Ernie Grunfeld Receives Extension From Wizards

Without any fanfare, the Wizards recently extended the contract of team president Ernie Grunfeld, according to Candace Buckner of The Washington Post.

Majority owner Ted Leonsis refused to disclose the terms of the extension, but it will keep Grunfeld with the organization at least through the end of the 2018/19 season. He ranks fourth in the league in tenure, Buckner notes, trailing only Miami’s Pat Riley, San Antonio’s R.C. Buford and Boston’s Danny Ainge.

Unlike those others, Grunfeld has been able to hold onto his job without a stellar track record. The Wizards have eight playoff appearances during his 15 seasons and haven’t advanced past the second round. Washington was the eighth seed this season and was eliminated by Toronto in six games.

Buckner outlines the huge task ahead of Grunfeld this offseason as he tries to restructure a team with pressing cap concerns. The Wizards topped the luxury tax for the first time this season after matching an offer sheet to Otto Porter and are already hovering near next year’s tax line with $124MM in committed salary, not including their No. 15 draft pick.

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