dry. They don't have to use the whole TPE at once. So they can still use it to add a player (or players) making less than that amount, and still remain under the luxury tax this season.

Also, since the TPE is good for a full year, they can use it in 2015 on draft night or even during the first couple weeks of the FA period next summer. At that point, they'd be far enough under whatever the new tax line would be to use the full amount.

Still lots of options IMO. No need to be so fatalistic only a couple days after the trade.

Not to mention... if we didn't have Webster on the roster (and we won't for at least a few months because of his injury) we'd have NO DEPTH ON THE WINGS. The irony.

[Kanyewest]

Well, that nice big 8.5M TPE is going to put the team at or near the lux tax, which means that the FO may not use it.

It's not that cut-and-dry. They don't have to use the whole TPE at once. So they can still use it to add a player (or players) making less than that amount, and still remain under the luxury tax this season.

Also, since the TPE is good for a full year, they can use it in 2015 on draft night or even during the first couple weeks of the FA period next summer. At that point, they'd be far enough under whatever the new tax line would be to use the full amount.

Still lots of options IMO. No need to be so fatalistic only a couple days after the trade.

Not to mention... if we didn't have Webster on the roster (and we won't for at least a few months because of his injury) we'd have NO DEPTH ON THE WINGS. The irony.

The Wizards have some depth; they have either Pierce or Porter and Rice coming off the bench.

[dckingsfan]

Well, that nice big 8.5M TPE is going to put the team at or near the lux tax, which means that the FO may not use it.

It's not that cut-and-dry. They don't have to use the whole TPE at once. So they can still use it to add a player (or players) making less than that amount, and still remain under the luxury tax this season.

Also, since the TPE is good for a full year, they can use it in 2015 on draft night or even during the first couple weeks of the FA period next summer. At that point, they'd be far enough under whatever the new tax line would be to use the full amount.

Still lots of options IMO. No need to be so fatalistic only a couple days after the trade.

Not to mention... if we didn't have Webster on the roster (and we won't for at least a few months because of his injury) we'd have NO DEPTH ON THE WINGS. The irony.

I think Porter will fill in fine behind Pierce (although he now has trouble guarding SFs and SGs) and if SL is an indicator, Rice will be fine behind Beal. I am far more worried about our FC depth. Gortat, Nene and Gooden. Although Pierce can wander over to PF from time to time. Blair would help.

My question is are we better from last year? Both in terms of wins, playoff position and how far we go in the playoff. I want to see how we fill out the roster and how the other teams finish out their rosters in the east.

[closg00]

The San Antoino Spurs will not grant Manu Ginobili permission to play in the World Cup of Basketball for Argentina.

Ginobili is recovering from a stress fracture.

Ginobili had a highly productive season as the Spurs attempt to extend his career.

Via Paul Garcia/Project Spurs

Apparently a team can approve or disapprove of their players participation in World Cup. Recall that Dirk also was denied approval to play in the last Olympics. Recall the discussion on the boards when a hobbled Nene went to the Olympics.

Apparently the plan is to go-ahead and let Nene play in World Cup, then be prepared for him being out half of the season. Compare and contrast the management folks.

[LyricalRico]

The San Antoino Spurs will not grant Manu Ginobili permission to play in the World Cup of Basketball for Argentina.

Ginobili is recovering from a stress fracture.

Ginobili had a highly productive season as the Spurs attempt to extend his career.

Via Paul Garcia/Project Spurs

Apparently a team can approve or disapprove of their players participation in World Cup. Recall that Dirk also was denied approval to play in the last Olympics. Recall the discussion on the boards when a hobbled Nene went to the Olympics.

Apparently the plan is to go-ahead and let Nene play in World Cup, then be prepared for him being out half of the season. Compare and contrast the management folks.

Apparently a team can only intervene if the player is currently injured, based on this snippet from an article on Paul George:

Plenty of owners and front-office executives have already expressed their disapproval of risking their assets in international competition that doesn't directly benefit their teams. But they've been largely powerless in this discussion, able to intervene only when there's a pre-existing injury (a right the San Antonio Spurs just exercised in barring Manu Ginobili from playing for Argentina because he had a stress fracture in his leg).

