Best GM in the NBA

[leemajors]

You mean the type of recognition in the original article of this thread that states that RC Buford is the best GM in the NBA???

he means hardware, there are tons of articles praising the spurs scouting, etc. i would also like to point out pointlessly that a bald quarterback has still never won the super bowl.

[ajh18]

I think the key distinction between RC and Joe D is that their strengths are in different areas. I think RC is the superior drafter, and the spurs international scouting department has a better track record than any other. Manu, Beno, and Parker are just the most current examples, with more to come. I don't dismiss Dumars as a drafter, some of the young talent he's got waiting in the wings isnt bad, but I'd give RC the edge.

I give Joe Dumars the edge in terms of knowing which players to target when putting a team together whose skills compliment eachother. He forsees potential in players already in the league who are underperforming, and he sees how to fit those talents into the team concept. Few people thought Ben Wallace would be as dominating as he was when he was traded for, nor was Rip thought to be better than Stackhouse. For that matter, until Joe signed him, Chauncy was generally considered a bust too, and Raheed was getting the rep as a cancer. Sure, Buford/Pop identified SJax as good before he emerged, and the trade for Nazr was decent, but Rasho was misjudged in terms of potential, while someone like McDyesse was a steal.

I think theyre pretty close in cap management. Parker and Manu signed for less than market, as did Finley and NVE. Rasho might be slightly above market. Mcdyesse is below value, but I think Prince's contract is a bit high. CIA Pop, if the conspiracy theorists are right, might give the edge to RC (if he really uses playing time to drive values down).

Finally, I dont think that having Duncan reduces RC's rep as a GM. There is NO other GM in the league that can claim to have, in the course of 7 years, COMPLETELY rebuilt a team around 1 player and won 2 championships. Not even around Shaq. That's a damn good accomplishment.

[Solid D]

First off, Bryan Colangelo is the GM, not Jerry.

Second, while his moves have yet to yield a le, his moves have saved the Suns from burdensome countracts of Penny, Gugliotta, Kidd, Marbury and has drafted as well as any in the League. He's made great signings, many for cheap and routinely comes out on top in any trade. He's much much better than this article gives him credit for. Easily a top-5 GM. No way Riley, Nelson or Thorn is better.

As long as we are correcting the author of the article...it's true Bryan Colangelo is the President and GM while Jerry is the Chairman and CEO, now. Nobody mentioned that Rod Thorn is the President of the Nets now and Ed Stefanski is the GM. Jerry and Rod have had their impacts on previous drafts and continue to do so, just as former GM Gregg Popovich has had. Let's not kid ourselves. However, the article is ranking current GMs so the writer looks bad not at least mentioning current GMs (ex. backslash separating the names like he did with the Nelsons in Dallas).

[Darrin]

he means hardware, there are tons of articles praising the spurs scouting, etc. i would also like to point out pointlessly that a bald quarterback has still never won the super bowl.

Trent Dilfer?

[Darrin]

As long as we are correcting the author of the article...it's true Bryan Colangelo is the President and GM while Jerry is the Chairman and CEO, now. Nobody mentioned that Rod Thorn is the President of the Nets now and Ed Stefanski is the GM. Jerry and Rod have had their impacts on previous drafts and continue to do so, just as former GM Gregg Popovich has had. Let's not kid ourselves. However, the article is ranking current GMs so the writer looks bad not at least mentioning current GMs (ex. backslash separating the names like he did with the Nelsons in Dallas).

GM is a traditional term for decision maker. The Pistons don't have a General Manager, and haven't since Jack McCloskey left the team in 1992. Joe Dumars le is President of Basketball Operations.

[Obstructed_View]

he means hardware, there are tons of articles praising the spurs scouting, etc. i would also like to point out pointlessly that a bald quarterback has still never won the super bowl.

[Solid D]

GM is a traditional term for decision maker. The Pistons don't have a General Manager, and haven't since Jack McCloskey left the team in 1992. Joe Dumars le is President of Basketball Operations.

GM is a traditional term for decision maker? By whose definition? Most C-level managers are decision makers, just as most General Managers are decision makers. Decision makers vary in les from organization to organization, so if that is what you meant...I see that. Otherwise, I don't accept your definition of GM simply as a traditional term for decision maker.

Clout and duties can vary from team to team, and le to le. If that's what you meant, then I'm board with that.

[Darrin]

GM is a traditional term for decision maker? By whose definition? Most C-level managers are decision makers, just as most General Managers are decision makers. Decision makers vary in les from organization to organization, so if that is what you meant...I see that. Otherwise, I don't accept your definition of GM simply as a traditional term for decision maker.

Clout and duties can vary from team to team, and le to le. If that's what you meant, then I'm board with that.

Who's definition? The media's.

In the world of sports, when referring to the guy who puts the roster together, "GM" or "General Manager" is a very common term despite the official le that may be given to the person in power.

If the General Manager is pulling the strings, they'll be called the GM. If the President of Basketball Operations is making the decisions, despite the le GM being used for another person in the organization, the President of Basketball Operations will still be called the GM. I know this because when Dumars was first hired this is how the tree went down:

Joe Dumars - President of Basketball Operations
Brendan Suhr - Vice President of Player Personnel.
Rick Sund - General Manager.


