Discuss Ernie Grunfeld's GM skills here (Part 2)

[FAH1223]

It's up to John Wall. He's the only man on the planet who can end this living nightmare.

John, if you are reading, please demand to Ted that EG be replaced. And if he isn't, vow to leave the team in 2018.

I don't think they care whether Wall leaves the team in 2018. Ernie thinks players are a dime a dozen. We'll have real high picks in 2017 and 2018, and we can rebuild again. There'll be a new "face of the franchise," etc.

No, there's only one thing can change this: fans have to stop going to the games, stop buying season tickets, stop supporting the team.

Well, I did my part on Friday. After 20 years of being a season ticket holder in the center section, lower bowl, I did not renew for next season. It was a tough decision, but made easier by Ted raising the prices on me again despite a losing season and despite raising my tickets substantially last year. Even if he makes wholesale changes this offseason, its too late. For once, he will have to earn me back as a season ticket holder. I am done running on blind faith that he will do the right thing for this franchise. As I told my ticket agent, the Wizards have convinced me to renew every season based on hope, not based on accomplishments. I not buying on hope any more.

Ted's been majority owner for 6 years now.

The time has been way past due for him to clean house. Should have done it in 2010.

[queridiculo]

You know what's crazy? If by some miracle the Wizards win the lottery, I fully expect Grunfeld to trade the pick.

[Kanyewest]

Update: David Lee STILL way more productive than Morris. In fact, Lee's play has actually improved a little bit; his PPA is 184 through last night's game. Morris: 86. In 193 fewer minutes since changing teams, Lee has greater total production as well. Morris has closed the gap: I have Lee at adding 1.3 wins so far for Dallas; Morris is up to 1.0 wins in Washington.

Weird that the David Lee signing has worked out so well for Dallas statistically and now find themselves out of a playoff spot as they have gone 6-11 since signing him and are on the outside looking in. I suppose their schedule must be harder than earlier in the season or guys like Pachulia are no longer as productive. BTW, hasn't Lee been playing most of his minutes at center?

[nuposse04]

Update: David Lee STILL way more productive than Morris. In fact, Lee's play has actually improved a little bit; his PPA is 184 through last night's game. Morris: 86. In 193 fewer minutes since changing teams, Lee has greater total production as well. Morris has closed the gap: I have Lee at adding 1.3 wins so far for Dallas; Morris is up to 1.0 wins in Washington.

Weird that the David Lee signing has worked out so well for Dallas statistically and now find themselves out of a playoff spot as they have gone 6-11 since signing him and are on the outside looking in. I suppose their schedule must be harder than earlier in the season or guys like Pachulia are no longer as productive. BTW, hasn't Lee been playing most of his minutes at center?

Haven't looked at the nba tracking stats but Lee is still having a bad net +/- on the court according to BR.... I haven't watched many Dallas' games this season, especially post all star but it would not surprise me if he is still a horrible defender. Offensively definitely looks like he is thriving and he may be useful in the future if they can put another good front court defender with him next season.

[BigA]

via Imgflip Meme Maker

[closg00]

Buford wins Executive of the Year and Ernie didn't even vote for himself as some of the others GM's clearly did.
http://www.expressnews.com/sports/spurs/article/NBA-honors-Buford-as-executive-of-the-year-for-7423959.php

[tontoz]

If Toronto wins one of the next two games they will get to the ECF, something the Wizards have never done under EG. They also won 48 games during the regular season, again something the Wizards have never done under EG. And the Raps did it without any top 3 picks.

[Kanyewest]

If Toronto wins one of the next two games they will get to the ECF, something the Wizards have never done under EG. They also won 48 games during the regular season, again something the Wizards have never done under EG. And the Raps did it without any top 3 picks.

The Raptors won 56 games.

[pineappleheadindc]

It just depresses me that EG is still employed with the Wizards and dooming our franchise with his midas touch of mediocrity. He must have secret photos of Leonsis sexing a goat or something.

[closg00]

It just depresses me that EG is still employed with the Wizards and dooming our franchise with his midas touch of mediocrity. He must have secret photos of Leonsis sexing a goat or something.

Shake-up at Monumental, can we keep hope alive?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/dc-sports-bog/wp/2016/05/25/three-top-officials-leave-monumental-sports/

[TheSecretWeapon]

It just depresses me that EG is still employed with the Wizards and dooming our franchise with his midas touch of mediocrity. He must have secret photos of Leonsis sexing a goat or something.

Shake-up at Monumental, can we keep hope alive?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/dc-sports-bog/wp/2016/05/25/three-top-officials-leave-monumental-sports/

Nah, this is Leonsis reducing costs by cutting executive positions in communications and marketing. I suspect in part because he views himself as a PR and marketing genius.

[AFM]

He's just an all around genius, IMO.

[tontoz]

It just depresses me that EG is still employed with the Wizards and dooming our franchise with his midas touch of mediocrity. He must have secret photos of Leonsis sexing a goat or something.

Shake-up at Monumental, can we keep hope alive?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/dc-sports-bog/wp/2016/05/25/three-top-officials-leave-monumental-sports/

Hope died a long time ago.

[verbal8]

It just depresses me that EG is still employed with the Wizards and dooming our franchise with his midas touch of mediocrity. He must have secret photos of Leonsis sexing a goat or something.

