Washington Wizards: Ernie Grunfeld Building a Championship Contender

Washington Wizards had a fantastic season, and were just one game away from the Eastern Conference Finals, before losing a pivotal Game 7 to the Boston Celtics. As rumors swirl in the NBA, it seems like the Wizards are being rather quiet. Yet, we know Ernie Grunfeld and his group are working through all the possibilities at improving the team this summer.

In order for the Wizards to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals next season, three things must occur. First, they need an All-Star caliber player to play alongside John Wall and Bradley Beal.

Second, they must remove the mental roadblock of not being able to beat the Celtics in Boston. And finally, they need to find a new starting center, with Marcin Gortat coming off the bench.

Whether or not Otto Porter, Jr., gets a max contract from the Wizards is not the issue. If the money is there, then it’s solely up to the Wizards’ organization if they’re going to max Porter. The crux of the matter is – that Porter’s performance went downhill after the All-Star Break.

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If Washington is unable to bring in a star player, then Porter should be alternating his starting minutes with another starter. This is not a hot take, this is my take.

I don’t see Porter as a starter for the Wizards. Maybe a starter for another team, but not for what the Wizards are trying to accomplish next season.

Porter, who once led the league in three-point shooting, went completely cold during the playoffs. When Washington needed Porter, he simply disappeared.

In his Monday’s Morning Tip David Aldridge reported, that Washington was one of the teams in the running for the Indiana Pacer’s Paul George.

There’s an argument, in some quarters, that since George would be a one-year rental on any team besides the Lakers, the Wizards shouldn’t give up Porter. But, keeping Porter doesn’t bring Washington closer to the Eastern Conference Finals next year.

Plain and simple, if the Wizards keep the same starting lineup as last season, they will be in the same position next season.

It’s great to know that the Wizards’ General Manager Ernie Grunfeld is down in the trenches, working the phones trying to put together a deal to bring George to Washington. This shows that the Wizards’ organization is committed to going all the way, and that they have faith in their team to do so as well.

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One could just picture Grunfeld feverishly tapping away on multiple phones, with his fingers calloused, instead of taking a break, yelling, “I don’t have time to bleed.”

It is truly gratifying that the front office believes that Washington is just one piece away from being championship contenders. It also shows that the front office is not only listening to its players, but also to its faithful fanbase.

Regarding the mental roadblock, that is an area where the Wizards are going to have either hire another assistant coach or a consultant, to help them figure out why they cannot win on the road against Boston. And that’s also where the Bulls’ Rajon Rondo comes in.

I still believe that the Wizards should acquire the Rajon Rondo, as one of the backup point guards to John Wall. Before the trade deadline, when Rondo was glued to the bench collecting DNP-CDS, I advocated that the Wizards go after Rondo. And when I saw Rondo light up Boston in Boston, during the first round of the playoffs, I couldn’t even watch the remainder of that series.

Led by Rondo, the eighth-seeded Bulls beat the first-seeded Celtics in Boston the first two games. Had Rondo not been injured, I believe that the Bulls were taking that series.

Nonetheless, Rondo can help Washington beat the Celtics in Boston. Currently, whoever gets homecourt advantage between the Wizards and the Celtics, most likely determines who wins that series. Unless Washington figures out how to win in Boston, they better hope they get homecourt, otherwise they’re back to where they started.

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There are trade rumors that Boston is going after Jimmy Butler, well they can have him. On the other hand, if Cleveland gets both Butler and Paul George, then that’s a horse of a different color.

Someone recently asked me, why I am pushing Gortat to come off the bench, and not be traded altogether. First of all, during the Boston series I wanted Gortat traded at halftime. Yet, unless Gortat is packaged with some other players and picks, I don’t believe there’s a market for him.

Therefore, Washington should try to get a starting center in the open market, with Gortat coming off the bench. Unless Wall was feeding Gortat the ball, Gortat was an absolute no-show against Boston. Meanwhile Al Horford crushed Gortat inside and outside the paint, exposing Gortat’s weakness of not being able to defend the perimeter.

It has been stated in countless ways the need for a solid backup to Wall. In addition, Washington must have a third scoring option, Gortat coming off the bench, and the ability to win on the road. If Washington can accomplish those three goals, then nothing should stand in their way to reaching the Eastern Conference Finals.

The Washington Wizards did their job this past season, and now the front office is doing its job this offseason, in trying to transform the Wizards into a championship contender.

Next: Monday Mailbag: Witt Still Coach, Melo Comes Home, Gortat Trades

I believe Mr. Grunfeld is going to pull something out of his hat, and let another magical season begin.

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