The Underfunded Sanitarium of Brian Wright

[cjw]

He should be fired if that pick conveys. If we are a top 5 regular season team in 2 years and we give a pick to IND when we are doing them a favor, oh man. We would be the most incompetent FO in the league.

If the Spurs are a top 5 regular season team in two years, Wright deserves a really long contract extension…

[TD 21]

Let's ask a different question - what did Pop see out of Wright that made him think he was the guy for the Spurs to hire?

Let's take a look at Wright's draft picks while in Detroit:

2015 -

Round 1, pick 8: Stanley Johnson
Round 2, pick 38: Darrun Hilliard

2016 -

Round 1, pick 18 - Henry Ellenson
Round 2, pick 49 - Michael Gbinije



Ellenson's still in the league, a career 4 points, 2.5 boards guy on his sixth team.

Johnson's still in the league, on his fifth team, a career 6 and 3 guy.

The other two guys washed out after two seasons or less.


Okay Pop, what is it we are supposed to see that justified you hiring this guy and then giving him the keys to the Spurs?

Blaming the assistant GM for draft busts and spouting counting stats without context in '21.

Brian Wright | San Antonio Spurs (nba.com)

By removing him from any of the responsibility, you are stealing all of his credit to give to others.

I've already posted several times in the other threads, that if Primo hits like a star or Jock becomes a good player, those are credits belonging to Wright. Maybe there were other voices in the room like any move, but I'm going to give the credit to Wright, certainly the lion-sized share of it. His term, his credit.

If you want to steal that credit to give it to others, that's you.

I will give Wright the credit or blame due the power of his le and office.

And if people above him want to make the wrong move that he doesn't believe in, it's his job to change their minds and do what he knows is best for the team, because he's the one out talking to the media, he's the one who will have that transaction to his name in the record books. Jerry Jones is the owner and gm of the Cowboys, and he was set on taking Johnny Manzel in the first round, but the subordinates did their job and talked him out of it.

Except I've repeatedly said I'm not doing that.

Without more information on the genesis of those acquisitions, that doesn't make sense.

Yeah, which is definitely second and probably third in command.

It's his job to try, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say it's probably as difficult to do that here as anywhere (probably along with the Heat).

[EricB]

This. There’s no way he makes any of these moves without RC’s blessing.

RC isn’t involved anymore. It’s Wright, scouts, advisors like Ferry, Brent Barry and Pop.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Blaming the assistant GM for draft busts and spouting counting stats without context in '21.

Brian Wright | San Antonio Spurs (nba.com)





Except I've repeatedly said I'm not doing that.

Without more information on the genesis of those acquisitions, that doesn't make sense.

Yeah, which is definitely second and probably third in command.

It's his job to try, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say it's probably as difficult to do that here as anywhere (probably along with the Heat).

https://www.freep.com/story/sports/n...purs/87331800/

I just grabbed the first google result.

Wright, 34, was the assistant GM in charge of collegiate scouting and has run the past two NBA drafts for the Pistons.

Van Gundy gave Wright control of the drafts while he was there, this is public knowledge.

But keep on making excuses for this scrub.

[objective]

Except I've repeatedly said I'm not doing that.

Without more information on the genesis of those acquisitions, that doesn't make sense.

Yeah, which is definitely second and probably third in command.

It's his job to try, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say it's probably as difficult to do that here as anywhere (probably along with the Heat).

1. Then what are you doing? Because it seems like nobody can give him any critique without being told that nothing is his fault and everything is Pop, or RC, or someone else.

When will it be okay to treat the gm like a gm? Do we have to wait until Pop and RC are retired? Or, because they will still hold sway and influence in retirement, do we have to wait until they're dead?

2. I am giving him the credit nonetheless. I don't care if Pop called him from Japan and told him, "This Jock guy is pretty good. I want him. Get it done.". It's up to Wright to decide what's best and how to go about it.

If he doesn't believe in Jock, he could work it to where the deal never happens. Or if he does believe in Jock, it's up to him to get the deal most in the Spurs favor. We still don't know the details. If he gave him a max deal, that's bad. If he gave him a 1-year deal like Boban where the Spurs don't get guaranteed control of a second year or the power to trade, that's also bad. If Wright got him on a 3 or 4 year minimum deal with unguaranteed money every year, that's great and Wright gets the credit for working a deal in the Spurs favor. Spurs would have protection if he doesn't pan out but also a great cheap movable asset if he does.

