Always depends on the team. Cuban runs the Mavs. Pop runs the Spurs. Phil has major influence on the Lakers, but nowhere near total. CD generally worked to bring in the guys Rudy and JVG liked. Morey and Adelman largely worked independently of each other, but not totally, and Les absolutely throws his weight around in certain matters. It's always a tricky relationship. Larry Brown wants puppet GMs, but is complete whack job with roster building. Jerry Krause was a megalomaniac that killed the Bulls in the end. There's no real right answer, but usually championship teams have a top flight coach and system with a GM feeding that coach the sort of players that are made for his system.
If Morey said that, then he is either simplifying the difference, or he is taking too much credit. The long term is just has much about the coach's job to develop the young players like Adelman proved he could. Often, the GM's job is like shooting fish in a barrel. I mean; when you have the #1 or #2 pick in a good draft, about 90% of the GMs would pick the same players at those spots. How does that make him a genius? And Morey's ability to be a better GM than 90% of the league has got us to this point of firing a great coach? Here's the pecking order: 1. Players most important 2. Coach 3. GM 4. Owner The players are more importantThe coach is more important than the GM.
Hm-m-m? Do you think LA agrees with this? If so, you'd think a pow-wow between the players and the coach would send a memo up the chain, "O.K. Coach is coming back." And all would be well in Rocketland. (I understand your meaning.)
Too much drama. The Rockets did not offer Rick a contract extension, because Les and Daryl want the option of getting younger, and know Rick wouldn't be on board with that, so he's gone. I honestly don't think it's anymore complicated than that. And the team played better after the trades, right? And was Rick happy about those trades?
