Ernie Grunfeld signed for 14th season as Wizards GM (UPDATE: EG not a lock to return!)

[CobraCommander]

I really can't believe Ferry is a racist. He might be an ass to work for, but there's been quite a bit written and said about the situation to refute the racist line.

But these days, I can't really get excited about anything regarding the Wizards.

They'll have to replace EFG with someone competent before I really give a darn again.

#FireEFG

Oh, and hi Hands11! Welcome back.

Ferry may not be a racist but you can't lead an organization of minoties while you are on tape MAKING racially insensitive comments. I'm not a part of the PC police... He stereotyped a black guy that looks more African than African American and said he has some AFRICAN in him. Ferry must have been around a lot of black guys To even know what that MEANS. I bet he probably has a N-Word pass with Some of his Black friends. No one is saying Danny Ferry shouldn't get another job somewhere...I just think that there has to be someone else that knows basketball that doesn't have that type of baggage.

I won't argue your post. There's no reason to, because there certainly are other qualified candidates. We've even discussed them on the board somewhere. TheSecretWeapon produced a list right away wherever that was. I think it included Troy Weaver (OKC), Zarren (Boston), and some others. As of a couple of days ago, I would put Hinkie from Philly on the list.

All I've ever been saying is that, by all accounts, Ferry is not a racist. He made an egregious mistake by reading someone else's words in what was an internally politically charged environment, and according to the investigation, the insensitive part was taken out of context, anyway. He has a great background, did a great job in ATL, and somewhat ironically, grew up in leafy Hyattsville, MD, AND, that DC is a town that loves a redemption story (I.e., Marion Barry, JR Haldeman, Betty Ford, etc...).

But I'm done. I don't disagree that there are other qualified candidates. I just think that whether he's difficult to work for or not - which may also have contributed to the whole leak/situation - he would be better than EFG.

#FireEFG and hire any other qualified candidate. Just don't ignore one because he made a mistake and someone made sure he got screwed over for it. It's DC, man.

PS: Hands/milellie still hasn't PM'd me.

My point was, he made a mistake in read/using that term in a business setting. It doesn't make him a bad guy or a racist or anything like that. I think it will be a distraction to the next NBA team that hires him and unless he is the best candidate by far why hire a guy with a distraction of this nature on his resume? Plus people make it seem like Atlantas roster is a juggernaut - it isn't - they are well coached

[Ruzious]

Ferry may not be a racist but you can't lead an organization of minoties while you are on tape MAKING racially insensitive comments. I'm not a part of the PC police... He stereotyped a black guy that looks more African than African American and said he has some AFRICAN in him. Ferry must have been around a lot of black guys To even know what that MEANS. I bet he probably has a N-Word pass with Some of his Black friends. No one is saying Danny Ferry shouldn't get another job somewhere...I just think that there has to be someone else that knows basketball that doesn't have that type of baggage.

Blacklisting a guy for comments taken out of context like that is just as bad as racial discrimination, imo.

I agree with your sentiment but I am not sure the comments were taken out of context...and based on the details that have been released I don't know how anyone could know what the context was. I do know that many people that know Ferry personally were shocked that he did it in a work setting and I also know many of his black friends vouched for him. My question to you is this- do you think this issue would be a distraction if he were hired here?

It might be to small-minded people, but if you base a decision on that question in this particular instance, I'd have no faith in your ability to succeed, anyway.

[dckingsfan]

Blacklisting a guy for comments taken out of context like that is just as bad as racial discrimination, imo.

I agree with your sentiment but I am not sure the comments were taken out of context...and based on the details that have been released I don't know how anyone could know what the context was. I do know that many people that know Ferry personally were shocked that he did it in a work setting and I also know many of his black friends vouched for him. My question to you is this- do you think this issue would be a distraction if he were hired here?

It might be to small-minded people, but if you base a decision on that question in this particular instance, I'd have no faith in your ability to succeed, anyway.

I think he deserves a second chance - especially the way he went out. Maybe not here and now but somewhere sometime.

"I wish the full context of the call was known, but I made a mistake," Ferry said. "Those words [should not have] come out of my mouth. I have to own that and I have."

[WizTom]

Ferry may not be a racist but you can't lead an organization of minoties while you are on tape MAKING racially insensitive comments. I'm not a part of the PC police... He stereotyped a black guy that looks more African than African American and said he has some AFRICAN in him. Ferry must have been around a lot of black guys To even know what that MEANS. I bet he probably has a N-Word pass with Some of his Black friends. No one is saying Danny Ferry shouldn't get another job somewhere...I just think that there has to be someone else that knows basketball that doesn't have that type of baggage.

