Who's the NBA's best-managed team?

[Ted]

I know I know. It's probably not necessarily true, but hey, how long is it since we've had a thread about the Jazz? The Kings and Nuggets are also right up there in my book. But about the Jazz . . .

Did anyone know that the Jazz could end up with two lottery picks in next years draft? The Jazz have the Knicks draft pick this year, and if the Knicks keep sliding and the Jazz don't make the playoffs (they're three games out of the 8th spot, yikes!) the Jazz could be in position to make some serious moves. Oh and by the way, they have the lowest payroll in the NBA and the 15th best record. They have beaten Minnesota twice, Dallas twice, Portland twice, and Houston; not bad for a team picked by one ESPN.com writer to win 15 games.

Oh yeah, and when Googs comes off the books this year, the Jazz will have max contract cap room. Utah won't look too bad to a Kobe or another top-of-the-line free agent. AK47 is an all-star for years to come. Harping is solid on both ends of the floor. Both Lopez and Arroyo are developing nicely, allowing one to be dangled in a trade. And they have money coming out of their ears because they're still averaging around 17,000 attendance per game. And they have no expectations; in fact, many fans WANT them to miss the playoffs this year. With Jerry Sloan as his coach, what more can Larry H. Miller ask for?

[WayOutWest]

I'd have to go with the Spurs and Lakers.  I would disgustingly give the edge to the Spurs for their masterful managment of the salary cap.  No other team in the league has done squat compared to those two and next year the Spurs, unlike the Lakers, have plenty of money to throw at FA's.

[Lurker]

I would agree that Utah does a good job....LA, Sac & SA deserve mention.  I would say that Indiana also does well.  Denver & Memphis are improving under new (last 2-3 years) management.  And except for the Smith fiasco I would rate Minny fairly high.

[Guest_JoMal]

The Kings went from doormats to contenders like overnight and have maintained a competitive roster even through all their changes. Though they are unlikely to be major players in the free agent market, they still manage to bring in players like Bibby, Miller, Songaila, and Christie via trades and end up getting the better of each deal. It is because we have generous owners and topnotch front office management. We DON'T have guys telling management, "Make room for me and I will sign with you", like Shaq did with the Lakers a ways back because he pined for an entertainment career to parrallel his NBA career. Good management would be doing that deal without the player coming in and moving boxes out of the way so the team would have a clearer shot in signing him up.  

In any given draft, a few quality players will not get picked until late in the first round or even the second, but the best talent is well known, and after the top seven players are gone, it is pretty much a crap shoot. Having several late lottery picks is close to being worthless unless one of those late blooming gems lands in your lap.

The Jazz will benefit much more from free agents and do what the Kings have done the last several years. Package the first rounder in a trade and not bother with it unless you can be sure to get quality. Otherwise you end up paying a bum to fill out the bench. It is better to pay for a known quality instead.  

[WayOutWest]

It is because we have generous owners and topnotch front office management. We DON'T have guys telling management, "Make room for me and I will sign with you", like Shaq did with the Lakers a ways back because he pined for an entertainment career to parrallel his NBA career. Good management would be doing that deal without the player coming in and moving boxes out of the way so the team would have a clearer shot in signing him up.  
 

LOL!

Even the Kings fans quickly forget about Soul Food Webber.

[WayOutWest]

I would agree that Utah does a good job....LA, Sac & SA deserve mention.  I would say that Indiana also does well.  Denver & Memphis are improving under new (last 2-3 years) management.  And except for the Smith fiasco I would rate Minny fairly high.

I forgot about Indy.  Their rebuilding efforts, despite the stupid Brad Miller move, have been quite commendable along with their cap management.

[Guest_JoMal]

The Kings went from doormats to contenders like overnight and have maintained a competitive roster even through all their changes. Though they are unlikely to be major players in the free agent market, they still manage to bring in players like Bibby, Miller, Songaila, and Christie via trades and end up getting the better of each deal. It is because we have generous owners and topnotch front office management. We DON'T have guys telling management, "Make room for me and I will sign with you", like Shaq did with the Lakers a ways back because he pined for an entertainment career to parrallel his NBA career. Good management would be doing that deal without the player coming in and moving boxes out of the way so the team would have a clearer shot in signing him up.  

In any given draft, a few quality players will not get picked until late in the first round or even the second, but the best talent is well known, and after the top seven players are gone, it is pretty much a crap shoot. Having several late lottery picks is close to being worthless unless one of those late blooming gems lands in your lap.

The Jazz will benefit much more from free agents and do what the Kings have done the last several years. Package the first rounder in a trade and not bother with it unless you can be sure to get quality. Otherwise you end up paying a bum to fill out the bench. It is better to pay for a known quality instead.  

[Guest_JoMal]

I am at a temporary office today (therefore not my commuter either) and I do not know what I am doing. I have to log on as guest to my own forum, and apparently the buttons do not understand that I only hit them once to send in my last post.

They tore up my office and the offices of my staff to install newer furniture and office cubicles, and though I am getting nicer digs, I can't use them until Monday.

Plus, it is noisy as hell around me here.  

[Lurker]

I am at a temporary office today (therefore not my commuter either) and I do not know what I am doing. I have to log on as guest to my own forum, and apparently the buttons do not understand that I only hit them once to send in my last post.

They tore up my office and the offices of my staff to install newer furniture and office cubicles, and though I am getting nicer digs, I can't use them until Monday.

Plus, it is noisy as hell around me here.

What is Arnold doing spending money on new digs for you when the State is in such a horrible financial crisis?

[Guest_JoMal]

Even the Kings fans quickly forget about Soul Food Webber.

