Maybe Ted Leonsis Cares About The Wizards After All
Just when you thought Ted Leonsis wasn’t paying attention, he proved that he is.
After the Wizards have failed to make the playoffs in two consecutive seasons, Ted Leonsis relieved President and General Manager Tommy Sheppard of his duties. This news is coming just after the Washington Capitals relieved head coach Peter Laviolette of his duties after the Capitals did not make the post season.
Washington Wizards fans have long felt that Leonsis “cared more” about the Capitals than the Wizards. With the Capitals not making the post season after Alexander Ovechkin’s historic season, it was anticipated that changes would be made. The Wizards however, was more of the same so this change of giving Sheppard his walking papers is indeed a shock.
Tommy Sheppard was up first for the team’s end of season media availabilities on Monday, April 10. He opened with sharing how disappointed he was in the season and “it hurting” that he was there to speak to the media and the team not preparing for a playoff game. There was no indication, at that time, that Sheppard would be relieved of his duties.
That’s not to say that he should not have been relieved given this is not just two years of disappointment. Sheppard was with the Wizards organization since 2003 and worked under previous General Manager Ernie Grunfeld for the majority of that time. A rundown of what Sheppard’s tenure has been like can be found here:
Wizards Trade Of Rui Hachimura Latest Example of Two Decade Long String Of Bad Drafting
In summary, Sheppard’s tenure has not been good.
There were already many questions leading into the Wizards offseason.
Will the team re-sign Kyle Kuzma?
Will the team re-sign Kristaps Porzingis?
Now add Who will be the next General Manager of the Washington Wizards? Just when we thought Ted Leonsis wasn’t watching the Wizards, he was and this change at the leadership level proves he did not like what he saw.
Wizards fans, it’s safe to say the Ernie Grunfeld era is finally over.
