GM Report

GM Report: Phil Jackson

June 30, 2017 by Harlan Schreiber Leave a Comment

What lesson is there to take from Phil Jackson’s tenure in the Knicks front office? There are quite few that one could draw. Certainly, Jackson’s irascible nature didn’t help him. Nor did prioritizing the triangle offense over all else. Let’s dive in and do a review of Jackson’ time in New York and break it down with another one of our GM reports (I know Jackson wasn’t technically the GM but you get the idea). Here are his hits and misses: Best Moves -Drafting Kristaps Porzingis: … [Read more...] about GM Report: Phil Jackson

NBA Icons as GMs and Magic Johnson

March 11, 2017 by Harlan Schreiber Leave a Comment

For Lakers fans, there seems to be a palpable sense of excitement connected to the hiring of Magic Johnson as team president. Having a franchise icon help run the show certainly sounds good on paper. Many are quick to point out that being a great player does not mean one will be a good coach and being coach does not mean one will be a great GM (see Jackson, Phil). How effective will the new Lakers front office of Magic and Rob Pelinka end up being? Certainly, Magic’s banal tweets aren’t … [Read more...] about NBA Icons as GMs and Magic Johnson

GM Report: Sam Hinkie

April 11, 2016 by Harlan Schreiber Leave a Comment

Was Sam Hinkie a success or failure as a GM in Philly? This answer really depends on how you evaluate the question. The sixers have won 47 games over three years, which is beyond awful but they have acquired a ton of draft picks. The answer, then, really depends on how you evaluate GMs. On some level, Hinkie has improved the Sixers but was it worth sacrificing three seasons of basketball? Let’s review Hinkie’s moves and see what comes of it… On its face, Hinkie’s plan wasn’t that … [Read more...] about GM Report: Sam Hinkie

GM Report: Isiah Thomas

May 6, 2008 by Harlan Schreiber 1 Comment

One of the first things we did when started the site was to endeavor to conduct comprehensive reviews of each and every GM in the NBA. We've been going by team, alphabetically, over the years but have been somewhat slow going lately. Honestly, we've been stuck on the New York Knicks for a while now. The reason we haven't really jumped into an evaluation of the Knicks is because no GM has been more examined and scrutinized then the recently fired Isiah Thomas. In any event, we do know that … [Read more...] about GM Report: Isiah Thomas

GM Report: Jeff Bower

January 16, 2007 by Harlan Schreiber Leave a Comment

Overview Generally when we evaluate GMs, there is a concrete body of work to evaluate. In the case of Jeff Bower, there is really only the 2005-06 season to review. A review of Bower's rise to GM, does reveal how one might rise up the ladder to an executive position on an NBA team. Bower started his career in the early 1980s as an assistant coach at Penn State (1983-1986) and then over as an assistant at Marist (1986-1995). The Hornets hired Bower as a scout in 1995, a … [Read more...] about GM Report: Jeff Bower

GM Report: Elgin Baylor

June 16, 2004 by Harlan Schreiber Leave a Comment

Overview In April 1986, the Clippers were completing their second season in Los Angeles. They were 32-50 and going nowhere. Across town, the Lakers were dominating the headlines. So, it was natural that the Clippers would try to bask in the Lakers' reflected glory by tapping one of the Laker greats of the past. In this case, Donald Sterling decided that Elgin Baylor as GM of the Clippers. Baylor has sat in that post ever since. Of course, not much has changed in Clipper Land. … [Read more...] about GM Report: Elgin Baylor