I share the urgency that you and the fan base feel. There's not a day that's gone by when I'm not doing my best to shed accurate light on the Wizards' search. The Athletic reported, for instance, that the Wizards are not employing a search firm to help make this hire.
I've covered lots of general manager and coaching searches, and this one has been less transparent then all of the others. That's not a complaint. It's a statement of fact.
I understand Ted Leonsis' potential rationales for that secrecy, but it's also possible that the team does not have a set timeline. Among other motivations, secrecy is designed to protect candidates' privacy and should, in theory, make the search easier. Another as yet unproven theory: Perhaps the top candidate(s) the Wizards have in mind runs a team that remains in the playoffs. And finally, the Wizards' head of basketball operations job would become more attractive to certain candidates if the team wins the lottery, so perhaps Leonsis is waiting for more clarity there.
For what it's worth, I've heard more wild rumors about this search than any of the others I've covered, and the profusion of wild rumors is a downside to the lack of transparency. None of those wild rumors have been accurate so far. Very few of the more conventional rumors have been accurate, either.
The worst thing any reporter can do in a situation such as this one is spread rumors that are incorrect. So much of the reporting that's occurred has been determining what is fictitious.
John Thompson III is a key person for this hire in at least one sense. His duties include, but are not necessarily limited to, working as the point of contact and the gatekeeper for potential candidates' agents and potential candidates who don't have an agent. I believe he's been involved in gathering information, too, and as an advisor to Leonsis.
The NBA Draft Combine is important, but it's not as essential as it would seem. The combine is most important because of the medical data that's collected, and those efforts are not conducted by the individual teams.
The combine also has value as an opportunity to hold initial interviews with players who will be in the draft. And finally, it's a great opportunity for team officials to meet face-to-face with agents who represent draft prospects and agents who represent players who already are in the league. These are the two areas where the Wizards missing out by not having their hire in place. The conversations still happen, but all other things equal, it would be have been best to have the hire involved early on.
Still, it should be noted that the team has many experienced front office pros who continue to do their jobs and will be in Chicago for the combine.
I do believe it's essential for the hire to be in place sooner than later, particularly for draft workouts in Washington. Why would an agent send his/her players to D.C. to work out and interview if the person who's going to make the draft pick hasn't been hired yet?
And, as you know, the draft also is crucial because of potential trades. It will be crucial to have the hire in place in time for that person to learn the trade value of the people who already are on the team's roster.
WE ALMOST HAD VICTORY