And if Primo hits and is the next Paul George and every clip of every draft show is people killing the Spurs for reaching, Wright will be a shotcalling legend. And if some other team comes sniffing around wanting to poach him like how Toronto took Masai from Denver, people will be furious if the Spurs let him get away. And the other team's fans will be joyous, "He's the guy who took Primo! Everyone thought he was crazy but he got Primo!"

I don't think that will happen and the Spurs will regret passing on Sengun, big time. but hey, it could happen.

3. Wright's the one facing the fire in the media, doing the press rounds. He's high enough in the flow chart to bear responsibility. It's a team effort and all, above and below, with personnel guys, cap guys, analytics guys, etc etc. But the GM is the fulcrum. If it was Brent Barry in that job and the results were the same, I'd give him him the same blame/credit.

4. Yeah, it's a hard job. They're all hard jobs. And a franchise with a recent history of dominating for almost 2 decades comes with lots of scrutiny from some of the fans. He's lucky it's a market where the local media is happy to go along with anything and the national media is happy to ignore the team.

When the Celtics passed on Tony Parker, they were too cowardly to accept the blame. What did they do instead? Blame an elderly Red Auerbach for Joe Forte. Wasn't that Chris Wallace in charge? If he believed in Parker he should have fought for and taken Parker. It's almost elder abuse. Easier to blame the elderly for being out of touch.

Maybe Auerbach really did campaign for Forte. Maybe he did carry the weight of les over poor Chris Wallace. And so, fine, he can take some of it. But he's not getting 100% from me.

[objective]

Wright definitely did the prep work on the draft year where they took Ellenson, but I thought he had already left by draft night. Could be wrong though

[TD 21]

https://www.freep.com/story/sports/n...purs/87331800/

I just grabbed the first google result.



Van Gundy gave Wright control of the drafts while he was there, this is public knowledge.

But keep on making excuses for this scrub.

Doing the prep work is not the same as making the final call.

Except I haven't made any. I've stated facts: He's not the president of basketball ops and they should all be receiving blame for the predicament they're in . . . like they have been for most of the past few years, until a segment of this forum decided to pin it on all on the perceived black man whose second or third in command.

1. Then what are you doing? Because it seems like nobody can give him any critique without being told that nothing is his fault and everything is Pop, or RC, or someone else.

When will it be okay to treat the gm like a gm? Do we have to wait until Pop and RC are retired? Or, because they will still hold sway and influence in retirement, do we have to wait until they're dead?

2. I am giving him the credit nonetheless. I don't care if Pop called him from Japan and told him, "This Jock guy is pretty good. I want him. Get it done.". It's up to Wright to decide what's best and how to go about it.

If he doesn't believe in Jock, he could work it to where the deal never happens. Or if he does believe in Jock, it's up to him to get the deal most in the Spurs favor. We still don't know the details. If he gave him a max deal, that's bad. If he gave him a 1-year deal like Boban where the Spurs don't get guaranteed control of a second year or the power to trade, that's also bad. If Wright got him on a 3 or 4 year minimum deal with unguaranteed money every year, that's great and Wright gets the credit for working a deal in the Spurs favor. Spurs would have protection if he doesn't pan out but also a great cheap movable asset if he does.

And if Primo hits and is the next Paul George and every clip of every draft show is people killing the Spurs for reaching, Wright will be a shotcalling legend. And if some other team comes sniffing around wanting to poach him like how Toronto took Masai from Denver, people will be furious if the Spurs let him get away. And the other team's fans will be joyous, "He's the guy who took Primo! Everyone thought he was crazy but he got Primo!"

I don't think that will happen and the Spurs will regret passing on Sengun, big time. but hey, it could happen.

3. Wright's the one facing the fire in the media, doing the press rounds. He's high enough in the flow chart to bear responsibility. It's a team effort and all, above and below, with personnel guys, cap guys, analytics guys, etc etc. But the GM is the fulcrum. If it was Brent Barry in that job and the results were the same, I'd give him him the same blame/credit.

4. Yeah, it's a hard job. They're all hard jobs. And a franchise with a recent history of dominating for almost 2 decades comes with lots of scrutiny from some of the fans. He's lucky it's a market where the local media is happy to go along with anything and the national media is happy to ignore the team.

