Ernie Grunfeld -- enough already?

[Frobby]

I have a lot of respect for what Ernie Grunfeld has accomplished in his career as a GM, both in Washington and before. He came to a moribund franchise and got it to the playoffs 4 years in row, and he build a good core despite never having an above average big man. But the Wizards are now in Year 3 of free fall, and I just don't know that Ernie G. is the right guy to pull the team out of this tailspin. It may be time for new blood.

Thoughts?

[section18]

It may be time for a change however they haven't had the best coaches the last few years. Gary Williams can outcoach anyone they have had leading them. Flip stands on the side and watches them blow 6-8 point leads and waits until they are trailing to call timeouts. I thought he was a tough coach from a distance but after watching him a few times on TV it appears he is slow to make moves.

The game against the Timberwolves the other night was hard to watch. They still get outrebounded most games and need a power rebounder not afraid to mix it up underneath along with a pure shooter to come off the bench or start that can hit the 3's. They were 8-20 while the Timberwolves were 12-20. Not a big difference but enough to win a lot of close games. I think Flip will go before Ernie and I'm not a member of Ernies fan club. There have been a number of free agents he didn't pursue the last few years that could have helped the team. Maybe it's the curse of the Wizards name. Is the name change still being discussed?

[BaltimoreTerp]

I think it's pretty obvious Leondis is just riding out the string with Grunfeld and Saunders. The team stinks, so just analyze what you have and be ready to build for next year (or the next non-lockout season).

[Dr. FLK]

EG has done nothing to improve the Wizards beyond mediocrity in years. It amazes me he has kept the job this long.

[BaltimoreTerp]

EG has done nothing to improve the Wizards beyond mediocrity in years. It amazes me he has kept the job this long.

The sad part is, there are worse GMs out there in the NBA.

[section18]

25 losses in a row on the road. I think Flip is leaving before the weekend and several players will be invlolved in trades.

[tylerfrombelair]

The Zards are a young team with no veteran leadership. Hinrich, and Lewis are collecting checks from they're crappy contracts there prior teams gave them. Young, Wall, Blatche, McGee is a good core to build around. In time when Wall becomes the premier PG everyone expects him to be the key free agents will want to come here. However, with Grunfield reluctant to sign key FA over the past few years I don't see the Zards ever improving under him.

[Hooded Viper]

Can someone explain why the Wizards are not trying to bring Carmelo Anthony? A Baltimore boy who would give them a nice 3 with Wall and Blatche. It only makes sense to me.

[Dr. FLK]

Can someone explain why the Wizards are not trying to bring Carmelo Anthony? A Baltimore boy who would give them a nice 3 with Wall and Blatche. It only makes sense to me.

Because he would never, ever sign an extension to play for the Wizards. Never.

[Pedro Cerrano]

Because he would never, ever sign an extension to play for the Wizards. Never.

This x Eleventy Billion

[BaltimoreTerp]

Don't forget that their next road game is the 13th...at Cleveland.

The stoppable force! The movable object! The NBA, where atrocious happens!

[BaltimoreTerp]

Because he would never, ever sign an extension to play for the Wizards. Never.

Maybe Leonsis should move the team back where it belongs and then they'll have a shot :D

[Pedro Cerrano]

If they lose @Cle and keep their road losing streak alive while breaking the Cavs' losing streak, that may be it for Flip.

[beaner]

The Zards are a young team with no veteran leadership. Hinrich, and Lewis are collecting checks from they're crappy contracts there prior teams gave them. Young, Wall, Blatche, McGee is a good core to build around. In time when Wall becomes the premier PG everyone expects him to be the key free agents will want to come here. However, with Grunfield reluctant to sign key FA over the past few years I don't see the Zards ever improving under him.

Those two guys are poison. Get them out of there ASAP. My buddy talked to Kevin Grevey (now scouting for the Lakers), and he said that the Wiz would love to trade Blatche, but no one wants to touch him.

