The Official Washington Wizards Thread

[G.A.C.O.L.B.]

I have an inside source. Wiz are picking 5th. Sorry everyone

[RonArtest15]

Are either of you convinced that he can be a 40-50+ win coach for this team? What about his resume makes him a good fit for this team?

You can't use stop gap coaches in the NBA. A coaching regime overhaul completely changes the philosophy of your team. There is absolutely no point in having Wittman coach this team.

And Jerry Sloan is considering coaching the Bobcats. The fact that the Wizards aren't on his radar tells me two possible things:

1. The situation in DC is much worse than we can imagine.
2. Grunfeld is lazy and doesn't know how to sell his product.

The likely answer is #2 because our roster is infinitely better than Charlotte and we have a bunch of quality big men to work with and a superstar caliber point guard.

If Wittman is a stop-gap coach, so what? 40-50 wins is a pipe-dream next year. Let's be realistic. And how do we know that Jerry Sloan doesn't have the Wizards on his radar? Wittman is expendable and can be canned at any moment. As a matter of fact, I was just reading on BF that the team is non-committal on Wittman's future. Is it likely he'll be our coach next year? Sure. However, NOTHING is set in stone just yet.

The Bobcats job is awful. Just because Sloan isn't considering (or publically saying) that he's got interest here in DC doesn't mean an awful lot to me.

We'll be fine. Year 3 of the rebuild is going to be HUGE. I expect this team to be in contention for the 8th seed next year with around 30-35 wins. If they keep responding well to Wittman, extend the man. If the team looks like it's plateued, explore other options. Wittman, IMO, has earned the right to coach this squad for the next season. He did some real good things in his time as the bench boss, so I'm curious to see what happens from here on out. Again, we'll be fine. No need to panic just yet.

---------- Post added May-30th-2012 at 01:08 PM ----------

I have an inside source. Wiz are picking 5th. Sorry everyone

reverse psychology...reverse psychology...reverse psychology

(i hope LOL)

[No Excuses]

I had a vivid dream the Wizards got the 5th pick last night. I woke up with night terrors. I'm expecting it while we select Drummond, Barnes, or PJIII with the pick.

I think that pick is gone in a trade if it's not #1 or #2.

[Fight4RGIII]

I have an inside source. Wiz are picking 5th. Sorry everyone

Every realistic Wiz fan has been preparing for this pick for a few months now.

---------- Post added May-30th-2012 at 01:23 PM ----------

I think that pick is gone in a trade if it's not #1 or #2.

It better be for a SG/SF that can shoot and be a team player, along with a lower 1st rounder. Maybe Kevin Martin and the 14th pick for our pick, MAYBE. Then we could pick up Waiters, PJIII, Rivers, or maybe even Zeller. It might not be all that bad to trade down and pick up a solid player, as long as we get another pick out of it. I realize the whole Foye and Miller debacle but Polin was in win now mode since he was close to death, Ernie doesn't make that trade in a million years again.

[No Excuses]

If Wittman is a stop-gap coach, so what? 40-50 wins is a pipe-dream next year. Let's be realistic. And how do we know that Jerry Sloan doesn't have the Wizards on his radar? Wittman is expendable and can be canned at any moment. As a matter of fact, I was just reading on BF that the team is non-committal on Wittman's future. Is it likely he'll be our coach next year? Sure. However, NOTHING is set in stone just yet.

The Bobcats job is awful. Just because Sloan isn't considering (or publically saying) that he's got interest here in DC doesn't mean an awful lot to me.

We'll be fine. Year 3 of the rebuild is going to be HUGE. I expect this team to be in contention for the 8th seed next year with around 30-35 wins. If they keep responding well to Wittman, extend the man. If the team looks like it's plateued, explore other options. Wittman, IMO, has earned the right to coach this squad for the next season. He did some real good things in his time as the bench boss, so I'm curious to see what happens from here on out. Again, we'll be fine. No need to panic just yet.[COLOR="Gold"]

My belief is that you let the team grow in one coaches direction. Don't waste time on guys like Wittman. I'd rather get a new up and comer or perhaps a retread and basically hand him the roster and give him a 2-3 season window.

