Not to beat a dead horse but, oh well. If your name is not RC Buford and/or maybe Geoff Poetrie, you cannot be classified as a perfect GM. Those guys seem to make few mistakes in "GMing." As far as CD is concerned, there are not too many better. I hear all this crap about how bad our drafts have been. The only mistake that we all knew at the time was not drafting Lewis at least with the 2nd or 3rd pick of that draft. We all were crazy excited with the EG draft. With the Griffin trade, so we lost Jefferson, but the other two in that draft have been marginal role players at best. As far as the other drafts, look back and see what kind of players we could have gotten at those positions, and you'sd be surprised. At the positions that we had been drafting, it can almost be called a crapshoot, especially in the secound rounds. As far as bad contracts go, every team has those to deal with. Even RC Buford signed Rose to that ridiculous contract. So with all the bashing on this board that CD has taken in the past couple of years, it is refreshing to see him get a little credit for the team we have now.
TheFreak, thacabbage's post isn't really complete... If you want to compare Rudy's situation to JVG. You could say that there is similarity to how Rudy took over for Don Chaney during the 91-92 season (.500 record) and how JVG took over for Rudy in 03-04 (.500 record). Chaney achived 26-26 record at the start of the 91-92 season which is what caused the change. Same for JVG taking over for Rudy in 2003-04 (.500 record or thereabouts). 1991-92 season: Don Chaney 26 - 26 Rudy Tomjanovich 16 - 14 Note: Don Chaney; Coach of the Year in 1990-91; 52-30 record; but followed up the next season 26-26 Rudy was responsible for drafting Horry (and Cassell). So he gets credit there. But it's important to note that he came in and took over when the Hakeem, Kenny Smith, Otis Thorpe, Vernon Maxwell were already there. The next step would be trying figure out a way to get them to play as a team; how to complement Hakeem. Fast foward to the Francis years....Rudy's last year and JVG first year will be footnotes in history... Both HE and RUDY shared a common problem: Francis (which is what got Rudy fired). The fact that Rudy hovered around .500 under Francis and the same for JVG is evidence of what the real problem was. Rudy had 4 years to "develop" Francis and get the right players around him (never going to happen). JVG was in a similar situation, except that Yao was becoming more the focus. Francis was put in the background. IMO, CD's and JVG decision to trade Francis would have happened sooner or later even if TMac wasn't available. Rudy was just in a bad situation. He didn't want to trade Francis. That was his undoing. So, comparing Rudy's last season of 42 and JVG first at 45 is moot. Both coaches were suffering from the same problem: What to do about Francis? Rudy just had to suffer from it from 4 years, compared to JVG's 1 year. When I think back...I just don't see Rudy trading Francis. But it had to be done if we were to move on to the next level. So, each coach had an established star(s). In the case of Hakeem, he was a veteran. In the case of Yao, he was a rookie (or 2nd year player). Later Rudy acquires Drexler. JVG acquires TMac. Now, JVG is in a similar situation that Rudy was in in 92-93 (except JVG has his 2nd star earlier). The star player(s) have been established, the next step is getting them to play as a team. Although, we still need to make a few more acquisitions (athletic PF). All this will become more clear as each year passes. The next four years (this year included) will not resemble anything of the last 4. The core has been set. The role players come next. If there was anything *difficult* for JVG. It was the trading of Francis (and all the PR backlash that comes with it) and the learning curve it took to understand what Yao's strengths/and weaknesses are. But we're on a good path now. We know what we need to make this team elite. If there's one posistive that should make us all happy. That's the fact that JVG is taking over TMac/Yao when they are YOUNG. Not older like Hakeem/Drexler were. This is why I think we'll win more than two titles.
Freak: I couldn't have said it any better than DavidS. What I meant by my post is that what gets Rudy credit are the Olajuwon championship years. He is bashed for the Francis era. Similarly, Gumby will get credit for the run this franchise is about to go on (T-Mac/Yao and $20mill in expiring contracts!?!?! are u kidding me!?!?). You say that Gumby doesn't deserve credit as he inherited the team but then can't the same be said for Rudy as he inherited the Thorpe-Smith-Maxwell-Olajuwon quartet which had already spent a few seasons together? Like DavidS said, Rudy gets credit for drafting Horry and Cassell, but that's similar to Gumby's signing of Sura or whoever we reel in this summer. In this case, Yao and Francis (ultimately T-Mac) equal Olajuwon in that both already had their established core. Hell, the championship quartet had already developed a chemistry and had a system which didn't change during the championship years. Olajuwon was already the game's best player. Gumby is not only having to develop a system from scratch but endure Yao's growing pains (though I will admit having T-Mac makes this easier). My bottom line is that if Gumby inherited THIS squad, Rudy certainly inherited Patterson's championship squad. DavidS: Regarding Francis, I do agree he was ultimately what axed Rudy. Had Tracy McGrady been available under Rudy's watch, I don't know that Rudy would have made the deal. Ultimately, I don't think most of us here realize how fortunate we were, not only in what we were able to get for Francis, but the very fact that we were smart enough to figure out that we NEEDED to unload him. Around this time last year, we were talking maybe Jalen and a pick or something else of the $.50 on the dollar variety. That we walked away with the defending scoring champ and a true max player is astonishing. That people were actually against this deal during the summer is even more astonishing. But that's in the past. Yao and T-Mac were meshing before the week started and when it ended, we had no long term cap albatrosses and $20mill in expiring contracts to work with. I don't know who is responsible for this, but whoever it is, they should be commended.