The best thing for the Wiz is to be in the lottery again, draft a big man, and build around he and Wall.

[Dr. FLK]

Those two guys are poison. Get them out of there ASAP. My buddy talked to Kevin Grevey (now scouting for the Lakers), and he said that the Wiz would love to trade Blatche, but no one wants to touch him.

The best thing for the Wiz is to be in the lottery again, draft a big man, and build around he and Wall.

I see Blatche as poison for sure, but why do you say that about McGee too?

The only thing I can see them being able to deal Blatche for is a horrible, expiring contract...basically the only thing the Wiz are ever able to get in deals.

[beaner]

I see Blatche as poison for sure, but why do you say that about McGee too?

The only thing I can see them being able to deal Blatche for is a horrible, expiring contract...basically the only thing the Wiz are ever able to get in deals.

McGee makes terrible decisions out there as well. Not as bad as Blatche mind you, but sometimes I just don't understand what these guys are doing out there.

[Dr. FLK]

McGee makes terrible decisions out there as well. Not as bad as Blatche mind you, but sometimes I just don't understand what these guys are doing out there.

I see Blatche as much more of a poison because he also just looks like he doesn't care or even want to be there. He's that guy on your pick-up team at the gym, who just wants to cross mid-court and shoot. He doesn't care if he's open. He doesn't care if everyone on his team hates him. He doesn't care if he misses every shot. He just cares that he "gets his" every, single night.

[beaner]

I see Blatche as much more of a poison because he also just looks like he doesn't care or even want to be there. He's that guy on your pick-up team at the gym, who just wants to cross mid-court and shoot. He doesn't care if he's open. He doesn't care if everyone on his team hates him. He doesn't care if he misses every shot. He just cares that he "gets his" every, single night.

Agreed. Personality wise, Blatche is much worse..I just get tired of constantly seeing McGee make 1 great play, and 5 bad ones immeadiately after.

[Dagger420]

I like the idea of getting lottery picks for the next couple years.

[Dr. FLK]

I like the idea of getting lottery picks for the next couple years.

Why? So Ernie can continue to draft as effectively as he has in the past? He's wasted so many picks it's ridiculous. And every time I see Blair beast a double-double while coming off the bench, I get more and more sick of EG for selling that pick for peanuts. How can you give away picks when you have a team full of garbage?

[beaner]

Why? So Ernie can continue to draft as effectively as he has in the past? He's wasted so many picks it's ridiculous. And every time I see Blair beast a double-double while coming off the bench, I get more and more sick of EG for selling that pick for peanuts. How can you give away picks when you have a team full of garbage?

To be fair, Rubio looked he was the guy at #5 last year. Looking back Curry would have been a better pick, but hindisght is what it is. The Wiz thought they were on the brink before the season started (Gilbert back, Jamison still playing well), so adding solid, if not spectacular veterans like Foye and Miller looked good at the time. I liked the trade on draft night if I'm being honest. Of course, I also said Stephen Curry would be a bust, so.....

[Dr. FLK]

To be fair, Rubio looked he was the guy at #5 last year. Looking back Curry would have been a better pick, but hindisght is what it is. The Wiz thought they were on the brink before the season started (Gilbert back, Jamison still playing well), so adding solid, if not spectacular veterans like Foye and Miller looked good at the time. I liked the trade on draft night if I'm being honest. Of course, I also said Stephen Curry would be a bust, so.....

The problem is that they thought they were on the brink. They were on the brink of being a mediocre playoff team, and they were clearly no where near being able to compete for anything meaningful. Then they gave Gil and his falling off knees a stupid deal, continued wasting picks, and brought back nothing of value in trades. EG is absolutely terrible. I can't believe he still has a job.