We already know quite a bit about Wittman. Not with this squad but enough.to know that he's most likely not a good option for a sustained period of time.

[hunterx]

I'm not a very frequent visitor to this thread but with the lottery tonight I am intrigued. I don't know who this Wittman guy is beyond "leading" the team to 6 wins finishing the season. I don't understand how some of you are okay with having a stopgap coach for a year; then bringing in someone else long term and still have a rebuilding plan in place. Not sure what other sport that works in...rebuilding a team around temporary coaches.

Maybe Basketball is different these days?

[RonArtest15]

My belief is that you let the team grow in one coaches direction. Don't waste time on guys like Wittman. I'd rather get a new up and comer or perhaps a retread and basically hand him the roster and give him a 2-3 season window.

We already know quite a bit about Wittman. Not with this squad but enough.to know that he's most likely not a good option for a sustained period of time.

But how does ANYONE know this?

Wittman's track record in other stops isn't impressive (have to consider the teams he was coaching) and he did serve under Flip. However, under Wittman, the Wizards played a brand of competitive basketball that we haven't seen in 3 years or so. On top of it all, he actually held guys accountable for what they were doing (or not doing) on the court. This is what we've all been screaming for over the years.

From how the guys responded to him, I think he deserves to see out the end of his contract. This is why I wasn't the slightest bit mad that he's close to returning as the coach. Like I said before, if things go well and we seem to be trending upwards, extend him. If not, hit the open market in 2013.

*I think it was BF who mentioned that teams like OKC and Indy followed similar strategies in how they went about "hiring" Brooks/Vogel.

[G.A.C.O.L.B.]

I think Wittman is a good coach for young players, not a good championship coach for vets. As I've said before, I have no problem with him coming back. No reason to bust our nut early, and spend big on a coach for a team that--best case scenario--squeaks into the playoffs as an 8 seed. Build this **** up, let the coaches coach, when the team is ready to do something and it becomes apparent that we need a coach to take it to the next level, make a move then.

[No Excuses]

But how does ANYONE know this?

A 238 game sample size with a win percentage of .331.

His teams may have not been that impressive, but it's likely that he had a play in that as well.

Sorry, competing hard and accountability isn't something that should be applauded. That's basics for any quality franchise. The fact that we saw resemblance of it to end the season doesn't tell me much besides the fact that we've had a clown show for 4+ years.

What's needed is a direction for this team. Basketball philosophy. Wall has been coached by utter crap so far. He needs a coach who will say, "this is the plan, now go work on these skills". Wittman is going to be fighting for his job the moment season starts. This team really doesn't need that. It needs a long term vision.

What is Wittman's plan for a 3 year window? What will be the teams identity? This is what he is: Ernie's puppet. If he sucks, Ernie will fire him and make him the new scapegoat. He already has people on board for Wittman which honestly is very surprising for me. So it seems like two years down the road when Wittman is being given the pink slip, I'll be arguing how I was right years ago about a dumb Grunfeld move and I'll be told "well hindsight...".

[Duckus]

Okay, every year I think I understand the lottery and then I look up the odds and become completely confused again.

Why do the Wiz have the best chance to pick 4th (35%)?

[G.A.C.O.L.B.]

Maybe it was just me, but I thought it was pretty apparent that Wittman made a difference when he replaced Flip last year. To me it looked like the players were being coached. You could see them improving in certain areas, cutting down on mistakes, etc. ESPECIALLY after Swaggy P and Pierre were kicked out of here (but let's not get into that again). Like I said, I don't think Wittman is a long term answer, but I think he is fine for the time being.

[RonArtest15]

Maybe it was just me, but I thought it was pretty apparent that Whittman made a difference when he replaced Flip last year. To me it looked like the players were being coached. You could see them improving in certain areas, cutting down on mistakes, etc. ESPECIALLY after Swaggy P and Pierre were kicked out of here (but let's not get into that again). Like I said, I don't think Whittman is a long term answer, but I think he is fine for the time being.

