HoopsHype.com Rumors

The Washington Wizards announced today that they have agreed to a new contract with President Ernie Grunfeld. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not released. “Ernie has led the charge to rebuild and change the direction of the Wizards and I’m pleased that we will continue to work together to improve upon what we’ve accomplished,” said Monumental Sports & Entertainment Majority Owner, Chairman and CEO Ted Leonsis. “In the process of almost completely turning over the team’s roster in the last two years, we have accumulated and developed young players and added veteran players while maintaining cap flexibility, all of which will help us build a competitive team going forward.” NBA.com

Washington Wizards, Ernie Grunfeld, Ted Leonsis 

Two NBA officials, on condition of anonymity, told The Post that Leonsis and Grunfeld, whose contract expires at the end of this season, have agreed to a new deal that could be announced Tuesday. It is believed to be for more than one season. If that doesn’t make sense, well, it’s time to take a serious look at what Grunfeld has done since Leonsis took over rather than get caught up in How-Can-Ernie-Possibly-Be-Back? rhetoric. Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Ernie Grunfeld 

If the mandate from the boss was to go young, collect draft picks like baseball cards, save money for a sunny day and not worry about competing for a playoff spot in the foreseeable future — be real bad before good, in essence — then Ernie Grunfeld has done his job and deserves to return as the team president of the Washington Wizards. Before we get to the news, the fed-up and furious are allowed to vent. Take five seconds, in fact. Moan at the moon about Ernie. Call for the architect of the worst four-year, won-loss stretch in Wizards franchise history to be banished forever by the owner, whom some might call too patient Ted. Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Ernie Grunfeld 

Ernie Grunfeld will return as president of the Washington Wizards, according to two league officials who spoke on condition of anonymity. Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Ernie Grunfeld 

The team is expected to make an announcement as early as Tuesday, the officials said. A Wizards official declined comment before Monday night’s game against the Bobcats at Verizon Center. Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Ernie Grunfeld 

According to the two league officials, Leonsis in recent weeks has refused to correspond with agents representing prospective Wizasds’ general managers interested in replacing Grunfeld. The team’s owner since the spring of 2010, Leonsis negotiated only with Grunfeld. Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Ernie Grunfeld, Ted Leonsis 

Sam Amick: Wizards owner Ted Leonsis believed to be behind most of the moves made since he took over in '10, so maybe that's why Grunfeld was absolved. Twitter

Washington Wizards, Ernie Grunfeld, Ted Leonsis 

One prominent agent said the Wizards job would be highly sought after if it became available and that there is “no way” Leonsis can bring back Grunfeld. “Look, it’s a tough job,” the agent said. “But he’s had his shot.” Despite the rumblings, Grunfeld remains confident about the direction of the organization and has not let the speculation about his future affect him. “I’ve been in this business a long time,” said Grunfeld, whose current team will face his former team Friday at Madison Square Garden. “This has been a challenge, and we knew it was going to be a challenge when we got into it. I’m just working as hard as I can, to do the best job that I can. “Those things will take care of themselves in the future as we move along.” Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Ernie Grunfeld 

Though McGee and Young had been at the forefront of the rebuilding efforts the past two seasons, Grunfeld said trading them was still in accordance with the plan. “The two players we traded for Nene, we got in the draft and we were able to combine them to get a player who would fit into what we were trying to do,” Grunfeld said. “We now have two positions that are covered, probably the two toughest positions to fill in the league: point guard and a big man.” Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Trade, Javale McGee, Ernie Grunfeld, Nick Young, Nene 

Despite the rumblings, Grunfeld remains confident about the direction of the organization and has not let the speculation about his future affect him. “I’ve been in this business a long time,” said Grunfeld, whose current team will face his former team Friday at Madison Square Garden. “This has been a challenge, and we knew it was going to be a challenge when we got into it. I’m just working as hard as I can, to do best job that I can. Those things will take care of themselves in the future as we move along.” Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Ernie Grunfeld 

One prominent agent said the Wizards job would be highly sought after if it became available and that there is “no way” Leonsis can bring back Grunfeld. “Look, it’s a tough job,” the agent said. “But he’s had his shot.” Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Ernie Grunfeld 

