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John Wall, Washington Wizards Still Yet To Arrive

By Simon Smith

Nov 11, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) pushes the basket pads prior to the Wizards
Nov 11, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) pushes the basket pads prior to the Wizards /
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Mandatory Credit: Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /

Despite having another stellar season, John Wall is still no closer to propelling the Washington Wizards to the next level. However, a good portion of the blame lies elsewhere.

Since the arrival of John Wall in 2010, the Washington Wizards have at stages threatened to break through in the Eastern Conference. However, with Wall now in his seventh season in D.C., the waiting game continues.

Wall joined the Wizards after just one season at Kentucky and hit the ground running. He posted 16.4 points and 8.3 assists per game as a rookie and ever since has continued to establish himself among the game’s premier point guards.

The Wizards have managed just two playoff appearances in Wall’s time in Washington. Both appearances, in 2014 and 2015, resulted in second-round departures. But despite showing promise during these seasons, the Wizards have again stagnated.

The team won 41 games last season, but missed the playoffs. As a result, head coach Randy Wittman was fired and replaced by former Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Scott Brooks.

Related Story: 25 Best Players to Play for the Washington Wizards

Sure, Wittman wasn’t among the top echelon of head coaches in the league. But not all blame can lay at the feet of the head coach. Like almost any organisation, everything starts from the top.

And in the case of the Wizards, team president Ernie Grunfeld is the main in charge of basketball operations.

The players and coaches can go out on the floor and put their best foot forward in each game they play. But ultimately their fortunes are going to be highly determined by Grunfeld, the man charged with shaping the Wizards roster each season.

Grunfeld landed in Washington after spending eight years in the New York Knicks’ front office. In his 15th season at the helm, Grunfeld is now on the fifth head coach of his tenure with the hiring of Brooks.

But when narrowing it down to Wall’s time in Washington, various moves have been made by Grunfeld that can help explain the situation the Wizards currently find themselves.

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