Which is why I don't see what the big deal is with him coming back.

---------- Post added May-30th-2012 at 01:59 PM ----------

A 238 game sample size with a win percentage of .331.

His teams may have not been that impressive, but it's likely that he had a play in that as well.

Sorry, competing hard and accountability isn't something that should be applauded. That's basics for any quality franchise. The fact that we saw resemblance of it to end the season doesn't tell me much besides the fact that we've had a clown show for 4+ years.

What's needed is a direction for this team. Basketball philosophy. Wall has been coached by utter crap so far. He needs a coach who will say, "this is the plan, now go work on these skills". Wittman is going to be fighting for his job the moment season starts. This team really doesn't need that. It needs a long term vision.

What is Wittman's plan for a 3 year window? What will be the teams identity? This is what he is: Ernie's puppet. If he sucks, Ernie will fire him and make him the new scapegoat. He already has people on board for Wittman which honestly is very surprising for me. So it seems like two years down the road when Wittman is being given the pink slip, I'll be arguing how I was right years ago about a dumb Grunfeld move and I'll be told "well hindsight...".

When your team was a constant punchline around the NBA for their brain-farts and stupidity, I do hold competing hard and accountability in high-regard. Wittman got the most out of this team in the John Wall era. No, it's not saying a lot, but it's something.

Also, how can you say Wittman is Ernie's puppet when his predecessor didn't have the guts to sit Blatche down when he was obviously ineffective? Wittman pulled no punches and things DID change when he took over. As a matter of fact, you can make an argument that John Wall had his finest stretch in his career (I think it was in Feb) playing for Wittman.

If you want to make a case for Ernie being the problem, then sure...I'm all for it. However, Wittman has done nothing in my eyes not to earn the right to coach this team next year - or potentially beyond (assuming he does well). Like I said before, OKC and Indy followed this blueprint with Brooks and Vogel and they seem to be doing OK.

We're still in the rebuild.

[No Excuses]

Okay, every year I think I understand the lottery and then I look up the odds and become completely confused again.

Why do the Wiz have the best chance to pick 4th (35%)?

We have the 2nd best chance out of the ENTIRE league to place in the top 2, so we have the highest chance to pick #4. The lotto is only for picks 1-3. Teams can jump ahead of us in the lottery so we can drop down, a little bit. Basically no team besides us, Charlotte or Cleveland can pick 4th.

[G.A.C.O.L.B.]

When your team was a constant punchline around the NBA for their brain-farts and stupidity, I do hold competing hard and accountability in high-regard. Wittman got the most out of this team in the John Wall era. No, it's not saying a lot, but it's something.

Also, how can you say Wittman is Ernie's puppet when his predecessor didn't have the guts to sit Blatche down when he was obviously ineffective? Wittman pulled no punches and things DID change when he took over. As a matter of fact, you can make an argument that John Wall had his finest stretch in his career (I think it was in Feb) playing for Wittman.

If you want to make a case for Ernie being the problem, then sure...I'm all for it. However, Wittman has done nothing in my eyes not to earn the right to coach this team next year - or potentially beyond (assuming he does well). Like I said before, OKC and Indy followed this blueprint with Brooks and Vogel and they seem to be doing OK.

We're still in the rebuild.

Good post. I agree of course

[No Excuses]

Like I said before, OKC and Indy followed this blueprint with Brooks and Vogel and they seem to be doing OK.

They didn't hire a proven failure. Brooks struggled his first season but he was given a long term window.

If this team wins less than 30 games under Wittman, he's out the door. If they do the same with a new coach, then he STILL gets time which is how it should be.

Simply put: there is a higher chance that Wittman is gone in two years than him getting an extension. There is absolutely zero reason to invest even a season in him. You either give him three years or you show him the door. But he won't be given a longer window. Ted has already come out and said that they'll be going for wins now.