The Washington Wizards have fired general manager Tommy Sheppard, per ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski.
Sheppard had been with the organization since he came on as vice president of basketball operations in 2003. He was promoted to his now-former GM position in 2019.
In 2021, Sheppard signed a multi-year contract extension and added the title of team president.
Washington has dismissed GM Tommy Sheppard, source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 19, 2023
In Sheppard’s three full seasons as general manager, the Wizards only earned a postseason berth once — falling to the Philadelphia 76ers in five games during the first round in 2021. This past season, the Wizards finished 12th in the East with a 35-47 record.
“Failure to make the playoffs the last two seasons was very disappointing to our organization and our fans,” owner Ted Leonsis said in a statement, per Woj.
Sheppard also took some heat after sending former lottery pick Rui Hachimura to the Los Angeles Lakers in a midseason trade. The Wizards got Kendrick Nunn and three second-round draft picks in exchange for Hachimura, who just dropped 29 points in the Lakers’ Game 1 playoff win over the Grizzlies.
Wes Unseld Jr. will return for his third season as head coach in 2023-24.