WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� Michael Winger made it clear he鈥檚 got work to do as the Washington Wizards鈥� new top basketball executive.
Winger, who spent the last six seasons as the Los Angeles Clippers general manager, has the title of President of Monumental Basketball. Hired on May 25, he’ll also oversee the WNBA鈥檚 Washington Mystics and the G League鈥檚 Capital City Go-Go.
鈥淭he goal is to pursue championships by any means necessary,鈥� Winger said at his introductory news conference on Thursday. 鈥淚t will take time. It鈥檚 going to start on the ground floor. It鈥檚 not just players. It鈥檚 not just coaches. We鈥檙e going to do everything a little bit better tomorrow than it鈥檚 being done today鈥ventually we鈥檙e going to hoist a trophy here in D.C. I can鈥檛 promise you when.鈥�
The Wizards, who last won an NBA championship in 1977-78, missed the playoffs the last two seasons with 35-47 records and haven鈥檛 advanced past the first round since 2016-17.
鈥� Dave Preston (@davpresto)
Winger said Monumental Sports Founder and CEO Ted Leonsis, has given him the go-ahead for a total teardown, if necessary.
鈥淔ull authority to reset the team, if that鈥檚 what we decide to do,鈥� Winger said. 鈥淲e just haven鈥檛 sat down and figured it out yet.鈥�
Washington鈥檚 best player is guard Bradley Beal, who completed the first season of a five-year, $251 million contract. Forward Kyle Kuzma is a free agent who previously indicated he wants to return. Forward Kristaps Porzingis has a $36 million player option for next season.
鈥淩ight now, I have to defer to those guys to see where their heads are,鈥� Winger said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e principals of the teams, and they carry a lot of water. It鈥檚 important for us to get to know those guys.
鈥淲e鈥檙e versed on them as players. We just don鈥檛 know them as men. One of the things that鈥檚 important for us is to get to know these guys and figure out where they want to see this team go and what they want from us.鈥�
The overriding theme is the organization isn鈥檛 expecting a championship contender next season.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to take time. I鈥檝e proven that I鈥檒l be patient,鈥� Leonsis said. 鈥淭his will take a long time. Because of that, I wanted a next generation leadership.鈥�
Winger has been an NBA executive for 18 years with the Clippers, Cleveland and Oklahoma City.
鈥淭he Wizards have an extremely bright future, if appropriately managed,鈥� Winger said. 鈥淭he eventual expectation is that we鈥檙e going to build a generational contender. We鈥檙e going to eventually have a team that will contend for championships. I can鈥檛 promise when that will be.鈥�
Leonsis emphasized he鈥檚 open to exceeding the salary cap and paying the tax that goes with it.
鈥淏ut we better have a really good team,鈥� he said.
Winger was joined at the podium by his new general manager Will Dawkins, who spent the past 15 seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Washington also announced Travis Schlenk, formerly with the Atlanta Hawks for six seasons, as the new director of player personnel. Former Georgetown coach John Thompson III, who had been with the organization, is the new vice president of Monumental Basketball.
Wes Unseld Jr., who has coached the Wizards for the past two seasons, will return.
The first task for Winger is preparing for the draft on June 22. Washington has three picks at No. 8, No. 42 and No. 57.
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