Sources within the Wizards organization have denied a published report that President Ernie Grunfeld recently rejected owner Ted Leonsis’s three-year, $4.5 million proposal to stay with the franchise. Grunfeld’s contract is set to expire after this season, but team sources said he has not been offered an extension and another person with knowledge of the situation said the New York Post report was “made up.” Washington Post

Ernie Grunfeld, Ted Leonsis, New Washington Wizards 

When asked about his contract situation at the end of last season, Grunfeld said, “I’m under contract. I’m not really even thinking about that at all ... All I’m thinking about is making this team as good as possible and continue to do the plan that we have in place.” Grunfeld has been one of the league’s highest-paid general managers for the past five years, with league sources contending that he earns a salary between $3.5 million and $4.5 million. The salaries for general managers and coaches have dipped considerably in recent years, with teams seeking different ways to cut down costs. Washington Post

Ernie Grunfeld, Ted Leonsis, New Washington Wizards 

Look for Walsh to resurface as a reasonable contender for jobs in Orlando or Washington should Otis Smith be fired and/or Ernie Grunfeld not be rehired. New York Post

Orlando Magic, Washington Wizards, Ernie Grunfeld, Donnie Walsh, Otis Smith 

The latter is looming. I’m informed the former Knicks president recently turned down a three-year, $4.5 million extension proposed by Wizards owner Ted Leonsis. Most in sports management would kill a mockingbird to pull such power attached to that purse string. Then again, most people haven’t pocketed $4.5 million annually as Grunfeld has over half a decade. New York Post

Washington Wizards, Ernie Grunfeld, Donnie Walsh 

Wizards officials say Grunfeld deserves praise for making a trade that strengthened the team. He got something for McGee, a restricted free agent after the season, and Young, who will be unrestricted, and initiated a needed culture change by removing blockheads from their program. Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Ernie Grunfeld 

President Ernie Grunfeld completed a three-team trade with Denver and the Los Angeles Clippers that yielded Nene, Brian Cook and a second round in 2015. But before they embraced the change, the Wizards players were feeling a little sentimental after losing three teammates and friends at the trade deadline. “I’m going to miss them. They are my teammates, they are my friends. I grew up with them,” Blatche said of Young and McGee, who had spent their entire careers playing with Blatche. “We’re going to stay in contact. It’s just the business. It’s not my first time something like this happened. Makes it more easy for me to adjust.” Washington Post

Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers, Washington Wizards, Trade, Javale McGee, Brian Cook, Ernie Grunfeld, Nick Young 

“It was kind of shocking, but the organization did what it had to do,” Wall said. “Nick is always going to be somebody that can score the basketball. Instant offense. That’s what a lot of playoff teams wanted, players that can do that. He can really help that situation. JaVale is somebody that can protect the rim. I’m happy for both of them. They’re both going to a playoff team. I wish them the best of luck. Had fun playing with those guys.” Washington Post

Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers, Washington Wizards, Trade, Javale McGee, Brian Cook, Ernie Grunfeld, Nick Young 

Washington fired coach Flip Saunders, replaced him with interim coach Randy Wittman and immediately shifted into youth mode. But that doesn't mean all is calm on Sixth Street. Rumblings persist in NBA front-office circles about the anticipated ouster of general manager Ernie Grunfeld. But sources continue to maintain Grunfeld and his front-office staff remain in constant communication with owner Ted Leonsis and that Leonsis has an open mind about his GM's efforts to dig the franchise out of the Gilbert Arenas gun fiasco. CBSSports.com

Washington Wizards, Ernie Grunfeld 

It hasn't helped that first-round pick Jan Vesely has managed to score only four points on 2-for-8 shooting from the field with only one free throw attempt over three starts covering 57 minutes of floor time. It's too soon to draw sweeping conclusions about a 21-year-old who didn't play in college, but the development of Vesely and other recent first-round picks Chris Singleton, Nick Young and JaVale McGee bears watching as it could have a direct bearing on Grunfeld's future. CBSSports.com

Washington Wizards, Ernie Grunfeld, Jan Vesely