Washington management is ready to turn the franchise around and they’ve started with the front office, announcing this Wednesday that they have relieved general manager and president Tommy Shepherd of his duties with the Wizards.
The reasons for his dismissal were mostly due to incomplete goals, as the club missed the playoffs for the second season in a row. The Washington team posted a poor 35-47 record in both the most recent and current campaign.
Sheppard’s sacking comes less than two years after he was awarded a contract extension in November 2021.
It’s official: Tommy Sheppard has been relieved of his duties as general manager and president.https://t.co/ljtLsF9Msx
– Washington Wizards April 19, 2023
“Failing to make the playoffs the past two seasons has been extremely disappointing to our organization and our fans. The search for new leadership will begin immediately for an executive from outside the organization,” Owner Ted Leonsis said in a statement.
He concluded, “I would like to thank Tommy for his dedication to the Wizards organization and wish him well in his future endeavours.”
One of their strongest moves was signing superstar Bradley Bell to a maximum value contract last year, but unfortunately the results were similar. Once the regular season was over, Sheppard received press to end the campaign, and the final question really struck him.
A reporter asked if he had already met with owner Leonsis to talk about his return next season as GM. “I?” Sheppard asked in awe. “This was never part of a conversation.”
The former boss limited his answers to saying he hopes to bring back Kyle Kuzma and Christaps Porzingis as player options, but did not mention any other major changes that now seem necessary if they are to sail in a new direction.
Sheppard spent 20 years with the Wizards organization, first as Vice President
20 years ago, Sheppard started his journey with the Washington Club as Vice President of Basketball Operations for 10 seasons. Then, from 2013 to 2019, he upgraded his role to Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations.
Late in the 2018/19 campaign, he became interim GM as Ernie Grunfeld was fired, as Sheppard endured an eventful first time as GM. His first actions were to trade John Wall for Russell Westbrook, only to send Westbrook away in the deal that brought Kuzma into the Wizards’ camp, and Porshingis later also came through the trade.
Another significant action Sheppard made as GM was hiring Wes Unseld Jr. as head coach in 2020, as he had just finished his second season against a Washington franchise. However, none of these strategies helped the Wizards become a playoff team, as they struggled to qualify year after year.
Sheppard has yet to comment on his sacking after 20 years with the D.C. team.