FanPost

Is Grunfeld worth keeping?


Gotta admit my personal bias.

I grew up in East Tennessee and was a big Volunteer fan. He was a very good player. He played alongside Bernard King and became the school's alltime scoring leader. So I was always rooting for him (both as a player and GM). So I was hoping for much when he became Washington's GM in 2003.

I just can't defend him anymore. He has to go.

First, the positives

1. He has done a great job with trades.

Most of his trades have worked. After signing Gilbert Arenas in 2003, he traded for Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler. He traded for quality players like Nene, Gortat, and Andre Miller. He got Ariza in 2012 for a few good seasons. All have had their moments w/ the Wizards. About the only horrible trade was trading the No. 5 pick for Mike Miller and Randy Foye in 2009. He even traded for Kevin Seraphin from the Bulls in 2010.

2. He has been decent with free agent signings.

First, he got lucky w/ Arenas choosing the Wizards over the Clippers (basically on a weird coin flip). Paul Pierce looks to be a good signing after losing Ariza. He seemingly got Kris Humphries fairly cheap (technically a sign and trade w/ Celtics but we'll go with it). About the only horrible free agent signing was Eric Maynor in 2013.

3. Here is his weakest point. He has been a horrible drafter.

First, he drafted the great Oleksiy Pecherov (who played a grant total of 3 NBA seasons) in 2006. He drafted fairly servicable players Nick Young and JaVale McGee (but most of their best moments have been with other teams).

2011 was about as bad as it gets. He drafts Jan Vesely and Chris Singleton in the first round. Both were busts and out of the NBA. He missed players like Klay Thompson, Kawhi Leonard, and Kenneth Faried. He actually hit w/ Shelvin Mack in the 2nd round but shipped him out before becoming a serviceable player.

I can't really give him credit for drafting Wall and Beal. They were virtually no-brainers at their draft position and talent.

Watching Otto Porter clank shot after shot shows Grunfeld misses something on top-level players. Other than Wall and Beal (and maybe Young), really none of their 1st-round picks seem to pan out.

He seems to have some eye for 2nd-round talent. He got Mack in the 2nd round. He drafted Jordan Clarkson last year but then shipped him to the Lakers. Not sure if he scouted Clarkson or the Lakers but will give him credit.

With Wall and Beal healthy, the Wizards will be competitive in the East for years to come. This means probably a pick anywhere between 15-25 every year. Grunfeld (or someone on his staff) must get better in evaluating top-level talent.

It is astonishing he seemingly does not use analytics that much. This is depressing. If he does not believe in stats, then he has to judge someone's competitiveness better (he missed something w/ Porter).

When thinking about getting rid of Grunfeld, I think about the same thing when contemplating firing Wittman - Who out there would be better? It's a tough call.

But the Wizards need to find one.


This represents the view of the user who wrote the FanPost, and not the entire Bullets Forever community. We're a place of many opinions, not just one.