[beaner]

The problem is that they thought they were on the brink. They were on the brink of being a mediocre playoff team, and they were clearly no where near being able to compete for anything meaningful. Then they gave Gil and his falling off knees a stupid deal, continued wasting picks, and brought back nothing of value in trades. EG is absolutely terrible. I can't believe he still has a job.

I happen to have the Sporting News Pro Hoops magazine for 2009 here at the office, and they pick the Wizards to win the South. Crazy. Looks like they weren't the only ones who thought they were on the brink. Man, how fast things change.

[JDubs]

Why? So Ernie can continue to draft as effectively as he has in the past? He's wasted so many picks it's ridiculous. And every time I see Blair beast a double-double while coming off the bench, I get more and more sick of EG for selling that pick for peanuts. How can you give away picks when you have a team full of garbage?

I was over Ernie immediately after he resigned Gilbert. Sure he was a fan favorite (at the time), but it tied our hands and guaranteed we'd be stuck with the same roster that couldn't get us past the first round of the playoffs.

Never understood that.

[Dr. FLK]

I happen to have the Sporting News Pro Hoops magazine for 2009 here at the office, and they pick the Wizards to win the South. Crazy. Looks like they weren't the only ones who thought they were on the brink. Man, how fast things change.

I know they weren't the only ones, and I was always shocked at how many people bought into the hype.

[allstar1579]

To be fair, Rubio looked he was the guy at #5 last year. Looking back Curry would have been a better pick, but hindisght is what it is. The Wiz thought they were on the brink before the season started (Gilbert back, Jamison still playing well), so adding solid, if not spectacular veterans like Foye and Miller looked good at the time. I liked the trade on draft night if I'm being honest. Of course, I also said Stephen Curry would be a bust, so.....

I liked the trade, but if I was keeping the pick it was Curry I wanted. You never know year to year, but it did give us payroll flexibility going forward. Another top draft pick this year and we have the start of a good nucleus.

[MRLeavey]

I have a lot of respect for what Ernie Grunfeld has accomplished in his career as a GM, both in Washington and before. He came to a moribund franchise and got it to the playoffs 4 years in row, and he build a good core despite never having an above average big man. But the Wizards are now in Year 3 of free fall, and I just don't know that Ernie G. is the right guy to pull the team out of this tailspin. It may be time for new blood.

Thoughts?

It's been time... probably for about three years now, IMO.

If I was Leonsis, I'd blow the WHOLE operation up. There are probably three or four players on this roster I think you can win with. John Wall and JeVale McGee desperately need good coaching. I like Trevor Booker. I'm not sure what to make of Kevin Seraphin.

How can guys like Kevin Pritchard, Jeff Van Gundy, and Marc Jackson be out on the street, and yet you feel comfortable with your operation? That's beyond my ability to comprehend.

The franchise is a joke, and it has been well before their recent struggles. Their playoff runs were a product of a dilapidated Eastern conference, and even then they were routinely abused in the playoffs by teams who understood the importance of defense.

We'll see... I don't know how you can support that franchise given the slop they trot out on the court on a regular basis. Aundray Blatche is a selfish clown who will never contribute to a championship. Rashard Lewis is one of the most talented mediocre players I've ever seen. Yi Jianlian? Kirk Heinrich? Good lord.

This franchise has a clear need for good talent evaluators.

In a way, I feel bad for Flip. He's overmatched. And clearly Ernie Grunfeld is too.

And to top it all off, the Wizards name, logo, and jerseys are easily among the worst in pro sports for my money.

[Nigel Tufnel]

Here's Bill Simmons's list (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/two/110217) of the 25 worst contracts in the NBA. Grunfeld gave out 4 of them, including 3 in the top 10 and, of course, #1 overall.


