Countdown to Ernie Grunfeld Firing (Part 2)

[payitforward]

...We complemented our franchise guy with a roster that's quite a poor fit for him...

I don't think the problem is "fit," I think the problem is they don't have enough good players.

Yup. And we've let go of useful players, like Booker, to keep useless ones, like Seraphin.

[dckingsfan]

I think it is both quality and fit... it is an unbalanced roster with not enough good players...

[WizTom]

I put some more edits there

Keeping it professional as nuposse did

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernie_Grunfeld

Sweet!! Enjoying this while it last, take screen-shots everyone

One of EG's board minions is frantically trying to reach the FO now probably

The existence of this leads me to believe that, unfortunately, no one in the front office is reading the forum. (Much less, the guy's own Wiki page.)

Too bad for the Wizards.

Anyone know how to reach Juan Dixon? He might still know someone inside...

[AFM]

Seraphin is far from useless, he's a terrific comedian, and bakes a mean croissant

How else do you think the Wiz training staff gets the team its post workout carbs

[keynote]

I put some more edits there

Keeping it professional as nuposse did

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernie_Grunfeld

Sweet!! Enjoying this while it last, take screen-shots everyone

One of EG's board minions is frantically trying to reach the FO now probably

The existence of this leads me to believe that, unfortunately, no one in the front office is reading the forum. (Much less, the guy's own Wiki page.)

Too bad for the Wizards.

Anyone know how to reach Juan Dixon? He might still know someone inside...

A lot of it is factual -- there's very little editorial content, other than the justification for the Swaggy/Pierre trades and the phrase "proved critics correct". We'd probably make most of it stick if we offered some supporting documentation -- links to articles, etc.

[closg00]

The Atlanta Hawks have reached agreement on a 10-day contract with Jarell Eddie of the NBA Development League’s Austin Spurs, league sources told RealGM.

Eddie -- the champion of the D-League’s Three-Point Shootout at All-Star weekend -- will join the NBA-leading Hawks on Thursday. Atlanta, which had one open roster spot, became the first team to clinch a playoff berth on Tuesday.

After a 37-percent three-point shooting season as a senior at Virginia Tech, Eddie has worked extensively on his stroke and made himself an accurate outside threat.

The 6-foot-7 forward has shot 42.2 percent from three-point range while averaging 12.1 points with Austin this season, attempting over six 3’s per game.

Why, why couldn't it have been us?

[Dat2U]

It's absolutely inexcusable why the 15th spot hasn't been used yet considering the injuries we've recently had and our struggles from the perimeter. Ernie doesn't even bother trying nowadays. Must be nice to have a job for life.

[nate33]

It's absolutely inexcusable why the 15th spot hasn't been used yet considering the injuries we've recently had and our struggles from the perimeter. Ernie doesn't even bother trying nowadays. Must be nice to have a job for life.

It's even more troubling when you consider that the Miller/Sessions swap gave us considerable luxtax breathing room.

[rockymac52]

It's absolutely inexcusable why the 15th spot hasn't been used yet considering the injuries we've recently had and our struggles from the perimeter. Ernie doesn't even bother trying nowadays. Must be nice to have a job for life.

It's even more troubling when you consider that the Miller/Sessions swap gave us considerable luxtax breathing room.

Maybe let's give EG the benefit of the doubt and perhaps he was waiting on Ray Allen's decision, and now we might see some moves be made?

[nate33]

let's give EG the benefit of the doubt

Now you're starting to sound ridiculous.

[rockymac52]

let's give EG the benefit of the doubt

Now you're starting to sound ridiculous.

I've got 10 years of practice now, it's all I know

[LyricalRico]

It's absolutely inexcusable why the 15th spot hasn't been used yet considering the injuries we've recently had and our struggles from the perimeter. Ernie doesn't even bother trying nowadays. Must be nice to have a job for life.

It's even more troubling when you consider that the Miller/Sessions swap gave us considerable luxtax breathing room.

