I mentioned the Spurs earlier, but I have to admit: I like what I've seen so far from John Paxson. He really is doing things his way, and shown that drafting guys who have proven himself in college. That might sound obvious, but it makes sense.
The Best: (Not in order) 1. R.C. Buford, Spurs. Sure he landed Duncan by pure luck and because of David Robinson's injury but he's made solid moves for a long time. Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker are a few gems and he has done a great job with Popovic and his coaching staff. The guy is class, class, class. 2. John Paxson, Bulls. He's made some solid moves the last few years. Overpaying for Chandler and then ditching him for Brown/Smith and then trading Smith doesn't look good but with smart trades he's got an AMAZING group of talent and has brought excitement back to Bulls basketball. 3. Donn Nelson, Mavericks. Sure he has Cuban big pockets but those two have pulled off some great trades and they have one of the deepest teams in the NBA. Drafting has been hit and miss (Podkolzine, Howard). 4. Danny Ainge, Boston. He's brought in a lot of talent but the team lacks veteran leadership. He and his wierd style of drafting has brought in a lot of young players. 5. Geoff Petrie, Kings. They have had the Kings near the top over the last few years. Stealing Artest for Stojakovic was genius as way trading Webber and his huge contract, those twins know what they are doing. The Worst. 1. Isiah Thomas, Knicks. I think the Knicks have acquired amazing talent, but these guys don't work together and have poor history. He has to lower payroll and what does he do? He trades ending contracts for more long term deals. The Knicks need a nosedive and need to wait these deals out but Knicks management doesn't have patience. 2. Billy Knight, Hawks. Just a complete joke. This team has been run into the ground. They draft natural SF Josh Smith and then the next year they draft Marvin Williams, foolishness. 3. Larry Bird, Pacers. Trades Ron Artest for an ending contract and can't get a deal done, nothing looks worse in my mind than trading an elite player for nothing (ex. Ray Allen). The team already has Danny Granger and a hole at PG with Jamaal Tinsley being hurt and they pass on a PG and pick another SF in Shawne Williams. Jermaine O'Neal is being a problem, needs to correct the ship. 4. John Weisbrod, Magic. The Magic's front office is known around the league as a joke, unprofessional and two-faced. They have had lots of problems and Weisbrod's drafting and trading young kids has been puzzling. It's turning around.
Good points BCB. But I gotta admit: I really like what Orlando's doing now. With Jameer Nelson, Hedo Turkoglu, Dwight Howard....
He is top 5. Look at what he has done for us in one off-season, and look at how he morphed the Suns into another succesful squad after losing Amare, Joe Johnson, and Q. He also brought Steve Nash in the year before, which was probably the best decision in Suns history.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CB4AllStar @ Aug 24 2006, 02:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>He is top 5. Look at what he has done for us in one off-season, and look at how he morphed the Suns into another succesful squad after losing Amare, Joe Johnson, and Q. He also brought Steve Nash in the year before, which was probably the best decision in Suns history.</div>Losing Amare? When did that happen? Amare was only injured. He did some great things for the Suns but I dont think he still hasnt done much for the Raptors yet. All he did was: draft Bargnani, trade CV for Ford, sign Fred Jones, and get Rasho. I think it's decent, but the Raps still arent making the playoffs.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CB4AllStar @ Aug 24 2006, 01:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Wow, I cant believe everyone is forgetting Brian Colangelo. He has to be top 5 atleast.</div> His dad was pulling more strings there than people think, i'll put him in my top five if he turns Toronto around.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BCB @ Aug 24 2006, 11:00 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The Best: (Not in order) 1. R.C. Buford, Spurs. Sure he landed Duncan by pure luck and because of David Robinson's injury but he's made solid moves for a long time. Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker are a few gems and he has done a great job with Popovic and his coaching staff. The guy is class, class, class. 2. John Paxson, Bulls. He's made some solid moves the last few years. Overpaying for Chandler and then ditching him for Brown/Smith and then trading Smith doesn't look good but with smart trades he's got an AMAZING group of talent and has brought excitement back to Bulls basketball. 3. Donn Nelson, Mavericks. Sure he has Cuban big pockets but those two have pulled off some great trades and they have one of the deepest teams in the NBA. Drafting has been hit and miss (Podkolzine, Howard). 4. Danny Ainge, Boston. He's brought in a lot of talent but the team lacks veteran leadership. He and his wierd style of drafting has brought in a lot of young players. 5. Geoff Petrie, Kings. They have had the Kings near the top over the last few years. Stealing Artest for Stojakovic was genius as way trading Webber and his huge contract, those twins know what they are doing. The Worst. 