The Pistons are currently structured this way:

Joe Dumars - President of Basketball Operations
John Hammond - Vice President of Basketball Operations.
Scott Perry - Senior Director of Player Scouting
Tony Ranzone - Director of International Scouting.

See the name GM anywhere? Neither do I. How does Joe Dumars win GM of the Year?

[Solid D]

Who's definition? The media's.

See the name GM anywhere? Neither do I. How does Joe Dumars win GM of the Year?

Joe Dumars didn't win GM of the Year. He won Executive of the Year.

[timvp]

Joe Dumars didn't win GM of the Year. He won Executive of the Year.

[T Park]

Solid D owns again.


I love though how the Piston's fans come in and give the Buford and Pop are good, but they have tim duncan bs.

[JamStone]

RC is a fantastic GM. Tim Duncan would make any GMs' job much easier. But, so would Kevin Garnett, Allen Iverson, and Jason Kidd. And, those players' respective teams haven't had the same success. I have no problem with anyone feeling RC Buford is the best GM in the NBA. I also don't have a problem with anyone claiming his success is largely due to the fortune of landing Tim Duncan.

I am a Pistons fan. I think RC deserves to be named the best GM in the NBA. Do I think Tim Duncan makes his job a lot easier? Absolutely. Does that mean he doesn't do a great job? Absolutely not. Why is mentioning the fact that Tim Duncan makes things easier for RC, and for that matter Pop, "b.s.?"

Doesn't Tim Duncan make his teammates better? Isn't Tim Duncan one of the very best players in the history of the NBA? Wasn't there just a recent article claiming how Tim Duncan could play with anyone including other stars and still make it work?

Tim Duncan makes it easier to find players to compliment him, because he makes almost any player better. How is that b.s.? RC still does a phenomenal job.

[Darrin]

Solid D owns again.


I love though how the Piston's fans come in and give the Buford and Pop are good, but they have tim duncan bs.

This Pistons fan was simply pointing out that Joe Dumars' organization did not have a foundation in terms of stature in league circles, a face of the franchise, or with his fanbase when he took over on June 6, 2000. Buford at least had a building block in place. Dumars had to tear down the house and start over. When talking about the basketball side of things, with exception to the medical staff, the staff is completely new.

[Darrin]

Joe Dumars didn't win GM of the Year. He won Executive of the Year.

Good point. It still remains a slang term for the man that shapes the roster.

[leemajors]

neither of them are this bald



i'm going by pti on this, they said it first

[FromWayDowntown]

This Pistons fan was simply pointing out that Joe Dumars' organization did not have a foundation in terms of stature in league circles, a face of the franchise, or with his fanbase when he took over on June 6, 2000. Buford at least had a building block in place. Dumars had to tear down the house and start over. When talking about the basketball side of things, with exception to the medical staff, the staff is completely new.

Well, it's not as if the Spurs have had all kinds of continuity in the Tim Duncan era.

At this moment, there is exactly 1 player on the Spurs roster who was with the Spurs five years ago, during the 2000-01 season. There are only 4 players still in San Antonio from the 2002-03 championship team.
Duncan is obviously among the greatest players in the history of basketball, and he's the straw that stirs the drink in SA, but that alone doesn't guarantee a le.

To make championships possible, the front office had to find players and had to do so by manufacturing cap room through very, very difficult decisions and by relying on what can be had with late first round and second round picks. Through that, the Spurs have mined 2 complimentary all-stars, a defensive player of the year kind of role player, and other role players who've gone on to receive significant contract offers from other franchises and become solid players around the association.

All the while, with those handicaps to rebuilding, the Spurs have rebuilt twice and have remained elite throughout.

Let me put this in a slightly different perspective: would you Pistons' fans be a little bit bent if Dumars had never been recognized for his good work during this resurgence of your franchise?

[SequSpur]

RC is Pop's Cabana Boy.

Try again.

[DarkReign]

RC is Pop's Cabana Boy.

Try again.

Finally, some Truth.

Pop owns SA. No CIA Pop = No 'Ships.

He runs the show in SA. Hold on with both hands.

[FromWayDowntown]

Finally, some Truth.

Pop owns SA. No CIA Pop = No 'Ships.

He runs the show in SA. Hold on with both hands.

Fine. But he still deserves some love as Exec of the Year at some point during this run, since he's done a remarkable job of building and then rebuilding championship caliber teams. I don't care who gets the praise, as long as someone gets praised for the great work that's been done here.

[DarkReign]

Fine. But he still deserves some love as Exec of the Year at some point during this run, since he's done a remarkable job of building and then rebuilding championship caliber teams. I don't care who gets the praise, as long as someone gets praised for the great work that's been done here.

Fair enough.

[himat]

Dumars had plenty of cap space after Hill walked. Buford and Pop got Tim to stay in the same FA year. Give credit where credit is due.

I would place Joe as a distant third after the Suns GM who has continued to work wonders.

you don't think it's impressive that dumars traded one of the best players st the time in grant hill for some nobody named ben wallace, and he got the better of the deal. dumars saw talent and character in our hardworking players and got them here. i'm not saying this because i'm a piston fan joe is the best gm. i have to admit that the spurs have drafted a whole lot better than the pistons. joe stole tay, but thats about it.