It was reported yesterday that Connelly was considered to be a top target to replace GrunfeldNBAE/GETTY IMAGES
Wizards Owner Ted Leonsis today said that there are "no frontrunners" to replace fired President of Basketball Operations Ernie Grunfeld, according to the Washington Post's Candace Buckner. Leonsis said, “There is no list. There are no discussions." Leonsis said that he is now in "introspection mode to learn what has worked/what has not" (TWITTER.com, 4/3). Leonsis' comments today come after THE ATHLETIC's Fred Katz cited sources as saying that the Wizards have "centered in" on Nuggets President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly as their "top target" to replace Grunfeld. Connelly "began his NBA career as an intern" with the Wizards in '96. The Nuggets announced less than two months ago that they signed Connelly to an extension. Connelly's Nuggets currently own the second-best record in the Western Conference at 51-26 and have become "famous for plucking talent late in the draft." Leonsis yesterday did not say how long he "anticipated the search for a new president to take" (THEATHLETIC.com, 4/2). In DC, Matthew Paras notes Wizards Senior VP/Basketball Operations Tommy Sheppard will "assume the role of interim GM," though the team has "hired a search firm to find new candidates for the position." Sheppard will be a "candidate for the main job." The Wizards have a "pivotal offseason ahead with major issues to address." The next GM will be "tasked with having to rebuild" the team's roster with injured G John Wall’s supermax contract on the books (WASHINGTON TIMES, 4/3).
NEXT ONE UP: THE ATHLETIC's David Aldridge wrote whoever replaces Grunfeld will "have to not only fully embrace modern analytics," they will have to "figure out how to better construct a roster." The good news for Leonsis going forward is, "despite all the stagnation the last few years, so many people in the league still view this as a viable franchise, one that could become a consistent winner." It does "not hurt that Leonsis has shown both a willingness to pay top dollar for talent and incredible loyalty to his front office people." The Wizards will have "lots of decisions to make, and soon." But Leonsis has the "biggest one, on his plate, right now, and nothing else that follows will matter if he doesn’t ace this one first" (THEATHLETIC.com, 4/2).
TIME HAD COME: In DC, Jerry Brewer writes "nothing could have appeased Wizards fans more" than the dismissal of Grunfeld. It felt like the franchise was "being held hostage by mediocrity and indecision." Removing Grunfeld is an indication that Leonsis "aspires to do more with his NBA team than watch it squeak by and then regress, only to squeak by and then regress again" (WASHINGTON POST, 4/3). ESPN's Paul Pierce said there "had to be some type of change" for the Wizards, as the organization "needs a breath of fresh air" ("The Jump," ESPN, 4/2). In DC, Ben Golliver writes the Wizards' "relatively easy decision" to part with Grunfeld will be "followed by what will likely be years of hard work undoing his recent moves." His tenure was "thoroughly mixed," as it saw eight playoff appearances and "five straight sub-30 win seasons." The recent "big-picture, shortsighted decisions -- aimed at getting the franchise over the hump during Wall’s prime -- are bound to loom over the franchise for years." The Wizards’ cupboard "isn’t just bare, it needs a new coat of paint, new hinges for its door and some patchwork to fill in a massive hole" (WASHINGTON POST, 4/3).
FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL: In DC, Leonard Shapiro noted the fact that Wizards TV play-by-play man Steve Buckhantz' contract "may not be renewed" has produced an "outcry on social media." Both Buckhantz and his agent, Phil Hochberg, said that they are "still hopeful the veteran broadcaster will be back where he belongs next year." NBC Sports Washington GM Damon Phillips "contends that still remains a possibility" (WASHINGTONCITYPAPER.com, 4/1).
