You know how we at Bullets Forever feel about the trade, and for the most part, we know how all of you feel, too.
Ernie Grunfeld spoke to reporters last night at 7pm (a notice to all reporters was sent at 6:45pm, for whatever it's worth), and Randy Wittman spoke after shootaround today. Both shared their thoughts about Crawford's future, the team's future, and why the two weren't really meshing.
First, Grunfeld:
On the reasons for the trade: "Our team has started to come together. Our chemistry has been real good. Our defensive intensity has improved and we’re one of the best defensive teams in the league during that stretch. We’re moving the basketball on the offensive end and we’re hoping that we can continue on that. And Jordan did not fit into our current plans for that, or our future plans. At this time, we thought it was in the best interest of everyone if we make this trade. It will be a good situation for Jordan. He might get an opportunity to go to a better team and help them and it will allow us to continue on the path that we’re trying to build in the locker room, with work ethic and team play, where everybody is on the same page and wanting to play for the same reasons. Being unselfish offensively and playing good aggressive defense."On why Crawford didn’t fit: "If you’ve been watching our games, he hasn’t played that much lately and over the last 20 games or so his minutes have gone down and he wanted a bigger role. It wasn’t what he really wanted in that situation and we felt like our future was going to be with John Wall, Bradley Beal. Jordan got a lot more minutes early in the season when John was out with an injury and Brad was learning. John is back obviously and Brad is starting to come on and we feel like they were going to get the majority of the minutes going forward."
On what changed after acquiring Crawford two years ago from Atlanta: "Jordan, nothing really changed. He had some good moments, but the way we’re playing now is a lot different than then. Now we’re a defensive oriented team and our numbers especially over the last 20 games have shown that we’re one of the top defensive teams in the league. The ball movement has been really good recently and that’s helped us win some games. The players are playing the right way and trying to execute. They’ve been supportive of one another and it just seems like it wasn’t the perfect fit for Jordan at this time."
Ernie Grunfeld: "By no means are we satisfied with where we are" |The Washington Post's Michael Lee
Second, Wittman:
It’s just a situation, with John [Wall] coming back, the development of Bradley [Beal], the emergence of Martell [Webster], and Trevor [Ariza] playing and giving us what he is, it was a situation from a minutes standpoint that wasn’t satisfactory for him. I felt we had a good thing going from our rhythm and playing and winning and doing things the right way and defending, that his role changed a little bit, and the minutes weren’t going to quite be the same. I think he had a hard time with that. We felt this was the best thing to do moving forward.
...
There was still a situation for him to play and be a part. It wasn’t going be probably the significant minutes that he wanted.
Randy Wittman on trading Jordan Crawford | The Washington Examiner's Craig Stouffer
Here's my personal favorite quote from Grunfeld:
"A lot of positive things have happened but by no means are we satisfied with where we are."
Go ahead and check out each piece to get the full rundown of comments.