NBA
Wizards Name Tommy Sheppard General Manager
After a long search to replace former general manager Ernie Grunfeld, the Washington Wizards removed the interim tag from Tommy Sheppard’s title last Friday.
After the many acquisitions he made during this offseason, Sheppard has made it clear the path the Wizards are on. Signaling a turn from winning now to consistently improving and developing younger players.
He drafted Rui Hachimura from Gonzaga University with the 9th pick in the 2019 draft. Also during the draft, he traded cash considerations to the Philadelphia 76ers for Johnathan Simmons and a second-round pick which he used to draft Admiral Schofield.
Sheppard did not stop dealing at the draft though. He struck deals to acquire forward CJ Miles from the Memphis Grizzlies for Dwight Howard. A deal he called ‘the quickest trade he’s ever done’, and although Tomas Satoransky signed for the Chicago Bulls, Sheppard was able to do a sign and trade to receive a 2020 second-round pick and the rights to a future second-round pick.
Furthermore, as the Wizards look to rebuild he has invested in developing young players such as center Thomas Byrant Jr. Byrant resigned for a three year $25M deal after averaging 10.5 points and 6.3 rebounds. Also, as part of the Los Angeles Lakers deal to acquire Anthony Davis from the New Orleans Pelicans the Wizards received Moritz Wagner, Jemerrio Jones, Isaac Bonga, and a 2022 second-round pick for cash considerations.
Developing Youth
The Wizards are all in for developing their youth talent. The organization now has a G-League team, Capital City Go-Go, and newly hired former Georgetown University head coach John Thompson III leading the athlete development and engagement department.
The Wizards are not a contending team right now. They possibly won’t be until their franchise point guard John Wall returns. During the season newly signed Isaiah Thomas and Ish Smith will run the show. But, the team will still be led by All-Star Bradley Beal whose name has been in the rumor mill all summer. However, according to ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski, the newly promoted GM plans to offer Beal a three year $111M contract Friday.
Written by Joshua Sampson
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