When the Celtics passed on Tony Parker, they were too cowardly to accept the blame. What did they do instead? Blame an elderly Red Auerbach for Joe Forte. Wasn't that Chris Wallace in charge? If he believed in Parker he should have fought for and taken Parker. It's almost elder abuse. Easier to blame the elderly for being out of touch.

Maybe Auerbach really did campaign for Forte. Maybe he did carry the weight of les over poor Chris Wallace. And so, fine, he can take some of it. But he's not getting 100% from me.

1. See above.

2. Is it or have you decided that?

3. That's meaningless and for the umpteenth time, I agree that he bears some responsibility, I just missed when it became all.

4. I don't think it's as simple as you seem to think.

Yeah, that's my point; there's plenty of it to go around.

[RC_Drunkford]

I don't care who you want to blame, the entire FO needs an overhaul from president of basketball operations all the way down to headcoach, which are one and the same person here

[slick'81]

I don't care who you want to blame, the entire FO needs an overhaul from president of basketball operations all the way down to headcoach, which are one and the same person here

Brian wright is easily one of the most underwhelming fo hirings spurs have made in a long time

[BackHome]

Yeah he needs to go and he needs to go ASAP!!!!

[Kurgan]

The thing about Wright is that his resume before the Spurs was really, really bad. He was part of the disastrous Pistons and Magic front offices. Why would the Spurs hire this guy? I'm assuming all the good GM candidates didn't want to play to play third fiddle to Pop/Buford and Spurs went down their list until they found someone pathetic enough that was willing to accept that position.

[The Truth #6]

Have to give Brian props. Like Dejounte, he has surprised us.

[rankingtear]

Turned 28 mil in capspace into 3 FRP and 5 SRP. While Presti gave his guys a 21 million bonus. Oof.

[Ocotillo]

Not sure where to stick this. Luka is finding the NY media is not as forgiving as the SA Express-News...

https://nypost.com/2022/02/16/luka-s...site%20buttons

Luka Samanic signing has turned into another Knicks calamity

[slick'81]

Not sure where to stick this. Luka is finding the NY media is not as forgiving as the SA Express-News...

https://nypost.com/2022/02/16/luka-s...site%20buttons

1 game in two months because of a sore heel

[buttsR4rebounding]

Not sure where to stick this. Luka is finding the NY media is not as forgiving as the SA Express-News...

https://nypost.com/2022/02/16/luka-s...site%20buttons

This clown blames Samanic for being injured. He wrote this today but I guess didn’t bother to check on his status. He played yesterday for the Knicks G-league affiliate yesterday scoring 17 points in 18 minutes.

[tim_duncan_fan]

Zach Collins turning out to be a good player is hilarious.

[Atl Spur]

Zach Collins turning out to be a good player is hilarious.

Nah……just expected

[exstatic]

Zach Collins turning out to be a good player is hilarious.

Why? Health issues were really the only road block. He was a top 10 pick, and is now in about his 3rd season’s worth of games.

[tim_duncan_fan]

I'd expected him to be just some injured guy who took up a spot. He's looking really good.

[The Truth #6]

He looks healthy so I don't expect a huge improvement next year, though it's possible, I guess, if he's having challenges adjusting to our system. For me, it's more that he's playable and doesn't seem hindered by his awful injuries. I don't think he could be a starter if we're actually trying to win.

[Atl Spur]

He looks healthy so I don't expect a huge improvement next year, though it's possible, I guess, if he's having challenges adjusting to our system. For me, it's more that he's playable and doesn't seem hindered by his awful injuries. I don't think he could be a starter if we're actually trying to win.

He will be better next year homie.

[KingKev]

He looks healthy so I don't expect a huge improvement next year, though it's possible, I guess, if he's having challenges adjusting to our system. For me, it's more that he's playable and doesn't seem hindered by his awful injuries. I don't think he could be a starter if we're actually trying to win.

He’s met my expectations at this point. Jak took some pretty big jumps the last few years so I think Zollins can improve but still see his ceiling as a high level bench big who can start occasionally as required. He is another useful contract we can move if need be already which is a nod to B Wright.

[The Truth #6]

The bar was low considering his injury history, so big picture, yeah, he has been a success.

[RC_Drunkford]

Zach said in one of his last interviews that he‘s still getting his legs under him so I would assume some offseason work would still have to be done to fully get his speed and athleticism back