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/11300 ... -different

So it would seem that a player would have to have a "pre-existing" injury in order for a team to be able to block them from participating. Not sure what the scope of "pre-existing" includes, but the point is that it apparently it is not 100% within a team's discretion to arbitrarily prevent a player from playing in world competition simply because they don't want him to get hurt or because the player has been injured in the past.

[closg00]

Rico - The key term is "pre-existing injury". The Mavs used it to keep Dirk out of the Olympics, the Spurs are doing the same with Manu. The Wizards could have played the "pre-existing injury" card in 2012 when Nene missed games post-trade due to his foot problems, but he went to the Olympics anyway...and ended-up being limited anyway. Given Nene's injury history, the Wizards should have played that card recently.

[dckingsfan]

Rico - The key term is "pre-existing injury". The Mavs used it to keep Dirk out of the Olympics, the Spurs are doing the same with Manu. The Wizards could have played the "pre-existing injury" card in 2012 when Nene missed games post-trade due to his foot problems, but he went to the Olympics anyway...and ended-up being limited anyway. Given Nene's injury history, the Wizards should have played that card recently.

So what is the scope of "pre-existing injury"? Still trying to figure that one out.

[closg00]

Martell Webster To Consider Retirement At 30 After Final Three Years Of Contract

Via Jorge Castillo/Washington PostMartell Webster underwent his third back surgery in four years during the offseason and says he intends to retire once the final three years of his contract are up.

“I know this game is probably not going to be the healthiest thing for me if I try to stretch it out as much as a possibly can,” Webster said. “So I intend to really give everything I got for these last three years of my contract and probably walk away from this game so I can be healthy.”

Webster, 27, will be 30 years old when the four-year, $22 million contract he signed with Wizards last summer expires. Webster turned pro after high school so he is already entering his 10th NBA season.

“I’ve always wanted to retire young,” Webster said. “I love this game and I respect this game, but I only want to be in it as long as I can be effective and as long as I can feel comfortable.”

Webster will hobble-on, waiving a towel from the bench, cooling while he collects millions.

[payitforward]

Martell Webster To Consider Retirement At 30 After Final Three Years Of Contract

Via Jorge Castillo/Washington PostMartell Webster underwent his third back surgery in four years during the offseason and says he intends to retire once the final three years of his contract are up.

“I know this game is probably not going to be the healthiest thing for me if I try to stretch it out as much as a possibly can,” Webster said. “So I intend to really give everything I got for these last three years of my contract and probably walk away from this game so I can be healthy.”

Webster, 27, will be 30 years old when the four-year, $22 million contract he signed with Wizards last summer expires. Webster turned pro after high school so he is already entering his 10th NBA season.

“I’ve always wanted to retire young,” Webster said. “I love this game and I respect this game, but I only want to be in it as long as I can be effective and as long as I can feel comfortable.”

Webster will hobble-on, waiving a towel from the bench, cooling while he collects millions.

You're mad at him? You'd do different? He injured his back intentionally? He wants to have repeated back injuries so he can retire?

Give the guy a break, please. Seems like one of the really good people in the game.

[closg00]

PIF, I don't mean to take out my frustration on Webster, he is indeed a stand-up guy. The way that is playing out was entirely predictable. In-fact it was predicted and we were fore-warned.




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[WallWithTheDime]

So what's the EG Countdown time at now?

[hands11]

So what's the EG Countdown time at now?

The better question is how much will he ask for and how many years will Ted extend him after this option year he is on right now. I expect 3 more years. That gets them past 2016 and the KD free agency period.

[WallWithTheDime]

So what's the EG Countdown time at now?

The better question is how much will he ask for and how many years will Ted extend him after this option year he is on right now. I expect 3 more years. That gets them past 2016 and the KD free agency period.

Sad thing is........I know this sounds mean or something
but I wish the Wizards traded Beal and singleton for Harden

1 : for KD, we all know KD is friends with Harden
2: Comparing 2 players....ALTHOUGH Beal is younger and can only improve

at that time we didn't know what Beal would bring and as for singleton...we all know how that turned out. If at the time they found a way to get Harden that would have been huge, but I don't think he would have wanted to stay unless the KD2DC rumors happened if he was here.