For the first time since Bradley Beal's contract extension on July 27, 2016, Washington Wizards team president (and default general manager) Ernie Grunfeld talked to the local media to discuss various topics. Everything that was discussed can be found here (hint: all the juicy stuff is in the future.)
PAST
On the Wizards 2016-17 season:
"Obviously, we had one of the best seasons here in a long time. I think we are pleased with that. I think our players really developed. We still have a young core, a young nucleus, and our players have been in three playoffs. We are one of only four teams in the league that has been in the second round three of the last four years. We feel good about that and we feel good about our future and our development of our young players. Scottie [Brooks] came in and did an outstanding job, but we are not satisfied, and we want to continue to improve. And we want to continue to do better doing forward."
On Scott Brook's first season and how hopes compared to reality:
"It was terrific. Scott is really easy to deal with. He's a very level-headed even keel person, but he's very demanding and he's been there before. He has a great track record, the players believe in him, he's an outstanding communicator and we communicate very well."
PRESENT
On Paul George trade reports linking the Wizards:
"We can't talk about players on other teams. There are a lot of rumors out there this time of here and we are on the phones like everybody else. It's draft time and you want to see what's out there, see who is trying to get what, what draft picks may be available and things of that nature."
On tomorrow's 2017 NBA Draft:
"We will see what becomes available for us at 52. We will make some calls with the possibility of moving up and see what is available to us, but we will take the best players available at 52 if we don't do anything else."
On contending in the Eastern Conference with LeBron James still around:
"We feel good about our team, we feel good about what we have. We want to keep improving. We have to be concerned about what we do and not worry too much about what anybody else is doing."
On the current craziness with ongoing NBA transactions:
"This is typical for this time of year. Around the draft this always happens, draft picks get moved around, a lot of rumors start going around so I think it's a very exciting time of the year for fans, for players themselves, and for the teams."
On the team's acquirement of a G League team to debut in the 2018-19 season:
"We are excited about that. It's going to be start the following season and it's going to be great for development. Not only developing younger players, but developing staff, trainers, coaches, front office personal, PR people, but mainly it's obviously for developing players and it's going to come in very handy for us especially with the new two-way contracts."
Little thought was given to debuting the team this season, 2017-18, before the Wizards practice facility in SE was completed because it would have meant finding a different facility to play at for one year. Grunfeld hinted at the idea that Washington may have some two-way contracts this year, which could expand the roster to as many as 17 players instead of the usual 15.
“The NBA G League has been a great resource for us over the years, both for calling up talent and for allowing young players on our roster to gain more on-court experience,” Grunfeld said in a press release this morning. “Having our own team, selecting the front office and coaching staff and being able to implement our system will allow us to further enhance our player and staff development program moving forward.”
FUTURE
On if the Wizards would consider going over the luxury tax:
"If it's the right player, I don't think we have a problem going over."
The question then turns to, who is the right player? A Bojan Bogdanovic or a Gordon Hayward, Blake Griffin type? At the end of the day, I think Grunfeld is providing false hope because it is likely they stay under the tax line to make Ted Leonsis happy.
On how he views restricted free agent Otto Porter Jr.:
"We've said all along, we want to keep our core of young players together and Otto is an important part of what we are trying to do. And when free agency starts [on July 1], we will see what we can do to work things out and keep him here."
Check out this story on how Porter and Washington's cap situation fit together.
On Bojan Bogdanovic:
"We are going to see what we can do with him also."
On if the Wizards plan to sit down with John Wall to discuss a potential super-max extension:
"At the appropriate time, we will sit down with John. We want John to finish his career here. He's a franchise guy and him and Bradley [Beal] have done a great job at improving and leading this ball club so we want John to finish his career here."
Because Wall was named to one of the All-NBA teams, third, he is eligible for a larger valued extension as part of a new provision in the CBA. Wall could potentially sign a four-year, $168 million extension this off season, but that could go up to $217 million over five years should he sign an extension in 2018 should he make an All-NBA team next year as well. If he fails to make one of the three teams next year and sign a contract then, that value falls to $103 million over four years. For what it's worth, Wall was aware of the provision last month during exit interviews but did not seem too jumpy to sign an extension this year because more money is available later and he enjoys betting on himself.
On his own contract status:
"I'm under contract ... until I'm not [when probed further]."
So we still have no idea if Grunfeld was extended recently and how when his current contract will expire. Over a year ago at Scott Brook's introductory press conference, Ted Leonsis shared that Grunfeld was not relieved of his duties like former coach Randy Wittman because he was following the plan Leonsis has laid out, which included staying under the luxury tax.
On Marcin Gortat's role and future:
"Marc is with us. We've had him for four years, he's averaged a double-double for four years [not actually, but close]. He's been in the second round for three of those four years and he's been a big part of what we are doing. Everyone has frustration after a tough loss and a tough series so Marc is with us and he's going to be a big part of what we are doing."
This comes after Gortat seemed a bit frustrated during his exit interview with the media last month, which you can read about here.
Grunfeld declined to share specifics on where the team wishes to improve internally. "We want to improve at every position if we can," Grunfeld said to dodge a question asking about less than ideal play from the backup point guard position this season.
Grunfeld is expected to again speak to the media tomorrow following the Wizards selection along with head coach Scott Brooks. The Wizards off season continues with free agency, Summer League, and then training camp in September.