WORST CONTRACTS
The 25 worst contracts in the league that have three-plus years or at least $25 million remaining (figures include this season and beyond):

25. Elton Brand: three years, $51.2M
24. Channing Frye: five years, $30M
23. Luke Walton: three years, $17M
22. Chris Duhon: four years, $14M
21. Antawn Jamison: two years, $28.4M
20. Amir Johnson: five years, $34M
19. Al Harrington: five years, $33.1M
18. Richard Jefferson: four years, $39M
17. Jose Calderon: three years, $28.3M
16. Charlie Villanueva: four years, $31.2M
15. Hedo Turkoglu: four years, $45M
14. Baron Davis: three years, $41.85M
13. Mike Conley: six years, $49.5M
12. Corey Maggette: three years, $30.7M
11. Richard Hamilton: two years, $25M
10. Emeka Okafor: four years, $52.2M
9. Andray Blatche: five years, $35.7M
8. DeSagana Diop: three years, $20.8M
7. Brendan Haywood: five years, $42.7M
6. Ron Artest: four years, $28.1M
5. Travis Outlaw: five years, $35M
4. Josh Childress: five years, $33.5M
3. Brandon Roy: four years, $62.6M
2. Rashard Lewis: four years, $80.4M
1. Gilbert Arenas: four years, $80.2m

[Tank]

At least three of them aren't on the team anymore... He'll be gone after this season right?

[square634]

I know next to nothing about the NBA, but didn't Haywood sign his current contract with the Mavericks after getting traded?

Edit: Yes indeed (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/08/AR2010070805973.html)

[adamwolff11]

I know next to nothing about the NBA, but didn't Haywood sign his current contract with the Mavericks after getting traded?

Edit: Yes indeed (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/08/AR2010070805973.html)

Right. The Blatche deal just isn't bright. It's almost like Ernie doesn't watch the games and just bases his contract offers on what the box score shows. Blatche gets his stats, but he's not a very good basketball player. He's got a questionable attitude, and just isn't the kind of guy who will play a prominent role on a good team.

Ernie should have been gone years ago. I would imagine Ted will get rid of him soon. I hope so at least. Kevin Pritchard is a ridiculously good GM and could do a hell of a lot for this franchise.

[section18]

I think most of us know EG has had more than enough time to evaluate players and make the necessary moves to improve this team. Has he failed or is it the coaches fault? Both in my opinion. They need a fresh start and TL needs to make changes soon. Who is getting traded before the deadline?

[adamwolff11]

I think most of us know EG has had more than enough time to evaluate players and make the necessary moves to improve this team. Has he failed or is it the coaches fault? Both in my opinion. They need a fresh start and TL needs to make changes soon. Who is getting traded before the deadline?

I would imagine Hinrich would draw some interest as a backup PG for a contending team. His salary could be a bit of an issue, but if he were on a good team where he could play about 15 minutes per game, he would really shine.

I know this isn't a real strong draft, but I really hope the team tries to stockpile picks. The current roster probably only has 3 or 4 guys that could fit in long term. Trade players for picks, buy picks, whatever it takes. Get young guys in here who are hungry and hope you get luck with some. Every draft there are quite a few picks that teams are just looking to sell. Buy them and do your homework and find some quality talent. Not saying the draft is simple, but it's not rocket science like the Wiz have made it seem over the last 10 years.

[MRLeavey]

I would imagine Hinrich would draw some interest as a backup PG for a contending team. His salary could be a bit of an issue, but if he were on a good team where he could play about 15 minutes per game, he would really shine.

I know this isn't a real strong draft, but I really hope the team tries to stockpile picks. The current roster probably only has 3 or 4 guys that could fit in long term. Trade players for picks, buy picks, whatever it takes. Get young guys in here who are hungry and hope you get luck with some. Every draft there are quite a few picks that teams are just looking to sell. Buy them and do your homework and find some quality talent. Not saying the draft is simple, but it's not rocket science like the Wiz have made it seem over the last 10 years.

Agreed. This is a franchise with serious talent-evaluation issues. That starts with your General Manager - even if he's not directly doing all of the evaluation, the people who do are his responsibility.

