There are already quite a few employees in Washington reaping the rewards of the Wizards’ great start this season. With a 10-3 rise to the top of the Eastern Conference, the team’s ownership has decided to merit general manager Tommy Sheppard with a promotion. The executive was the main protagonist of the departure of Westbrook that led to the arrival of Kuzma, Harrell, Caldwell-Pope and the possibility of signing Dinwiddie. Which now leads him to be the new CEO of the franchise.
Sheppard will continue to hold his position as general manager. Another of the winners is Sashi Brown, until now head of operational planning and from now on special advisor to Monumental Sports & Entertainment, the corporation that owns the Wizards. Ted Leonsis, owner of the franchise, has also announced the promotion of his son Zach as president of media and new initiatives for the company.
The aforementioned arrivals add to the successful election of Wes Unseld Jr. to the capital bench. In these first 13 games, the rookie coach has perfectly captured his experience as a defensive assistant in Denver. Unseld Jr. has made the Wizards the fifth-best defense after a year in which the team posted 19th. At the moment, Washington is experiencing a boom time, and it has not taken long to uncork the champagne in the offices.
(Cover photo by Jemal Countess / Getty Images for William Hill US)