Maybe let's give EG the benefit of the doubt and perhaps he was waiting on Ray Allen's decision, and now we might see some moves be made?

Was about to post something similar. Maybe they were waiting on Ray Allen?



But nate's right - with the luxtax not an issue now, there's no reason not to add a body. I was looking at the extra room to sign somebody (potentially multiple somebody's if they were willing to waive somebody else) as one of the positives of the Miller/Sessions trade. If they turn around and don't use it, it'll definitely downgrade my opinion of the trade.

[queridiculo]

Remember when Leonsis smugly declared himself the king of DC sports with his manifesto and the offhanded remarks about Snyder?

I'd rather have that scumbag weasel running the Wizards than having to continue to put up with laissez faire Teddy.

This franchise is going nowhere and Teddy doesn't give a ****.

[hands11]

It's absolutely inexcusable why the 15th spot hasn't been used yet considering the injuries we've recently had and our struggles from the perimeter. Ernie doesn't even bother trying nowadays. Must be nice to have a job for life.

Well if they were waiting on a long shot that Ray Allen would come, that door is closed so now we will see if they act.

I won't be shocked if we don't see move soon because anyone that was waiting will now be jumping on the remaining players available.

[BigA]

It's time to start the countdown for real, I think.

Barring a strong run to finish the regular season or a surprising playoff performance (getting to the second round), I really think that EG is a goner after the season ends (Randy is certainly going to be gone after the season if not sooner). Ernie did get the Wizards into a position to pursue KD2DC, but Ted has to see that overall performance in player evaluation/acquisition (drafting in particular) over many years has been a drag on the team's trajectory, and substantially lowers the odds that KD2DC will succeed. KD2DC is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow for Ted, and Ernie is not the guy who gives him the best chance of making that happen. Any lag in season ticket renewals will reinforce this increasingly obvious conclusion.

EG can talk about injuries, talk about the need to get guys on short-term contracts, etc., but the team's lack of *any* promising young players/assets on the roster outside their high lottery picks contrasts with other front offices that have been able to hit on at least some late 1st and 2nd round picks, or strike gold ala Whiteside.

Note that Ted ultimately fired McPhee. I'm not a Caps fan but I don't remember the Caps ever collapsing like this. If EG is able to talk his way out of this one, he would have to be counted among the all-time great survivors.

[closg00]

Presumably, Washington Wizards owner Ted Leonsis is only getting started. And if so, he’ll soon announce even bigger, needed changes. Although Tuesday’s firing of beleaguered coach Flip Saunders was inevitable, Leonsis clearly left the job half-done.

He took the easy route in choosing to treat a symptom of Washington’s sickness rather than targeting its cause. Leonsis’s approval of the decision to make Saunders the fall guy for yet another embarrassing Wizards season (is there any other kind?) prompts an obvious question: So when does team President Ernie Grunfeld get the boot?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/wi ... story.html

Will a 3rd coach take the fall for Ernie Grunfeld again? The article is 3 years old but it reads as new.

[80sballboy]

It's absolutely inexcusable why the 15th spot hasn't been used yet considering the injuries we've recently had and our struggles from the perimeter. Ernie doesn't even bother trying nowadays. Must be nice to have a job for life.

I've been saying that for awhile on the other Open FA thread. This makes no sense. Either Ted doesn't want to dole out a few extra bucks or Ernie was waiting for Ray Allen, or the two guys from China (Brown, Bynum) to come over. The fact that you have a playoff team that could have been top four and the only thing you do all year is trade for Ramon Sessions and cut Glen Rice III?

[fishercob]

Presumably, Washington Wizards owner Ted Leonsis is only getting started. And if so, he’ll soon announce even bigger, needed changes. Although Tuesday’s firing of beleaguered coach Flip Saunders was inevitable, Leonsis clearly left the job half-done.

He took the easy route in choosing to treat a symptom of Washington’s sickness rather than targeting its cause. Leonsis’s approval of the decision to make Saunders the fall guy for yet another embarrassing Wizards season (is there any other kind?) prompts an obvious question: So when does team President Ernie Grunfeld get the boot?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/wi ... story.html

Will a 3rd coach take the fall for Ernie Grunfeld again? The article is 3 years old but it reads as new.