I also think this draft will actually be sneaky good in terms of not necessarily super stars, but very solid role players. I'd be thrilled if the Wizards could add a guy like Kenneth Faried. I think he's going to be a very good NBA player, and would give the Wizards a guy who enjoys doing the dirty work, and who can play at multiple tempos, which will be important so long as John Wall is running the show.

It's a shame they are most likely stuck with guys like Andray Blatche and Rashard Lewis. Those contracts are an absolute indictment of EG. Blatche is one of the most selfish basketball players I've ever seen watched in my lifetime of basketball enjoyment. It's an embarrassment that this franchise rewarded that type of mentality.

I might be in the minority, but I'd trade Nick Young immediately as well.

[section18]

Does anybody deserve to be an untouchable on this team? I like Wall but he is missing too much time this season. Will he hold up in the future? Long term? Too early to tell but in the right deal everyone should be available.

[section18]

The following is a review of EG's job as Wizards GM By Mike Prada - Editor SB Nation

As we've seen this summer, the general manager is the most important person in an NBA organization. But once you strip away the factors they can't control, who is really the best GM in the NBA? We rank the candidates from 30-1. And no, David Kahn isn't last.

Follow @sbnation on Twitter, and Like SBNation.com on Facebook.



#18. Ernie Grunfeld, Wizards
Hired: 2003.

Coaches: Eddie Jordan (2003-2008), Ed Tapscott (2008-2009), Flip Saunders (2009-present).

Long-term plan: Now: build through the draft. Before: get owner Abe Pollin his championship before he passed away.

Key draft picks: John Wall (1st, 2010), Nick Young (16th, 2007), Kevin Seraphin (17th, 2010), JaVale McGee (18th, 2009), Oleksiy Pecherov (18th, 2006), Trevor Booker (23rd, 2010), Andray Blatche (49th, 2005).

Key trades:

■2004: Traded Jerry Stackhouse, Christian Laettner and the 5th pick to Mavericks for Antawn Jamison.
■2005: Traded Kwame Brown to the Lakers for Caron Butler and Chucky Atkins' expiring contract.
■2009: Traded the 5th pick, Etan Thomas' expiring contract, Darius Songaila and Oleksiy Pecherov to the Timberwolves for Mike Miller and Randy Foye
■2010: Traded Butler, Brendan Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson to Mavericks for Josh Howard's expiring contract, James Singleton, Quinton Ross and Drew Gooden's expiring contract.
■2010: Traded Jamsion to Cavaliers for Zydrunas Ilgauskas' expiring contract, Al Thornton and the 30th pick.
Key free agent signings: Gilbert Arenas in 2003 (six years, $65 million) and 2008 (six years, $111 million), Haywood in 2005 (five years, $25 million), Caron Butler in 2005 (five years, $48 million), Daniels in 2005 (six years, $30 million), Songaila in 2006 (five years, $23 million), Stevenson in 2007 (four years, $15 million), Andray Blatche in 2007 (five years, $15 million), Jamison in 2008 (four years, $52 million).

Key free agents let go: Larry Hughes (2005), Roger Mason (2008)

There's a big misconception that Grunfeld has no plan with anything he's doing. That's really not true at all. In fact, it's quite the opposite -- Grunfeld sticks to "plans" so diligently that he doesn't fulfill his other duties as a general manager.

Like Rick Sund in Atlanta, Grunfeld stuck himself between a rock and a hard place coming into the pivotal 2008 offseason. He did extremely well on many of his early moves in D.C., but began clogging up his cap with long contracts to so-so players. When it came time to decide what to do with Gilbert Arenas and Antawn Jamison, Grunfeld was faced with the same "status quo vs. really slow rebuild" quandary. He chose the former, and considering he worked for an owner (Abe Pollin) that was in his 80s and had no time for a long rebuild, he sort of had no choice. That also explains many of his moves after 2008, such as the trade for Mike Miller and Randy Foye. His owner wanted a veteran team that could win right now, so Grunfeld had to give it to him. Now, he's carrying out new owner Ted Leonsis' vision, and so far, he's sticking to the plan.

