People can make an argument for him. Let's see who he drafted. Aaron Brooks Carl Landry Chase Budinger He got Scola and Artest in trades. Or do you believe that in order for him to considered to be the best GM then he has to Melo or build a championship winning team? Or do you feel he already is? Discuss.
It was kind of haywire during the championship years. I mean, is there even one person credited with constructing the Rockets two championship teams? Someone deserves credit for Horry, Cassell, and the perfect set of complementary veterans they put around Hakeem. According to Wikipeida the Rockets had four people acting as GM between 93-96. Yeah, Patterson looks to be the guy. Rockets teams was already constructed in the 92-93 season, and just carried over into the following season. General Managers * Mar 1967–June 1968: Jack McMahon * June 1968–May 1972: Pete Newell * May 1972–September 1989: Ray Patterson * September 1989–August 1993: Steve Patterson * August 1993–3January 1994: Tod Leiweke * January 1994–May 1996: Bob Weinhauer * May 1996–May 2007: Carroll Dawson * May 2007–present: Daryl Morey
No one that he's acquired compares to Hakeem. So I would say the guy who drafted the dream is in the lead for best Rockets gm.
Didn't that guy choose not to trade Ralph Sampson for the second pick in that draft? Imagine ... a team with Hakeem and MJ. If I'm not mistaken, that was a possibility.
I have a better way of figuring it out. Here are a few of the contracts he didnt give out that set the franchise back: 1.Cato 2.Moochie 3.Maloney Now here a few of the draft picks he didnt make that set the franchise back: 1.Mirsad Turkan? Passed on Rashard Lewis 3 times in that draft after he pretty much was coming to the nba early cause he thought the rockets were going to draft him. We had 3 picks to do it with, why wouldnt we take a flyer on the hometown phenom?! Micheal Dickerson, ok. Bryce freakin Drew even ok. But Mirsad Turkan over Rashard Lewis?! 2.Eddie G. We traded 3 1st round picks for EddieG. You make that kind of investment into a 19 year old kid with that kind of talent, you hire him a shrink/bodyguard/babysitter at the same time the moment you see he has phyco issues. 3.Boki Nachbar a number 15 pick over Boozer, Prince, etc....
Maybe not. On a google search, this is what I found: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090720002059AAWBR5H [rquoter] I lived in Houston during the 1980's, and the scenarios you played out were as fresh as yesterday to me. Remember, Sampson, Steve Stipanovich, Rodney McCray (the top 3 selections in that order,) and Drexler came out in the 1983 draft, one year ahead of Olajuwon, Bowie, and Jordan (the top 3 selections in that order.) So when the Rockets used their #1 overall pick in 1983 on Sampson, and #3 pick on McCray, both Olajuwon and Jordan weren't in the picture. Granted, selecting McCray on the #3 pick over Drexler seemed to be a mistake today, but back then, Drexler was a young kid who could fly, but McCray was far more established, that's why Drexler wasn't taken until the 14th or 15th pick by Portland. And when the Rockets got the #1 overall pick again in 1984, they liked Jordan very much, but they didn't want to leave Portland with Olajuwon at the #2 pick (too much of a bargain for Portland, won't you think?) So there were talks with Portland about either: 1) switching the draft order, with Portland sending Drexler to Houston, or 2) having Houston send Sampson to Portland in exchange with Portland's #2 pick and Drexler. So you are right. If scenario 1 had played out, Houston would've had Sampson, Jordan, Drexler, and McCray. And if scenario 2 had played out, Houston would've gotten Olajuwon, Jordan, Drexler, and McCray. But I think Portland ultimately thought Houston was bluffing, and it would select Jordan with the top pick anyway, leaving them with Olajuwon at #2, so they didn't budge. And you know the rest of the story: Houston came out alright, with the 2 championships and one of the greatest centers in the game. Chicago got the gift from heaven and the game's greatest player. And Portland got screwed, and might have still not recovered today. So to answer your question, the Rockets didn't exactly "passed on Jordan" twice. Rather, two proposals that would've sent Jordan to Houston were vetoed by Portland[/rquoter]
http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/a...id=1993_1150656 Patterson chronology 1976-1983 -- Begins Rockets career as part-time worker in ticket sales and other areas. 1984 -- After earning a law degree from the University of Texas, joins his father, Rockets president and general manager Ray Patterson, in the front office as counsel to the president and marketing director. 1986 -- Takes control of the team's business operations, installing a computer system to handle ticketing, accounting and player personnel operations. Feb. 12, 1989 -- After accepting Houston's bid coordinated by Patterson, NBA holds its All-Star Game at The Summit. Sept. 11, 1989 -- Named at age 32 as the Rockets' general manager, succeeding his father in that role and becoming the youngest GM in the NBA. Sept. 27, 1990 -- Acquires point guard Kenny Smith from Atlanta along with Roy Marble for Tim McCormick and John Lucas. Feb. 21, 1990 -- Acquires starting guard Vernon Maxwell from San Antonio Spurs for an undisclosed amount of cash. June 27, 1990 -- Trades the rights to Alec Kessler to Miami for the rights to Dave Jamerson and Carl Herrera. July 2, 1990 -- Signs guard Sleepy Floyd to four-year contract; Floyd is released after the 1992-93 season. Sept. 3, 1991 -- Negotiates three-year contract with top draft choice John Turner, who fails to stick with the Rockets. Oct. 23, 1991 -- Signs Kenny Smith to five-year contract. Feb. 18, 1992 -- Fires Rockets coach Don Chaney and names Rudy Tomjanovich as interim head coach. March 23, 1992 -- Suspends center Hakeem Olajuwon without pay, claiming he has failed to play when physically able to do so. Olajuwon claims he is suffering from a hamstring injury and is unable to play, and suggests he is unsure if he wants to play for the Rockets if Patterson remains as general manager. May 20, 1992 -- Names Tomjanovich as head coach. June 24, 1992 -- Despite a chorus of boos from The Summit fans, makes the decision to draft forward Robert Horry, who goes on to become a productive forward in his rookie season. March 15, 1993 -- Olajuwon signs a four-year extension with the Rockets worth $25.4 million that places him under contract with the team through 1999. July 30, 1993 -- Rockets owner Charlie Thomas completes the sale of the team to businessman Les Alexander. Aug. 30, 1993 -- Alexander fires Patterson as Rockets general manager.
Tanking to get the #1 pick, then drafting the consensus top guy in the draft doesn't make you a great GM.
That's like Cavaliers fans saying Danny Ferry was a great GM because he selected LeBron....wait...bad example. :grin:
In ability - yes, I am confident he is the best In record - of course not, he needs to win two championships first
He could have picked Jordan.. Not taking away from Hakeem's greatness but you couldn't go wrong unless you picked Sam Bowie
Return on investment was better with Dream. Who do you think made the Finals first? No GM can anticipate players being kicked out of the league for cocaine and your 2nd best player going down with a career threatening and ultimately ending injury.
