Countdown to Don Newman Being Named Interim Head Coach

[BigA]

(3) If Randy is let go, does that tell us anything about Ernie's job security?

To me, that would tell me that Grunfeld was rock solid in the job. Which I think is the case anyway.

This seems right to me. Not firing Wittman until the end of the season at least holds out the possibility that Randy and Ernie are let go at the same time. Letting Randy go now would indicate that Ernie will be hiring the next coach.

[BigA]

I gotta believe the change takes place later next week with more losses if not by Monday.

You have to get somewhat of an idea of what your assistant coaches are capable of before heading into the offseason, right?

Will watching Don Newman coach out this short string really generate useful information? And for who?

If they are going to do a coaching change, I would be very surprised if they elevate an assistant, as they did with Randy. I have to think that they'll do a real search, with either Ernie or a new GM running it.

Or maybe Randy stays if Ted decides to go all in on the injuries excuse. Will that be difficult if Wall is dissatisfied?

The timing and spin of all this will be very interesting. Will firing Grunfeld and/or Wittman make any difference in getting Durant? If they miss the playoffs, lose the pick, and don't get Durant with Ernie still in place, how will Ted spin it? How are the season ticket renewals? Will the local media continue to accept Ted and Ernie's spin without questioning it?

[TheSecretWeapon]

My prediction: Wittman goes, Grunfeld stays. I don't think he'd have been allowed to trade a first for Morris if he wasn't going to stay.

I hope I'm wrong.

[BigA]

My prediction: Wittman goes, Grunfeld stays. I don't think he'd have been allowed to trade a first for Morris if he wasn't going to stay.

I hope I'm wrong.

We'll see. I think allowing Ernie to trade the pick might have been giving him a last chance. If you're right, there will be lots of spinning, and it will be interesting to see who buys it.

[TheSecretWeapon]

My prediction: Wittman goes, Grunfeld stays. I don't think he'd have been allowed to trade a first for Morris if he wasn't going to stay.

I hope I'm wrong.

We'll see. I think allowing Ernie to trade the pick might have been giving him a last chance. If you're right, there will be lots of spinning, and it will be interesting to see who buys it.

Leonsis has already been peddling the injuries story, complete with a snide little "analytics this" on his tweets.

[nate33]

My prediction: Wittman goes, Grunfeld stays. I don't think he'd have been allowed to trade a first for Morris if he wasn't going to stay.

I hope I'm wrong.

Yeah. Wittman is definitely gone. He has lost the team.

It's going to be real hard for Ted to justify giving EG yet another chance and handpicking a coach however. I cling to this as my primary hope for EG also getting canned.

With any luck, Ted gave EG an ultimatum at the Trade Deadline, allowing EG to make a move under the condition that trade pushes the team in to playoff contention. And now that EG has failed, Ted will fire him.

Clearly, EG is a bad GM - one of the worst. It seems like a no-brainer for Ted to replace him. Building a winning team will make Ted more money. I just don't understand why he doesn't see this.

[long suffrin' boulez fan]

My prediction: Wittman goes, Grunfeld stays. I don't think he'd have been allowed to trade a first for Morris if he wasn't going to stay.

I hope I'm wrong.

This does seem a lot like the Forsberg for Erat desperation debacle that eventually sealed George McPhee's fate.

33 seconds after the final horn of the final game, EG should be gone.

I predict that Ted will take a couple of weeks, talk to a bunch of people, then reassign Grunfeld.

[BigA]

I predict that Ted will take a couple of weeks, talk to a bunch of people, then reassign Grunfeld.

Director of European Scouting

[Earth2Ted]

My prediction: Wittman goes, Grunfeld stays. I don't think he'd have been allowed to trade a first for Morris if he wasn't going to stay.

I hope I'm wrong.

This does seem a lot like the Forsberg for Erat desperation debacle that eventually sealed George McPhee's fate.

33 seconds after the final horn of the final game, EG should be gone.