Shake-up at Monumental, can we keep hope alive?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/dc-sports-bog/wp/2016/05/25/three-top-officials-leave-monumental-sports/

Nah, this is Leonsis reducing costs by cutting executive positions in communications and marketing. I suspect in part because he views himself as a PR and marketing genius.

Could this be part of a plan to sell the Wizards? I can't see Ted selling the Caps, but if he is planning to own both teams long-term wouldn't it make sense to coordinate marketing?

The timing in the next 2 to 3 years is pretty good to sell an NBA team. With all the revenue from the new TV deal - the profits should be very good.

[BigA]

He's just an all around genius, IMO.

Ted J. Leonsis...super genius. I like the way that rolls out. Ted J. Leonsis...suuuuper geeeenius.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STeVTzWelns[/youtube]

[payitforward]

Not counting cases where the ping pong balls helped him out by giving us a higher pick than we'd have had otherwise, someone remind me: when was the last time Ernie made a move that added a player & helped build the team? (i.e. signing Pierce was fun for fans -- but it was irrelevant, as it didn't help build the team).

Lets limit it to the last 10 years. Best I can come up with...

1. Picking Beal -- he hasn't worked out so far, but I think most GMs would have taken him where we did. So, at least a plain vanilla "good move."
2. Re-signing Gortat as a FA after his rental season -- even though we overpaid substantially in the trade for him.

That's it. Now, trading Hinrich to the Hawks in early 2011 for a R1 pick and a guy who had trade value at the time (Crawford) would have qualified if Ernie had a) made a reasonable choice w/ his new asset, and b) traded Crawford when he had trade value. Instead the move netted us literally nothing. Ditto Booker -- a good pick in 2010, but we let him walk for nothing, so no net gain to the team. The Okariza trade -- even if you support it -- netted us nothing in building the team. Trading up for Oubre? We'll have to see how that works out.

Some of you may want to add the pick of Satoransky at #32 in 2012 -- though if a guy we picked 4 years ago who has never played for us can go on the positive side of the ledger, that fact alone tells you all you need to know about Ernie's work as our GM over the last decade. Still... if he comes over this season it's at least one more thing on the plus side of the ledger.

Leaving aside the odious Billy King, I can think of no GM with so pitiful a record. There must be something I'm missing that should go on the positive side of the scale for Ernie -- someone help me out.

edit: I just remembered that Ernie and our FO think that bad luck has caused many of our current woes -- injuries, etc. Given that the ping pong balls gave us an overall #1 pick and a #3 in place of two #8 picks, I think we can dismiss that excuse.

[AFM]

He peaked at getting Gilbert and trading Kwame for Caron.

Trading Andre Miller for Sessions was pretty good in retrospect

[pcbothwel]

PIF,

I agree EG hasnt been "Good", and I think this offseason will say a lot. But there some outcomes that are not yet determined:

Wall/Beal/Otto: Each of the three have shown real positives.
Wall has great raw stats, but his advanced stats take a hit with poor shot selection (but not poor shooting).
Beal's health is the primary concern and we dont know if he's Curry or Eric Gordon (From an Injury perspective). Stats say we need another ball handler and reduce Beals roll to mostly a 3 point shooter. His defense also needs work
Otto has great advanced stats, he just needs to keep adding strength and confidence for it to become more pronounced at higher volume.

Oubre: EG and co. did move up to grab the kid and he fits the modern NBA perfectly. He's raw and young, but his size/defensive instincts are causes for excitement as are his ability to get to the basket and work ethic. TBD.

Sato: I've heard all the arguments about Middleton and Draymond, and a do get it. But Satoransky also fits the modern NBA perfectly and fits the current team well. If he proves to be a solid 6th man on a contender, then that's a win no matter how you cut it.

Again, I think EG is very much a C/C+ GM, but having Wall/Beal take the even the modest of improvements puts them in a new bracket of players. Having Otto take another leap (which I see no reason why he cant) makes him clearly more valuable than Zeller and Noel, who many people clamored for. And Sato/Oubre could be some of the most dangerous bench players in the league.

I know our front court appears to be depleted, but I also think that finding young big man who can contribute has become easier over the last 5-7 years compared to the wing (Which we have clearly invested in). See Biyombo, Ed Davis, Ezeli, Speights, Mahinmi, Jordan Hill, etc.

[closg00]

Raptors - Casey - 3 years $15 Mil

Houston - D' Antonio, 3 years $15 Mil

Knicks - Hornacek, 3 years $15 Mil

Wizards - Brooks, 5 years $35 Mil

Picture in your mind a desperate and needy Ernie Grunfeld, standing up when Scott Brooks walks through the door. Ernie: "Look Scott please, 5 years $35 Million fully guaranteed, let me know if I need to go higher to get this deal done today"

[McFilthy]

Raptors - Casey - 3 years $15 Mil

Houston - D' Antonio, 3 years $15 Mil

Knicks - Hornacek, 3 years $15 Mil

Wizards - Brooks, 5 years $35 Mil

Picture in your mind a desperate and needy Ernie Grunfeld, standing up when Scott Brooks walks through the door. Ernie: "Look Scott please, 5 years $35 Million fully guaranteed, let me know if I need to go higher to get this deal done today"

Another well-played negotiation by the ever-shrewd Grunfeld. Glad the coach's pay doesn't county against the cap.

One consolation is that of those four coaches, I do think I like Brooks the best.

Of course, when the Wiz overpay free agent players, Imma be like