CD is not Jerry West too. He's at least 5 levels above Isiah Thomas. We can't blaim CD for everything though, when we draft someone, we're doing it base on potential, a lot of times player just doesn't work out. I'm conflicting about CD's performance as a GM. He made some horrendous deals but also get us in pretty good shape right now. (Sign MoT, Moochie, Cato for large deal, but he also drafted Yao Ming, trade for TMac and Wesley Jon Barry etc, now James)
That's seven SOLID, SOLID transactions. Then, don't forget about the Barkley trade (that was him wasn't it, or was it Patterson?), the Pippen trade (which seemed good at the time, but I now realize was the worst trade in franchise history, that P.O.S. scumbag, Pippen), and then the Francis from Grizzlies trade (one of the Rockets' best). CD definitely is adept at getting some big trades done. Good job this season CD, keep it up!
Honestly I think you can only judge a GM on what small trades and adjustments he makes. Crediting him for Tmac, Barkley, etc -- those basically fell in our lap. Deke and Sura signing, Wesley and Barry trades, and hopefully the Mike James trades should be his stamp on a good year.
Regardless of the actual transactions CD made just look at the way last years team is viewed compared to this year. Last year we were considered to be a borderline playoff team that was going to be easily bounced in the first round. Fast forward to this year where many people feel that come playoff time that this Rockets team can contend and will be a scary first round opponent, homecourt or not. Considering all the major and minor moves CD has made i cannot think of any other GM who should win GM of the Year this year except maybe Riley for landing shaq, but that was more of Mitch being an idiot and not riley being a genius. While Tracy made it clear he wanted to play alongside Yao, CD had to deal with an ******* of a GM in Weisbrod and still pulled off the deal. Mad props to you CD!
Considering the past several years of incredible blunders, horrible draft picks, and ridiculous contracts, I give credit sparingly. O.K. a B minus for the last few months, but he is still at "D" for the last five years.
I'd have to think that that say it all... I mean, Van Gundy... This guy is good. I just hope that he can keep it going, all these guys with the exception of James probably have 2-3 good years left and that's it. I really think we need to add 1 or 2 more young players to grow with Yao and T-Mac which is where the 1st rounders come in. If we can pick up a Channin Frye type in the late 1st round we should look good for the next 7-8 years. Props to Gundy. Props to T-Mac too, with him playing here, there are a lot FA that wanna come here to play.
The recent player personnel decisions this year have been excellent so far but it still doesn't erase the bad decisions in the past. I will say that Rudy T deserves half the blame when he and CD were here together making the personnel decisions. Thinking of it more, Rudy T probably should deserve more of the blame, seemed more like now that CD was just doing whatever Rudy wanted...just like today that he gets whoever JVG wants.
way to go cd. not just for the recent trades, but also because of the quickness in rebuilding in the post-hakeem era, and now in the post-franchise era. in retrospect we can point out some mistakes, but i don't know of any better gm in the league. thanks cd!!!
I am in total agreement with you solid. As I have stated many times before, CD is basically a below average GM who is unable to draft good players (actually I usually use the word incompetent). That's why this organization is stuck trying to assemble a championship team through trades and FA acquisitions. If you stop a minute and take a good look at what he's doing, you'll see that he's now desperately trying to clean up his mess from past years. Here it's nearly March and he's FINALLY plugged the hole at PG that was created when they traded SF3 to Orlando. I recall at the time that CD & Co. actually expected Gaines to be a factor at the PG spot. Instead, we end up with another non-entity at the PG position to go along with Ward & Barrett. So we now have James & Strickland is gone (C. Ward should be next - another guy who never should have been signed) but we have added new deadwood in the form of Moochie & Baker to go along with our current collection of Ward, Bowen, etc. . Bottom line for me is this: Finally landing a point guard to plug the gaping hole at the point that CD himself created is far less impressive than actually going out and drafting someone like a Tony Parker to play the point for you.
First of all, Mooch is definitely deadwood, but I have no problem taking on that deadwood if it means making MoT's contract disappear. Secondly, again I ask. Outside of Lewis, what drafts have been so horrible? In most of the drafts of the late 90s, we had late 1st rounders b/c our teams were pretty good at the time. Look back and see what else was available at those positions and what other GMs took.
PS: If CD is a below average GM, name 16 GMs in the NBA that you consider to definitely be better than him.
Hillboy: Finally landing a point guard? What do you call Bobby Sura? How exactly are Moochie and Vin Baker dead wood? They are 2 among multiple expiring contracts totaling $20mill which will make the Rockets major players in transactions in the future. I'de like to hear your thoughts now on the Mutombo trade which you so openly criticized this summer.
Sura is a 2 guard who's playing the point because they have no one else. In a perfect world he'd be backing up T-Mac which would then be a real advantage at the 2 spot. They now have 4 points guards on the roster - all of whom are an ill fit for playing in the West. I term Moochie & Baker deadwood because they do not make the Rockets better or more competative in their division but are simply here for those FUTURE contract considerations. Moochie is well Moochie while Baker is living off of his past rep. Plus they are the price that CD paid to correct his Mo Taylor F'up. It'll be great to gave cap room but having cap room two years from now does nothing to improve their playoff chances this year... As for Mutumbo, I have to admit that I'm surprised he isn't on the DL by now and his contributions have been OK so maybe my apprehensions over his signings were unfounded. I'd much rather have a younger (and cheaper) player at his position though but that would mean that CD actually used the draft for something substantial for a change.