I won't argue your post. There's no reason to, because there certainly are other qualified candidates. We've even discussed them on the board somewhere. TheSecretWeapon produced a list right away wherever that was. I think it included Troy Weaver (OKC), Zarren (Boston), and some others. As of a couple of days ago, I would put Hinkie from Philly on the list.

All I've ever been saying is that, by all accounts, Ferry is not a racist. He made an egregious mistake by reading someone else's words in what was an internally politically charged environment, and according to the investigation, the insensitive part was taken out of context, anyway. He has a great background, did a great job in ATL, and somewhat ironically, grew up in leafy Hyattsville, MD, AND, that DC is a town that loves a redemption story (I.e., Marion Barry, JR Haldeman, Betty Ford, etc...).

But I'm done. I don't disagree that there are other qualified candidates. I just think that whether he's difficult to work for or not - which may also have contributed to the whole leak/situation - he would be better than EFG.

#FireEFG and hire any other qualified candidate. Just don't ignore one because he made a mistake and someone made sure he got screwed over for it. It's DC, man.

PS: Hands/milellie still hasn't PM'd me.

My point was, he made a mistake in read/using that term in a business setting. It doesn't make him a bad guy or a racist or anything like that. I think it will be a distraction to the next NBA team that hires him and unless he is the best candidate by far why hire a guy with a distraction of this nature on his resume? Plus people make it seem like Atlantas roster is a juggernaut - it isn't - they are well coached

Geez. I'm starting to feel like millie/hands/EFG… but I swear I'm not either Danny or Bob Ferry.

Who did you think brought in the coach in ATL - the guy who coaches them so well? Yea, your punching bag.

And, by the way, the Wizards organization sucks (aside from the cheerleaders, may God bless them). Frankly, they could use a distraction.

So here I go again.

Yes, Danny Ferry made a mistake. He has admitted it. And he as been absolved/forgiven for it by everyone who knows him and the real story, including Deng, himself.

The only people beating this drum are media aggrandizers and the gullible public who fall for this type of stuff. Ever heard of Al Sharpton and Tawana Brawley? If not, Google is your friend.

You can also follow the NBA investigation, through which it seems that he was set-up as a pawn in the ownership squabble. (And to be fair, perhaps because he was tough on some people who were in the organization ((which sucked!)) prior to his arrival who wanted to see him fall.)

The real truth is, he actually advocated for signing Deng, and tried to sign Deng after the recorded conference call and before the leak of said recording.


Either way, as I have already stated: The point is, #FireEFG.

Hire any competent candidate. Just don't discount one because he was set-up in an ownership squabble. If you want to point racist fingers, point them at the former owner who actually did consistently make racially insensitive remarks about attendance and how to increase it. That stuff is on the record and the guy finally stepped away from his own lawsuit regarding the ownership of the team.

#FireEFG

[thinker07]

I would expect that if you could be a fly on the wall for lots of private conferences among top executives of big businesses, firms or agencies people would be STUNNED by how many offensive comments are made. Gender, race, sexual identity, religion, politics, economics, you name it people say a lot of nasty #%$@ when they think it's private.

[CobraCommander]

I won't argue your post. There's no reason to, because there certainly are other qualified candidates. We've even discussed them on the board somewhere. TheSecretWeapon produced a list right away wherever that was. I think it included Troy Weaver (OKC), Zarren (Boston), and some others. As of a couple of days ago, I would put Hinkie from Philly on the list.

All I've ever been saying is that, by all accounts, Ferry is not a racist. He made an egregious mistake by reading someone else's words in what was an internally politically charged environment, and according to the investigation, the insensitive part was taken out of context, anyway. He has a great background, did a great job in ATL, and somewhat ironically, grew up in leafy Hyattsville, MD, AND, that DC is a town that loves a redemption story (I.e., Marion Barry, JR Haldeman, Betty Ford, etc...).

But I'm done. I don't disagree that there are other qualified candidates. I just think that whether he's difficult to work for or not - which may also have contributed to the whole leak/situation - he would be better than EFG.

#FireEFG and hire any other qualified candidate. Just don't ignore one because he made a mistake and someone made sure he got screwed over for it. It's DC, man.

PS: Hands/milellie still hasn't PM'd me.

I'm not anti ferry ...but you know how the saying that any press is good press. I feel like Danny Ferry is getting the vote of the anti-PC police and thus is benefiting in some odd way...or we wouldn't be talking about him. Yeah but just give me anyone not named EG or Wittless-


My point was, he made a mistake in read/using that term in a business setting. It doesn't make him a bad guy or a racist or anything like that. I think it will be a distraction to the next NBA team that hires him and unless he is the best candidate by far why hire a guy with a distraction of this nature on his resume? Plus people make it seem like Atlantas roster is a juggernaut - it isn't - they are well coached

Geez. I'm starting to feel like millie/hands/EFG… but I swear I'm not either Danny or Bob Ferry.