That said, there are two troubling things about Grunfeld. First, he seems to neglect the draft far too often. He's traded a top-five pick twice in his GM tenure for non-all stars, and the picks he has made (prior to 2010 of course) have all been shot-in-the-dark picks. Some of Grunfeld's projects have worked out, but he should have been augmenting those picks with players more ready to contribute right away.

Second, he consistently fails to get good value on his trades, especially recently. While the Miller/Foye trade fulfilled a plan, Grunfeld depreciated the value of his best asset (the fifth pick) by making his intentions of trading the pick way too public. He also only got expiring contracts (for the most part) for Butler, Haywood and Jamison, and took on a far bigger contract in Hinrich than other teams looking to pick up assets from clubs dumping salary to get under the cap (i.e. Houston and Oklahoma City).

In the end, Grunfeld certainly knows what he's doing, but loses a lot of points for his shaky execution of his boss' visions.

Interesting? Agree or disagree? Most of us think Ernie should go and the sooner the better. Ranked #18 out of 30 GM'S.

[BaltimoreTerp]

I think that ranking is based more on the dearth of quality GMs in the NBA than on any particular quality of Grunfeld.

Maybe it's because I don't follow the NBA as close as other sports, but I see the GM field in the league similar to MLB 15-20 years ago. There are a few really good GMs out there, and some younger ones really starting to look into numbers and how they can be used effectively. However, you still find too many people in charge of basketball teams solely because they used to play in the league or because they know the owner or because they have been a GM in the past.

[hoosiers]

I think EG is a decent GM.

The writer says EG tried to satisfy Pollin and explains everything quite well, but it is odd that EG gets no credit for moving that awful Arenas contract (though it was EG's contract).

I think getting Young, Blatche and McGee in the draft was pretty good.

I've posted before that I am not a big fan of the talent dispersion in the NBA and the way many teams have to stink for three years - let salary cap $ fall off and drafting high for several years - in a crazy cycle of suckiness to competitiveness and back. I see the Nets and Knicks go through this sort of things as well as the Wiz. Hopefully, we net a top 5 pick for one more year (maybe another) and then look to compete in 2013.

[BaltimoreTerp]

I think EG is a decent GM.

The writer says EG tried to satisfy Pollin and explains everything quite well, but it is odd that EG gets no credit for moving that awful Arenas contract (though it was EG's contract).

I think getting Young, Blatche and McGee in the draft was pretty good.

I've posted before that I am not a big fan of the talent dispersion in the NBA and the way many teams have to stink for three years - let salary cap $ fall off and drafting high for several years - in a crazy cycle of suckiness to competitiveness and back. I see the Nets and Knicks go through this sort of things as well as the Wiz. Hopefully, we net a top 5 pick for one more year (maybe another) and then look to compete in 2013.

I'll give him credit for moving the contract when he moves the contract. So far, he just moved the player: Lewis is making essentially the same as Arenas.

[Pedro Cerrano]

I'll give him credit for moving the contract when he moves the contract. So far, he just moved the player: Lewis is making essentially the same as Arenas.

His contract ends a year earlier.

[BaltimoreTerp]

His contract ends a year earlier.

Yeah, but that's still, what, three years away after this season?

[hoosiers]

I'll give him credit for moving the contract when he moves the contract. So far, he just moved the player: Lewis is making essentially the same as Arenas.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/18/AR2010121803602.html?hpid=topnews

Wiz saved $30M in the Arenas deal. Seems worthy of mention in an analysis of EG, IMO.

[Sports Guy]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/18/AR2010121803602.html?hpid=topnews

Wiz saved $30M in the Arenas deal. Seems worthy of mention in an analysis of EG, IMO.

But didn't he sign Arenas to begin with?