The Washington Wizards have officially filled their general manager position.
The Wizards on Friday removed the interim tag from Tommy Sheppard’s title and made him their full-time GM, both the Washington Post and The Athletic reported.
Sheppard had been serving as the team’s interim president ever since Ernie Grunfeld was fired on April 2. Sheppard helped lead the team through the draft and free agency.
The Wizards are in a difficult spot. Franchise player John Wall is recovering from a torn Achilles tendon that was suffered while he was recovering from heel surgery. He will be making $170 million over the next four seasons and eating up a big chunk of the salary cap. The team so far has declined to trade Bradley Beal, who is due nearly $56 million over the next two seasons. The team reportedly plans to offer him a contract extension next week.
Lottery pick Rui Hachimura is one of the few players the team added this summer that could excite the franchise’s fans.
