Ted Leonsis emphasizes patience and a mindful plan as crucial for long-term success in building a championship-contending team with the Washington Wizards.
Michael Winger acknowledges the need to be thoughtful and smart in player signings and reflects on the leadership lessons he learned from his past mentors, shaping his approach to leadership with the Wizards.
Deep dives
Ted Leonsis' pursuit of a title-contending team
Ted Leonsis, owner of Monumental Sports and Entertainment, is committed to building a title-contending basketball team with the Washington Wizards. He acknowledges the need to elevate organizational standards and has hired a group of executives with diverse experiences to achieve this goal. Leonsis emphasizes the importance of patience, citing the success of teams like Miami and Denver who built through the draft and added complementary pieces. He is determined to provide the fans with a team they can fall in love with and believes that a mindful, thoughtful plan is crucial for long-term success.
Michael Winger's evaluation of the Wizards' roster
As the new president of Monumental Basketball, Michael Winger is tasked with evaluating the Wizards' roster and making decisions for the team's future. He acknowledges the talent of players like Bradley Beal, Kristaps Porzingis, and Kyle Kuzma, emphasizing their value to the team. Winger acknowledges the need to assess what can work and what is unlikely to work in order to build a successful team. Whether the team requires significant, moderate, or marginal changes, Winger's focus is on fielding a team that can contend for championships in the long run.
Challenges of team building in different market sizes
Winger reflects on the differences in team building strategies between small market and large market teams. Large market teams have a better chance of attracting high-level talent in free agency due to market attractiveness. On the other hand, small market teams face challenges in luring star players away from incumbent teams. Winger acknowledges the need to be thoughtful and smart in player signings, with an emphasis on teaching players the importance of team success and finding innovative ways to increase their individual stats. He recognizes the complexity of managing star players and fostering a team-oriented approach.
Leadership lessons learned from Danny Ferry, Sam Presti, and Lawrence Frank
Winger reflects on the leadership lessons he learned from his past mentors, including Danny Ferry, Sam Presti, and Lawrence Frank. From Ferry, he learned the importance of hard work, competition, and committing to something bigger than oneself. Presti taught him the endless pursuit of excellence and the belief that there is always a better solution. Working with Lawrence Frank, Winger appreciates his passion, humility, and the importance of providing autonomy and safety to the people in the organization. These lessons shape Winger's approach to leadership in his current role with the Wizards.
Washington Wizards owner Ted Leonsis and new President Michael Winger join The Woj Pod for separate visits on trying to turn this franchise into a winner. Leonsis on what he's learned about running NBA and NHL franchises, what he wanted in a new leader and what Jeanie Buss told him. Winger (19:15) discusses what he learned with Lawrence Frank, Sam Presti and Danny Ferry, how the new CBA will change deal-making in the NBA and what the chance for the Wizards to be a destination market.
