Links: Ernie Grunfeld's Future, Caron Butler's Return And Raptors-Wizards Sadness

by Mike Prada on Feb 4, 2012 12:53 PM EST in Links

Today's links:

For those wondering about Ernie Grunfeld's future, Ken Berger of CBS Sports looks into it. He reports that while those around the league believe Grunfeld's days are numbers, he's seen "zero indication" that owner Ted Leonsis is "anything but on board" with the rebuilding plan Grunfeld is executing. It's worth noting that Grunfeld's contract is up after this year, so the Wizards would have to give him a new deal if they want to keep him beyond this season.
Catching up with Caron Butler, who will be back in town tonight. [Washington Post]
Jason Reid talks to Clippers' GM Neil Olshey and suggests the Wizards need to follow the Clippers' path. It's easy to scoff at this as "well, all they did was trade for Chris Paul with the commissioner's help, [snark]," but I think Reid's larger point is Olshey saw urgency in needing to keep Blake Griffin happy and acted right away instead of waiting for a plan to come into place. [Washington Post]
In case you missed it, the latest rumor has the Wizards and Bobcats discussing a swap of Andray Blatche and Tyrus Thomas. [Marc Stein of ESPN, with analysis from us]
JaVale McGee says "it's possible" he'll be in the Slam Dunk Contest again. Remember that Blake Griffin has already begged it off. [Wizards Insider]
Recaps from last night. [Us | Randy Wittman himself via CSN Washington | Washington Post | SB Nation D.C. | Wiz of Awes | District Sports Page | Raptors Republic | National Post | Toronto Sun | RaptorBlog | TSN | Canada.com | Toronto Star | Raptors HQ (rapid, full recap) | Popcorn Machine | HoopData advanced box]
Game previews for tonight's Clippers game. [Clips Nation | CSN Washington | SB Nation D.C.]
Report cards from the first third of the season. John Wall gets a very unflattering grade. [WUSA9]
A look at Harrison Barnes, who will certainly be one of the top picks in next year's NBA Draft. [Ben Standig, CSN Washington]
A brief reminder here that Raptors coach Dwayne Casey was the man fired by the Timberwolves before Randy Wittman took over. [Winnipeg Free Press]

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Why would anyone want this Blatche Thomas swap?

Patience people! Can anyone tell me one basketball reason why this is a good trade for the Wizards!

The benefit of this trade is that Blatche will be gone. Blatche is gone next year, either though some trade or amnesty. If there ever is a trade for Blatche that will benefit us in the future (doubtful), then do it. But if we take this trade, we are just getting a player who will hamper this team for three years. Tyrus Thomas is not going to help this team win.

Picture the Wizards team we all hope to have in 2 years…does anyone’s imagination include Tyrus Thomas? No. We don’t want players like Blatche or Thomas on this team. If we just practice a little patience (which I know is asking the impossible on a fan blog!) we don’t have to have either.

by HIBACHI GOLD on Feb 4, 2012 1:18 PM EST reply actions

Yes- bad trade bec we lose the ability to amnesty

by les boulez bomber on Feb 4, 2012 3:14 PM EST up reply actions

Money quote -

"We said, ‘Look, we got this guy, and he’s a franchise player, so let’s make sure we surround him with the right people,’ " said Olshey, among the candidates for the NBA’s executive of the year award. "We had to start moving people. And the guys we brought in had to be guys who, culturally, are not only the kind of people Blake wants to play with, but guys he wants to go to work with everyday."

by djnnnou on Feb 4, 2012 1:28 PM EST reply actions

Just FYI

Link is messed up for the report card story. Links to a CBS article instead.
This is the actual link:
http://wusa9.com/news/article/188496/25/John-Wall-Washington-Wizards-Interim-Report-Card-Grades

by AFM on Feb 4, 2012 1:30 PM EST reply actions

I am just hoping for a good game tonight.

But something tells me McGee is going to try to show up Blake I don’t know why I feel that way I hope I am wrong, I can just feel it in the air.

by p.robb87 on Feb 4, 2012 1:33 PM EST reply actions

Same here

Someone’s getting postered tonight, probably McGee (I hope it’s Griffin though) but he’ll try his best not get humiliated. I sense a possible exchange of fisticuffs/small scuffle or even some technical fouls to be thrown out tonight

"You know how we used to say Wade was Michael Jackson with a bunch of Titos on the Heat? The Wizards... They don't even have Titos. They got a bunch of Randys." - Charles Barkley

by Bread Lover on Feb 4, 2012 2:17 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

how about

Jan Vesely posterizing the american Jan Vesely!

by daca on Feb 4, 2012 2:54 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

seriously, do it Jan!

let’s see some of this vaunted athleticism that has yet to show….Vesely is still an unknown around the league, if he is holding anything up his sleeve tonight’s the night to bust it out!

by DCrez on Feb 4, 2012 2:55 PM EST up reply actions

at least Javale will attempt to block him

after that Perkins destruction (and before), people are just getting out of his way. Javale stuffed him last year after all-star game and will at least try tonight. If he gets postered so be it, at least he’d been in there fighting.