I predict that Ted will take a couple of weeks, talk to a bunch of people, then reassign Grunfeld.

I certainly hope so- the caps precedent is one of the few shreds of hope we can cling to when it comes to Ted and monumental.

You could also say there are parallels between wall and ovechkin in terms of their struggles being the face of an underachieving franchise... hopefully they can find an actual competent gm to get wall some talent they way they've managed to bring in a kuznetsov and an Oshie etc for the caps.

[TheSecretWeapon]

I'm HOPING Leonsis will replace Grunfeld. I remain doubtful that he actually will do it. He's been strong on the "we've had so many injuries" angle. I think if he was going to fire Grunfeld, he'd couple the "we've had so many injuries" with "but injuries are no excuse."

My guess: Leonsis bought the notion that the team's salary cap strategy would leave the bench a little thin, and the team susceptible to injury. And darn the luck...injuries.

[Sluggerface]

I'm HOPING Leonsis will replace Grunfeld. I remain doubtful that he actually will do it. He's been strong on the "we've had so many injuries" angle. I think if he was going to fire Grunfeld, he'd couple the "we've had so many injuries" with "but injuries are no excuse."

My guess: Leonsis bought the notion that the team's salary cap strategy would leave the bench a little thin, and the team susceptible to injury. And darn the luck...injuries.

I don't think it's too out of the question. Leonsis is an eternal optimist. I'm sure you could find him attempting to peddle at least some modicum of bull during that disastrous 2013-14 Caps season that cost both Adam Oates, and George McPhee their jobs. McPhee was making panic moves for the last two years of his tenure there as well, so it didn't seem to matter whether or not Leonsis let him do it.

I think if you're trying to be a professional organization, when you suddenly go from making the playoffs to not making the playoffs, you have to do some hardcore off-season evaluation internally, even if technically their cap strategy has gone to plan. I think Ted has to at least confront the notion of "could this have gone smoother?"

[AWIZZINGBULLET]

I gotta believe the change takes place later next week with more losses if not by Monday.

You have to get somewhat of an idea of what your assistant coaches are capable of before heading into the offseason, right?

Will watching Don Newman coach out this short string really generate useful information? And for who?

If they are going to do a coaching change, I would be very surprised if they elevate an assistant, as they did with Randy. I have to think that they'll do a real search, with either Ernie or a new GM running it.

Or maybe Randy stays if Ted decides to go all in on the injuries excuse. Will that be difficult if Wall is dissatisfied?

The timing and spin of all this will be very interesting. Will firing Grunfeld and/or Wittman make any difference in getting Durant? If they miss the playoffs, lose the pick, and don't get Durant with Ernie still in place, how will Ted spin it? How are the season ticket renewals? Will the local media continue to accept Ted and Ernie's spin without questioning it?

I think if Newman were to replace Wittman Monday and coached out the remaining 17 games on the schedule, that would be enough time to determine whether or not there are significant differences in game-planning and philosophy. You'd get to see how he responds to each player, as well as see how the players respond to him. If the changes generate better production then that could serve as some indication that Newman is worth being next in line for the long-term.


Why wouldn't they give a guy who's been an assistant to arguably the best coach in the league, in Popovich, the opportunity to show what he's got?

I don't think the Wizards run at the playoffs is dead, I just don't want to see it continue under Wittman.

Make the change and move forward.

[closg00]

My prediction: Wittman goes, Grunfeld stays. I don't think he'd have been allowed to trade a first for Morris if he wasn't going to stay.

I hope I'm wrong.

This does seem a lot like the Forsberg for Erat desperation debacle that eventually sealed George McPhee's fate.

33 seconds after the final horn of the final game, EG should be gone.

I predict that Ted will take a couple of weeks, talk to a bunch of people, then reassign Grunfeld.

IIRC, Wes was never fired either.

[thricethefun]

We should take a hard look at Kevin Ollie after this season is over