Doug Collins' pod with Bill Simmons from late last week was fantastic. One of the things that came up was GM's firing coaches that they hired. Both agreed that owners shouldn't allow it. If a GM wants to fire his own guy, then he should have to go too.

This has been an interesting and wonderful NBA season. I've had the opportunity to watch a lot more teams now that I sprang for League Pass and am also in a very deep fantasy league. I am struck by how many guys continue to pop up as big time players -- or show strong potential -- and not only how we have none of them, but how Ernie hasn't found any lasting asset outside the lottery since Michael Redd.

Hassan Whiteside, Rudy Gobert, Corey, Isiah Thomas, Isiah Canaan, Draymond GReen, the entire Hawks bench, Lou Williams, MOzgov, Mirotic, etc -- all guys of varying youth who matter right now and stand to matter a lot going forward (again to varying degrees).

It is truly the tragedy of lowered expectations to say that Ernie is not responsible for unearthing a talent outside the lottery from time to time. There's nothing on our roster that reflects anything that he has done well.

[BigA]

It is truly the tragedy of lowered expectations to say that Ernie is not responsible for unearthing a talent outside the lottery from time to time. There's nothing on our roster that reflects anything that he has done well.

The ongoing collapse drives that home. Even if you figure the probability of success for KD2DC at 25-30% under the best of circumstances, how about driving that down to zero? How attractive is a team with Wall, a declining Gortat, Beal and Porter maybe not getting beyond above-average starter level, a FO with a mediocre (at best) long-term track record, and literally nothing else?

And if KD2DC fails and they aren't able to pull off much else in 2016 free agency (I'm sure there will be someone or a couple well-known names they can overpay), then they're back in the lottery in 2016-17. Will corporations buy all those expensive seats now that the Wizards have cut the margin individuals could count on to manage the costs of plans by selling some of the high demand games?

I wonder what Susan O'Malley is doing these days?

Maybe Ted looks on the bright side and can appreciate that Garrett Temple is getting some burn. It's such a cold winter, at least someone is staying warm!

[McFilthy]

Ernie Grunfeld Needs to be Sharing the Hot Seat with Wittman

Locally and now, nationally, the discussion is that Randy Wittman is on the hot seat. This is fair for many reasons including midrange madness, questionable rotations and lack of execution/plays in critical moments in the game. However, there is room on the hot seat for the buns of Ernie Grunfeld. In recent history, Ernie Grunfeld has...
- extended coach Randy Wittman
- signed Martell; did not resign Ariza
- no backup SG on the roster this year for Beal, who has an injury history
- no one on the roster who can simply get their own shot, except Pierce with a time machine
- only two three point shooters on the roster: Beal & Pierce.
- started the past two seasons without a decent backup point guard to John Wall. Thought Maynor was a baller and calling him Fart is the nicest thing we can say about his tenure as a Wizard
- No young big on the roster to grow with Wall, Beal & Otto. Kevin is not that player.

Instead of addressing these roster concerns, EG has...
- Retained Seraphin who is a one-trick pony with that sweet hook. I want to wrong about him, but he can’t rebound and constantly makes mistakes at the worst times.
- Obtained DeJaun Blair, who can be a nice role player, but has a similar skillset at Humphries, but not as good.

- This is the biggie: Although he has cap flexibility to sign Durant, Grunfeld is totally muffing up the chances of KD2DC. The closer we get to 2016, the worse the Wizards have to look to Durant. Meanwhile OKC added Kanter, Augustine, Singler & Novak. Westbrook is amazing recently.
- squandered a number of assests immediately after the rebuild. We now have few assets.
- drafted Jan Vesley, Chris Singleton with lottery picks
- traded 2nd round picks for cash (although maybe Ted wanted him to.)

Ernie has has done some good things, but the bad far outweighs the good. Time to move on.