I hope Blake doesnt know about Jan’s little “he’s the american jan vesely quote”…Blake may be looking for him

by DCrez on Feb 4, 2012 2:17 PM EST up reply actions

I remember that block, when Blake hit the floor

But that was from the weak side/ running from the top of the key to block that. One on one in the paint I smell trouble for McGee. Then again, they don’t play the same position.

"You know how we used to say Wade was Michael Jackson with a bunch of Titos on the Heat? The Wizards... They don't even have Titos. They got a bunch of Randys." - Charles Barkley

by Bread Lover on Feb 4, 2012 2:26 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

for all his faults Javale is definitely an elite shot blocker, no comparison to fat Perkins

of course the refs will allow Blake to punch him in the face with his offhand if that’s what he needs to do, and there is at least a 65% chance that a suberb block will be whistled anyway so in one sense it’s like why bother trying vs an nba golden child

by DCrez on Feb 4, 2012 2:30 PM EST up reply actions

McGee is going to focus on showing-up DeAndre Jordan.

He wants to prove he is worth more than the DJ’s contract. Nick is going to bring it to show LA that they should sign him next year.

I think those two are going to play super-focused tonight— super-focused maybe on their own stats but they will bring it!

Bullets fan stuck in CO.

by Krusty2 on Feb 4, 2012 4:08 PM EST up reply actions

One thing I have done to simplify my life and make myself happier

is to stop reading Jason Reid’s columns. But, despite not reading this column, I would note that the Wizards are pretty much following what the Clippers did. The Clips had a lot of young, lottery players and a high pick, which it moved for Paul. The Wizards are on that path, but just not far enough along to make that sort of move yet.

by disgrunted on Feb 4, 2012 1:59 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

Were the Clippers really further along than the Wizards?

Blake was just a rookie.

SB Nation DC | Bullets Forever | SBNation.com | Twitter.

by Mike Prada on Feb 4, 2012 2:17 PM EST up reply actions

further along in collecting and developing young lottery talent

Gordon, in particular, and Aminu, plus an older lottery pick in Kaman, and a pick. The Wizards don’t have that amount of assets yet.

by disgrunted on Feb 4, 2012 2:47 PM EST up reply actions

and as I noted below, the LAC were committed to surrounding Blake with veteran talent long before they landed Paul

and they made the moves to prove it

CLE tried a more hybrid approach and is a near playoff team.

No one has taken a #1 pick and surrounded him with no meaningful veteran talent one way or another.

At best, we are following the SAC plan. And you see how long that is taking. And they are ahead of us because they drafted Evans in 2009, have three lottery picks on the roster and a couple mediocre veterans. They are 7-15 this season, a few games ahead of our four win domination.

by les boulez bomber on Feb 4, 2012 3:13 PM EST up reply actions

Ernie can not assemble a team through the draft. Isn't that obvious to you?

by les boulez bomber on Feb 4, 2012 3:15 PM EST up reply actions

Quantity over quality has been the problem

I still feel our best moves would have been to use our assets in the 2010 or 2011 drafts to move up for Monroe, George, Derrick Williams, or Kanter. We had enough prospects (going into that 2010 draft Young, Blatche and McGee were still prospects), draft picks and cap space to get another legitimate cornerstone.

by gorebd on Feb 5, 2012 12:52 PM EST up reply actions

I agree with both of you

The clippers were further along. But it is not bec they had more tradeable players. It is bec their owner set a tone earlier on a better way to develop their newly acquired “franchise” player.
They traded their lottery pick for Mo Williams during last season. Then they acquired Billups and Butler….Even with Billups, who is good, they saw an opportunity to surround Blake with Paul. And they are still moving forward and just announced Martin signing.

In his first season, JW saw the Wizzards commit to him by trading the veteran PG who helped Rose develop for JC and the 18th pick. We added Turief, who has been hurt, and two more meh players with a lot of years in the league. But we are not done bec we are rumored to be trading for the guy who failed miserably in Charlotte.

So the Clippers are further along. But it is their ownership that is further along, not because it had more tradeable players to land a superstar. And Mike is right, this all started about the same time- last season around the trade deadline or so.

by les boulez bomber on Feb 4, 2012 3:00 PM EST up reply actions

I would kinda welcome the Charlotte trade.

It’s not like we are asking Thomas to be a stud honestly I don’t know what Ernie would want to accomplish with acquiring Thomas, but what they will get is a guy who isn’t afraid to mix it up down low, hustles can run with Wall the most important part of his game, and showed against us he can hit that mid-range jumper, I don’t think they expect him to come in here and fill it up remember this has turned into a defense first team overnight with addition by subtraction with the firing of Flip and the hiring of Wittman.

by p.robb87 on Feb 4, 2012 3:18 PM EST up reply actions

if that is what we get i am for it. we still need to devote this year’s high lottery pick to the front court

by les boulez bomber on Feb 4, 2012 4:25 PM EST up reply actions

The problem with Thomas

is that he has a reputation for disappearing in games. He can be a significant factor or no factor. He would also be the highest paid player on the team. I would rather have kept Josh Howard. He always comes to play.

by hambonejackson on Feb 4, 2012 6:58 PM EST up reply actions

rec'd for the jason reid comment.

the role of a ‘columnist’ seems so outdated. they have to be louder and more brash just in an effort to be heard (or read). it’s tiresome. reid is like many others in this sense, but in his work is more obvious.