1. Isiah Thomas, Knicks. I think the Knicks have acquired amazing talent, but these guys don't work together and have poor history. He has to lower payroll and what does he do? He trades ending contracts for more long term deals. The Knicks need a nosedive and need to wait these deals out but Knicks management doesn't have patience. 2. Billy Knight, Hawks. Just a complete joke. This team has been run into the ground. They draft natural SF Josh Smith and then the next year they draft Marvin Williams, foolishness. 3. Larry Bird, Pacers. Trades Ron Artest for an ending contract and can't get a deal done, nothing looks worse in my mind than trading an elite player for nothing (ex. Ray Allen). The team already has Danny Granger and a hole at PG with Jamaal Tinsley being hurt and they pass on a PG and pick another SF in Shawne Williams. Jermaine O'Neal is being a problem, needs to correct the ship. 4. John Weisbrod, Magic. The Magic's front office is known around the league as a joke, unprofessional and two-faced. They have had lots of problems and Weisbrod's drafting and trading young kids has been puzzling. It's turning around.</div>Ainge? You have to have a team that doesn't suck sh*t, and does something to be a good GM. He has too much young talent that all clash with each other, his drafting is stupid.For Petrie, the Artest trade was done more because Indy couldn't find better offers, not because Petrie's some genius. Pacers figured Peja would add shooting, instead, he sucked. Wait a few years for Artest to stay clean, like you said you'd wait with colangelo. The Webber move was decent, but though he is payed less, Kenny Thomas does jack sh*t and gets at least 5 mil a year, and has like 5 seasons left on his contract. Also they gave Brad Miller a big contract. He's not near as good a center as some people make him to be. He's getting 9 mil + a year now, and he's definitely not worth that. John Salmons was a pretty crappy signing too, as he gets 4.4 mil this year, increasing for 5 years. In 11 seasons, the Kings made 9 playoffs under Petrie, and won 2 divisions. They can make it to the playoffs, but then they go nowhere and get knocked out first round.Colangelo in TOR now has re-signed bosh which was big, he luckily ended up NOT getting Salmons, he got a potentially great PG in Ford for Villamonster, who is decent, but no more. He's going to be slowly turning that team around, starting with old contracts from previous GMs *cough cough* expiring.Also, if you said there were not in order, why did you number them?
who cares if a players is getting paid 1 million 10 million or 100 million dollars, its not ur money, its teh GM's if the player makes ur team better isnt that all u shud care abt?
Kenny Thomas doesn't really make the kings much better. They won't be leaving the first round any time soon, unless they get someone with no experience or something like that.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (RaptorFan#1 @ Aug 25 2006, 11:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>who cares if a players is getting paid 1 million 10 million or 100 million dollars, its not ur money, its teh GM's if the player makes ur team better isnt that all u shud care abt?</div>Wow no not at all. There is something called a salary cap. If members want to have an educated basketball talk where we talk about the future of teams, then salary cap comes. You lean more towards the game side of basketball, when this thread is about the business side. Plus, you do have to care about 1 million or 100 million. You don't want your team to go bankrupt and sold. But you do want free agents to come to your team. Plus, it's not the GM's money. The owner and the GM are different people.
Damn, I think I'm a better poster, as just proven, than at least ONE person here. Though I personally say I'd better than more. Oh, and no I'm not talking about the tons with 0 or 1 posts.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BCB @ Aug 24 2006, 03:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>His dad was pulling more strings there than people think, i'll put him in my top five if he turns Toronto around.</div>In the last few years it was Brian Jr. that was pullinh most of the slack and making all the moves, and it is also Brian Jr. who is there revitalizing the Raptors and doing the best he can to make us a better squad. Look at what he has done this off-season. What a performance!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Something-To-Say @ Aug 27 2006, 02:33 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Damn, I think I'm a better poster, as just proven, than at least ONE person here. Though I personally say I'd better than more. Oh, and no I'm not talking about the tons with 0 or 1 posts.</div>Your not that bad of a poster STS. You know your stuff, you just suck at grammer.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (RaptorFan#1 @ Aug 25 2006, 10:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>who cares if a players is getting paid 1 million 10 million or 100 million dollars, its not ur money, its teh GM's if the player makes ur team better isnt that all u shud care abt?</div> Yikes... :no1:
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SunnyD @ Aug 28 2006, 01:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Your not that bad of a poster STS. You know your stuff, you just suck at grammer.</div>huk'd un fonix din't wurc 4 mi:'( (y is there no crying smilie?)
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SunnyD @ Aug 28 2006, 05:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Just kidding man. Being a Grammer god like me is a tough life.</div>You capitalize grammar? Meh.
