Now we all have to imagine what he would have looked like in a Wizards uniform
According to a report from Michael Lee of the Washington Post, the Washington Wizards turned down a potential trade that would have netted them James Harden for Bradley Beal and Chris Singleton:
The Washington Wizards turned down a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder for James Hardenthis summer because team owner Ted Leonsis was unwilling to commit to what would have been a roughly $80 million, five-year contract for the high-scoring player, according to multiple people with knowledge of the proposed deal.
The Wizards would have sent rookie guard Bradley Beal and second-year forward Chris Singleton to the Thunder in return for Harden, winner of the NBA’s sixth-man award with Oklahoma City last season, according to these individuals, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk about the proposal.
I am not even really sure where to start with this news. This report is going to be picked apart in the upcoming days by people arguing both sides, but if it is true, it is awful for the Wizards.
Ask any die-hard basketball fan if James Harden would be an improvement to this Wizards team. Does anybody believe the Wizards would be sitting at the bottom of the league with 2 wins if Harden was on this team?
Ask any sports fan, even ones who don’t follow the NBA on the regular. They would even tell you they do that move 10/10 times.
Hell, I bet if you even asked Bradley Beal and Chris Singleton they would tell you they would do that deal.
I will probably get into this topic in more detail at a later time, but leave you with the question:
Who is to blame?
Is it Ernie Grunfeld for obliterating the Wizards cap room by trading for Nene and dumping Rashard Lewis for Trevor Ariza and Emeka Okafor?
Is it the Cures O’ Les Boulez?
Or is it in fact the man in charge, owner Ted Leonsis’s fault for not making the financial commitment to making this team better?
5 Comments
I pray it’s not true. I remember hearing rumors of him being traded before the draft. I never drempt it was us and we turned down such an awesome deal. If we had Harden we’d be floating around .500 even w/o Wall. This team is in almost every game- save a few- it just needs a closer. Harden is a closer player.
Damn- I hope this isn’t true
Agreed, I really hope there isn’t 100% truth to the story. If there is, this is terrible for Wizards fans because it signifies the owner doesn’t want to make moves to win or is too cheap to do the right thing for the team.
Either way, a terrible situation with the blame either falling on Grunfeld or Leonsis.
Man this is bull shit. Screw Ted Leonsis and his cheap ass. First wanted to lock out the NBA players. Now, he is locking out the NHL. Then come to find out he was too cheap to pay for James Harden? GTFO
So glad Ernie Grunfeld and Randy Wittman are still around. They are doing a great job!
What a joke Ted Leonsis is.
Remember when we used to despise Dan Snyder? Lol
Team rather save the bucks & pay for Ariza(7mil), Okafor(13mil), Vesley(3mil) instead…
Perhaps only way management would get the message is when the fans disappear…
Sadly, I am thinking you may be right. While other teams are making improvements and hiring new front office guys, even thinking outside the box like Memphis with Hollinger, the Wizards are extending guys like Ernie Grunfeld and Randy Wittman.