"hindsight is 50-50" - Steve Spurrier

by little stevie colter on Feb 4, 2012 2:13 PM EST reply actions

reply fail - response to disgrunted

"hindsight is 50-50" - Steve Spurrier

by little stevie colter on Feb 4, 2012 2:13 PM EST up reply actions

i think this one can go one of 2 ways

Blake posterizes someone
or
people realize what I realize that he is only a above the rim player who can hit a shot occasionally. The play is simple… Blake sets a pick, slips it they pass it to him and he tries to dunk or lay it up. He is good but not like people make him out to be. This is just my opinion. But if I was a coach I would know exactly how to stop him 7/10 times. Just make sure he doesn’t get in the paint and if he does make sure he gets the ball out of the paint rather than in it

by no more kwame's in dc on Feb 4, 2012 2:33 PM EST via mobile reply actions

easier said than done apparently.

by DCrez on Feb 4, 2012 2:51 PM EST up reply actions

It drives me crazy when I see the way people allow him to do the sane thing over and over. Get him out the paint and if he out muscles you make it so uncomfortable on him that he wont want to get the ball. Its the NBA give a little contact on him or he will find a way to score. put him on the line… anything just not a easy bucket

by no more kwame's in dc on Feb 4, 2012 2:56 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQrNYIBw3fw

by FTT on Feb 4, 2012 3:23 PM EST up reply actions

thats andray miller

I think McGee is a little stronger than he is…. actually Booker is probably just as strong to be honest

by no more kwame's in dc on Feb 4, 2012 3:26 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

just as strong as blake

by no more kwame's in dc on Feb 4, 2012 3:26 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

i love the way booker played griffin last year

the refs called a bunch of touch fouls on book while griffin slammed in to him to get to the paint, but book didn’t give a shit.

by FTT on Feb 4, 2012 3:27 PM EST up reply actions

exactly

I think book is probably on of the very few player in the league that will not put up with this Blake shit. Book will show I’m he’s not like other people that will let him get his way

by no more kwame's in dc on Feb 4, 2012 3:29 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Book don't give a shit.

His nickname should be “honey badger!” And he can fight that dude for LSU to see who gets to keep the name.

Bullets fan stuck in CO.

by Krusty2 on Feb 4, 2012 4:06 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs

btw, its stuff like this and his craftiness

that makes andre miller my favorite journey-man veteran in the league. He just get its.

by FTT on Feb 4, 2012 3:29 PM EST up reply actions

i agree 100% iv always liked him

by no more kwame's in dc on Feb 4, 2012 3:34 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

I just hope Ted is not so thin skinned that when he reads commentators saying Ernie is going to be fired

he takes it as an insult and wants to double-down. I mean seriously, the glimpse we get through Ted’s take sounds like a person who would keep Ernie just because the “angry pixels” said otherwise.

by DCrez on Feb 4, 2012 2:54 PM EST reply actions

If he resigns Ernie, my fandom drops 75%

I understand patience and giving the guy a chance. But resigning him for another four or so years is a loud statement in making bad decisions

by les boulez bomber on Feb 4, 2012 3:18 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Olshey-Clippers Formula.

1. Suck for a long period of time.
2. Get lucky and land the #1 pick in a draft with a player of Blake Griffin’s caliber (e.g. an obvious kind of pick who lands in the NBA draft maybe once every 3 to 4 years).
3. Have #1 pick get injured in the preseason, maximize suckiness and ensure another high pick in the year that follows.
4. Make stupid trade that turns into the #1 overall pick in a salary dump that, with a little foresight, could have been Amnestied under a new CBA.
5. Have fortune of playing in the nation’s second largest media market, but thanks to owner still have large untapped capacity in free agent spending.
6. Have NBA commish intervene in such a way as to ensure that your franchise lands, arguably the league’s top PG, to go along with with your PG.

The biggest challenge a Clipper’s GM faced was Donald Sterling. However, the presence in the second largest media market was a huge untapped source of potential revenue.

by Vegas010 on Feb 4, 2012 3:27 PM EST reply actions 2 recs

Are you kidding...the DC market is a huge untapped source of potential revenue too!!!

though I like your post =)

billups and butler are big contributors for them too. and they just added martin. it is not all chris paul. billups, butler, and kmart is a core that is similar to our arenas, butler, jamison core which we know is good for 33-38 wins per year.

by les boulez bomber on Feb 4, 2012 3:40 PM EST up reply actions