Unknøwn Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 WASHINGTON -- Flip Saunders has agreed to become the new coach of the Washington Wizards, with an announcement expected next week, according to an NBA executive. Owner Abe Pollin has approved the hiring of Saunders, the choice of president of basketball operations Ernie Grunfeld to succeed interim coach Ed Tapscott, the executive told the Associated Press. The executive spoke on condition of anonymity because the season has not ended and the Wizards are not yet prepared to make a formal announcement. The announcement isn't expected until next week because the Wizards' season ends Wednesday, and Grunfeld will be out of town for the NBA Board of Governors meetings Thursday and Friday. Saunders will be taking over the worst team in the Eastern Conference. The Wizards are 19-62 after Monday night's home loss to Toronto and need to win their final game at Boston to avoid matching the franchise mark for worst record over an 82-game season. Saunders has coached for 13 NBA seasons, 10 with Minnesota and three with Detroit, with a career record of 587-396. Eleven of those teams made the playoffs, and he led the Pistons to three consecutive trips to the Eastern Conference finals from 2006 to 2008. The failure to reach the NBA Finals with Detroit cost Saunders his job. He was fired a year ago with one year remaining on this contract and did not coach this season. He was invited to the Wizards training camp in October as a guest coach, assisting the team during practices and meetings. Washington began the season with Eddie Jordan, the franchise's most successful coach in decades, but he was fired after a 1-10 start and replaced by front-office employee Tapscott, who hadn't been a coach since his stint at American University in the early 1990s. The Wizards continued to struggle, largely because of injuries to three-time All-Star Gilbert Arenas and center Brendan Haywood. Arenas returned from knee surgery to make his season debut on March 28 but has played in only two games. Haywood came back from a torn wrist ligament on April 1 and has played in six games. If the Wizards begin next season with their top players healthy -- something that hasn't happened since 2006 -- Saunders will inherit a talent-rich lineup that includes Antawn Jamison, Caron Butler, Arenas, Haywood and a probable high pick in this year's draft. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cism ™© Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 lolpoor Wiz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
durrdbyrd Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 Could be worse, I guess, they could have Michael Curry. -_- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cism ™© Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 Could be worse, I guess, they could have Michael Curry. -_-or Mike Woodson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
durrdbyrd Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 or Mike Woodson No argument there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bucnasty Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 So they fired a coach who couldnt win in the playoffs and hire a guy who is the exact same way? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cism ™© Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 No argument there.they just dont make Larry Browns anymore Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRob215 Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 Flip can get them back to being playoff contenders, but they'll need to move on once they lose in the 1st/2nd round for 3-4 straight years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdot falcon Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 Flip can get them back to being playoff contenders, but they'll need to move on once they lose in the 1st/2nd round for 3-4 straight years.That's not exactly hard to do if they're healthy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
durrdbyrd Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 they just dont make Larry Browns anymore They don't make Lenny Wilkens' either Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cism ™© Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 They don\'t make Lenny Wilkens\' either exactlyit is mind boggling how some of these guys have jobs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdot falcon Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 Don't make Byron Scott's anymore either.Wait..... what?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cism ™© Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 Don\'t make Byron Scott\'s anymore either.Wait..... what?? they definitely dont make Isiah Thomases anymore.wat? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tetsujin-28 Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 WASHINGTON -- Flip Saunders has agreed to become the new coach of the Washington Wizards, with an announcement expected next week, according to an NBA executive. Owner Abe Pollin has approved the hiring of Saunders, the choice of president of basketball operations Ernie Grunfeld to succeed interim coach Ed Tapscott, the executive told the Associated Press. The executive spoke on condition of anonymity because the season has not ended and the Wizards are not yet prepared to make a formal announcement. The announcement isn't expected until next week because the Wizards' season ends Wednesday, and Grunfeld will be out of town for the NBA Board of Governors meetings Thursday and Friday. Saunders will be taking over the worst team in the Eastern Conference. The Wizards are 19-62 after Monday night's home loss to Toronto and need to win their final game at Boston to avoid matching the franchise mark for worst record over an 82-game season. Saunders has coached for 13 NBA seasons, 10 with Minnesota and three with Detroit, with a career record of 587-396. Eleven of those teams made the playoffs, and he led the Pistons to three consecutive trips to the Eastern Conference finals from 2006 to 2008. The failure to reach the NBA Finals with Detroit cost Saunders his job. He was fired a year ago with one year remaining on this contract and did not coach this season. He was invited to the Wizards training camp in October as a guest coach, assisting the team during practices and meetings. Washington began the season with Eddie Jordan, the franchise's most successful coach in decades, but he was fired after a 1-10 start and replaced by front-office employee Tapscott, who hadn't been a coach since his stint at American University in the early 1990s. The Wizards continued to struggle, largely because of injuries to three-time All-Star Gilbert Arenas and center Brendan Haywood. Arenas returned from knee surgery to make his season debut on March 28 but has played in only two games. Haywood came back from a torn wrist ligament on April 1 and has played in six games. If the Wizards begin next season with their top players healthy -- something that hasn't happened since 2006 -- Saunders will inherit a talent-rich lineup that includes Antawn Jamison, Caron Butler, Arenas, Haywood and a probable high pick in this year's draft.Good luck with that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdot falcon Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 they definitely dont make Isiah Thomases anymore.wat?Speaking of GM's. They don't make guys like Rob Babcock anymore. Still don't understand why the Raptors let him go.wait... what? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cism ™© Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 Speaking of GM\'s. They don\'t make guys like Rob Babcock anymore. Still don\'t understand why the Raptors let him go.wait... what?yes they do Rob Babcocks new name is Steve Kerr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdot falcon Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 yes they do Rob Babcocks new name is Steve KerrI stand corrected. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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