I don't really want to relitigate all of it but some of you need to rewatch Cronin's exit interview from 6 months ago. Clearly Joe has done well after Goodwin and Dame torpedeoed any leverage the team had. But this award is usually going to teams that overachieve. And I don't see the need to overly sing praises when we will probably finish 12-15 in the conference this season. Especially when Joe contributed to building the roster that got us to this place.
Cronin had a shaky start with that Powell/RoCo deal (I always thought putting them together was a mistake, that they had more value separately, but honestly, I'm Sgt. Schultz). I thought the CJ trade was not terrible, but not great. I actually loved the GPII deal and thought he fleeced Myers. I also liked the Josh Hart trade. There's no more difficult feat as a GM than to navigate what Cronin did this summer, and he acquitted himself well. Part of me thinks MIL may be a bit annoyed because they didn't move Jrue themselves before the deal. We likely would have accepted less for Lillard than we recouped with Jrue. Also, there's no way they would have sent him to Boston. Let's see what he does with Brogdon and if Williams stays healthy. However, he seems to be finding his sea legs as a trade negotiator. Now the spotlight goes to Schmitz to see what he can do with that draft capital. Hopefully, he doesn't get poached by another team before he can turn those picks into players.
Oh, FFS. I do not see things like most of you. I judge his performance by the body of his work as a GM. First year was a shit show. Second year uninspired. I believe that Dame resigned believing false promises. That aside, I believe that almost any other GM could have traded one of the best guards in the league and ended up with what we have acquired.
Did he overpromise? Yes. I would like you to provide some examples of ineptitude. Outside of the Clippers trade and the GPII signing, I think Joe has done very well.
Please don't make me relitigate. My opinions on our moves have been posted ad nauseum in this forum over the past two years when we prioritized $ over wins. And when we knowingly made our rosters worse. Hell, you complained about them at the time. Just kinda funny to see the change in tune.
He promised to build around dame, he never said it would be immediate. I don't buy the overpriced claim. That man, in my book, has done an excellent job. He turned a roster with no hope to a roster we can be excited for in 18 months. You can not turn a roster with minimal assets on a dime in the NBA, joe did it super quick. Celebrate it. And if you are a dame fan first, you get to see him on a contender. Joe delivered for you there as well.
You know what they say about opinions and ass holes. Hard to tell the difference sometimes. To say that Joe in GM of the year material, is like saying that a TV dinner is the best thing you have ever eaten. Just because it is hot and fills an immediate need, does not make it so.
When Joe took over the team: Damian Lillard CJ McCollum Norman Powell Robert Covington Nurk Anfernee Simons Larry Nance Jr Ben McLemore CJ Elleby Greg Brown III Nassir Little Cody Zeller Tony Snell Trendon Watford Keljin mother fucking Blevins Dennis Smith Jr No picks in the coffer /owed pick to Chicago The team now: Scoot Henderson Anfernee Simons Shaedon Sharpe Jerami Grant Deandre Ayton Robert Williams Malcolm Brogdon Matisse Thybulle Jabari Walker Kevin Knox Kris Murray Toumani Camara Rayan Rupert Moses Brown 2024 GSW pick 2029 Milwaukee pick 2029 Celtics pick Still owe Chicago a pick 2024 Hawks 2nd 2024 Hornets 2nd 2025 Hawks 2nd (protected) 2026 Memphis 2nd (protected) 2028 GSW 2nd
I think the Clippers trade was bad, but I also suspect that he didn't have much choice. I thought the CJ trade was very mediocre... but it was clearly made so that we could turn around and acquire Grant that summer, who absolutely has more value right now than CJ. I hated the Payton signing but I respect the fact that he recognized his mistake and dumped him quickly. Those were the moves that I wasn't happy with at the time.
Maxi, after all of the years of you being here, not being here and once again being here, I knew you were joshing. That is why I was comfortable responding in kind
he's done a great job considering the cards he was dealt. But I can't believe the EOY would go to the GM of a lottery team and I have a real hard time seeing Portland in the playoffs, or even the play-in. Some other GM will do good work and elevate a team for a playoff run
Couple thoughts. First, I imagine all the other execs around the league saw the situation that we were in and the way Joe was able to still extract really good value. That HAD to impress them. The media is definitely singing his praises. I have listened to a ton of national podcasts and not a single member of the media has had anything bad to say about what Joe pulled off. Most are impressed. Second, with all the reports of small market GMs calling Joe and pressuring him not to cave to Dame, I think those GMs will feel particularly obligated to vote for him. But it might also go to the GM of the Bucks or the GM of the Celtics. Hard to say.
While I think Joe may deserve it with the hand he was dealt and making the most of the situation. The payout for Portland is mostly in the future, whereas the teams Joe just traded with all have a chance to prove their moves bring a championship this year. The GM of the year will come from Milwaukee's, Boston's or Phoenix's, whomever has the best season as a result of their multiple moves.