Who did you think brought in the coach in ATL - the guy who coaches them so well? Yea, your punching bag.

And, by the way, the Wizards organization sucks (aside from the cheerleaders, may God bless them). Frankly, they could use a distraction.

So here I go again.

Yes, Danny Ferry made a mistake. He has admitted it. And he as been absolved/forgiven for it by everyone who knows him and the real story, including Deng, himself.

The only people beating this drum are media aggrandizers and the gullible public who fall for this type of stuff. Ever heard of Al Sharpton and Tawana Brawley? If not, Google is your friend.

You can also follow the NBA investigation, through which it seems that he was set-up as a pawn in the ownership squabble. (And to be fair, perhaps because he was tough on some people who were in the organization ((which sucked!)) prior to his arrival who wanted to see him fall.)

The real truth is, he actually advocated for signing Deng, and tried to sign Deng after the recorded conference call and before the leak of said recording.


Either way, as I have already stated: The point is, #FireEFG.

Hire any competent candidate. Just don't discount one because he was set-up in an ownership squabble. If you want to point racist fingers, point them at the former owner who actually did consistently make racially insensitive remarks about attendance and how to increase it. That stuff is on the record and the guy finally stepped away from his own lawsuit regarding the ownership of the team.

#FireEFG

[verbal8]

Question to fans here.Would you take this trade:

Guaranteed that Wittman and Grunfeld come back alongside the Wizards getting a top 3 pick in the draft (don't know which of the top 3) or have Wittman/Grunfeld fired with the pick going to Phoenix?

EG picked Jan Vesley - I'll go with the new GM

[lastemp3ror]

If Ernie is firing Randy, then doesn't that mean it is likely that Ernie is staying? I thought that most owners fire the GM and let the new GM decide the fate of the coach?

[BigA]

If Ernie is firing Randy, then doesn't that mean it is likely that Ernie is staying? I thought that most owners fire the GM and let the new GM decide the fate of the coach?

Right, if it actually happens like this and Randy is let go almost immediately, then you wouldn't expect FO changes.

If Ted was going to consider FO changes, then there would likely be a period to "evaluate" and then everyone who was going to be fired would be let go at the same time.

We'll see.

[Dark Faze]

Ernie recently linked to a Wizards related Washington Post article recently. Shows he does keep up with the post and they have been fairly scathing towards the team the last couple of months. Hopefully he sees public perception is starting to gain steam on Ernie. Almost every local radio guy has called for Ernies head--which is rare.

[gambitx777]

If Ernie is firing Randy, then doesn't that mean it is likely that Ernie is staying? I thought that most owners fire the GM and let the new GM decide the fate of the coach?

Right, if it actually happens like this and Randy is let go almost immediately, then you wouldn't expect FO changes.

If Ted was going to consider FO changes, then there would likely be a period to "evaluate" and then everyone who was going to be fired would be let go at the same time.

We'll see.

Not necessarily, EG could be canning Wittman based on previously discussed information about how they wanted the season to go and he is making this move to distract form people calling for his head, by offering them Wittmans. Ted and the minority owners can fire EG at anytime if they want too, and we might not hear a word about it before the hammer drops. All this means is that EG fired wittman because they did not make the play offs.

[WallToWall]

Ted's past behavior, if we are to judge based on what he did with the Caps, is to let the GM of the team pick the coach, etc. If after that, it is an obvious bad choice, the coach and GM are gone. I have nothing other that the past with the Caps to base my supposition on, but I do think GM EG is gone along with the coach, as EG picked the coach, players, etc.

[gambitx777]

To be fair it takes a lot more to fire a GM than it does to fire a HC.

[queridiculo]

Ernie recently linked to a Wizards related Washington Post article recently. Shows he does keep up with the post and they have been fairly scathing towards the team the last couple of months. Hopefully he sees public perception is starting to gain steam on Ernie. Almost every local radio guy has called for Ernies head--which is rare.

Scathing? That I'd like to see, it's one puff peace after another no matter what.

Heck, they led with Oubre scoring 14 points in 29 minutes the other nigh, EG couldn't have planted it better himself.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Ernie Grunfeld trades away picks to get reserve Kelly Oubre and average PF, Morris.

Meanwhile, the Raptors used a second round pick for starter Norman Powell. The Heat used a second round pick for sometimes starter, and conference rookie of the month Josh Richardson.

(Hickson on a minimum salary is a value player. )