A disappointing season has led to a change at the top for the Wizards as Washington announced Tuesday it has fired team president Ernie Grunfeld.
“We did not meet our stated goals of qualifying for the playoffs this season and, despite playing with injuries to several key players, we have a culture of accountability and a responsibility of managing to positive outcomes,” Ted Leonsis, chairman and CEO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, said in a statement. “I wish to thank Ernie for his service to the Washington Wizards. He and his family have been great leaders in our community and have worked tirelessly to make us a top NBA franchise.”
Grunfeld was hired before 2003-04 and led Washington to a 568-724 record over the last 16 seasons with eight playoff appearances, though the Wizards never advanced past the conference semifinals.
Grunfeld was given an extension in May 2017 before the Wizards finished eighth in the Eastern Conference and lost in the first round of the playoffs in 2017-18.
After that season, Leonsis wrote a letter to fans and noted “the team’s inconsistency was sometimes frustrating to watch.”
“There’s no easy way to talk about a first-round loss. I’m disappointed, the team is disappointed and I know you, our fans, are disappointed,” Leonsis wrote. “Our singular goal in everything we do is to win a championship. You deserve it. Our city deserves it. It remains our first and only priority and I think our team showed this year that we have the pieces to make it happen.”
However, with a roster void of meaningful contributors beyond All-Star Bradley Beal, Washington is currently 32-46 and in 11th place in the Eastern Conference.
Midseason acquisitions Jabari Parker (15.5 points per game) and Bobby Portis (14.3), are second and third, respectively, in scoring behind Beal, while highly compensated point guard John Wall only played 32 games before being shut down for the season in January with a heel injury.
Senior VP of basketball operations Tommy Sheppard will take over Grunfeld’s duties and report to Leonsis as the team searches for a new president.