 :lol:

I believe even Laker management might have considered trading an aging guard and aging power forward for a younger PW who just happened to be coming into his own as an NBA quality big man.

Now that Sacramento has soul food, he might actually decide to stick around town more.

[Guest_JoMal]

What is Arnold doing spending money on new digs for you when the State is in such a horrible financial crisis?

What an excellent question. Let me tell you. It seems that part of Arnie's budget saving tactics has been to audit the state and eliminate duplication and worthless state jobs. This accomplished, it turned out and some of the now empty offices had some of the most modern modular furniture. Already paid for and now without use.

We being the Department of Finance, we got first dibs on the surplus office supplies. All it is costing us is the bid for the movers to dismantle the old furniture and assemble the new.

And since we hired cheap, off-shore labor, we just had to get them some green cards and valid driver's licenses in lieu of payment; material we also had in surplus.

I am selling them burritoes for lunch out of my cubicle and splitting the proceeds with Arnie. Twenty-five cents a whizz to use the facilities, and a dollar for a dump. I may be able to buy that yacht yet.  

[Randy]

The Kings went from doormats to contenders like overnight and have maintained a competitive roster even through all their changes. Though they are unlikely to be major players in the free agent market, they still manage to bring in players like Bibby, Miller, Songaila, and Christie via trades and end up getting the better of each deal. It is because we have generous owners and topnotch front office management. We DON'T have guys telling management, "Make room for me and I will sign with you", like Shaq did with the Lakers a ways back because he pined for an entertainment career to parrallel his NBA career. Good management would be doing that deal without the player coming in and moving boxes out of the way so the team would have a clearer shot in signing him up.  

In any given draft, a few quality players will not get picked until late in the first round or even the second, but the best talent is well known, and after the top seven players are gone, it is pretty much a crap shoot. Having several late lottery picks is close to being worthless unless one of those late blooming gems lands in your lap.

The Jazz will benefit much more from free agents and do what the Kings have done the last several years. Package the first rounder in a trade and not bother with it unless you can be sure to get quality. Otherwise you end up paying a bum to fill out the bench. It is better to pay for a known quality instead.

I'm not sure that I would totally buy that one, JoMal.  It wasn't the Lakers organization who was being sued because management told them there was a big payday in the future only to never see that happen.  Also, why did Keon Clark come to SacTown?  Because he thought SacTown was short of big men (with CWebb, Polard, Vlade, Harrington, etc.) -- no, because he knew the Maloofs paid big money to their players to keep them around.  Obviously, Clark didn't fit into Adelmann's system but Clark jumped into the Kings lap, and it was ALL because of money.

As for the Kings, the Kings have been on the forefront of Euro development and talent assessment -- Peja and Turk are perfect examples of that.  The signings of solid veterans like Jackson, Vlade, Bibby continue that trend and adding role players that fit specific needs (see Christie) and it's obvious that the Kings and Petrie have done a phenomenal job in assessing talent.  They have made some mistakes -- the loss of Jimmy Jackson is particularly confusing when he is SO what they need (defensive toughness as well as veteran savvy).  Also, it's a bit easier to build a team when you have the money to do so -- although the Kings are going to be harder pressed to do that as their players age and they are over the cap.  It was tough for SacTown to lose Turk and Pollard (although they wouldn't have been able to afford Turk in the future) but gaining Miller provides a future after Vlade.  The Kings have done very well.

The Spurs have done quite well too -- with the exception of Rasho and JKidd.  They still need to work on player development -- Parker and Manu are often too inconsistent and I think they need some help (veteran like AJ) to help them work out some of those "bugs."  Of course, for all the Spurs success -- it all boils down to the fact that they got the "magic" ping pong ball with TD's number -- without TD this team is just a dream.  They have built well around TD (although the loss of Jackson and Speedy hurt them last year).  Horry was a GREAT pick-up for the Spurs.  The Spurs have made some stinky assessments (see Samaki Walker, Anthony Johnson, Rasho Nesterovich, etc.).

The Lakers have been an icon of what a successful club should be throughout the decades but unfortunately, a lot of that changed when Jerry West changed zipcodes.  The Lakers have made some VERY poor moves lately -- Rodman, Rider, Samaki  :angry:  -- the signing of GP and Malone made the Lakers look good but it had a lot more to do with Shaq than it did anyone in the Laker organization.  Shaq WANTED to come to LA and the trading for Kobe was pure genius (and made possible by the signing of Shaq).  For the Lakers to have a future, we have to get some great players for the future -- and they aren't going to do that through the draft or through trades (trade who?) -- so that leaves them with trading Shaq -- when?  I'm not sure -- but I want Kobe to come back next year -- I'd rather build around Kobe at this point in Shaq's career -- perhaps trade him for half of Memphis' squad -- or half of the Mavs squad.

[WayOutWest]

Even the Kings fans quickly forget about Soul Food Webber.

 :lol:

I believe even Laker management might have considered trading an aging guard and aging power forward for a younger PW who just happened to be coming into his own as an NBA quality big man.

Now that Sacramento has soul food, he might actually decide to stick around town more.

Actually I'm referring to resigning Webber not aquiring him.

What's a "PW"?

[Randy]

Even the Kings fans quickly forget about Soul Food Webber.

 :lol:

I believe even Laker management might have considered trading an aging guard and aging power forward for a younger PW who just happened to be coming into his own as an NBA quality big man.

Now that Sacramento has soul food, he might actually decide to stick around town more.

Actually I'm referring to resigning Webber not aquiring him.

What's a "PW"?

PW = Power Wimp

[ziggy]

Jazz  -  Playoffs for 21 straight years, and they have a nice core to rebuild on.  They have abundant cap space, and two potential lottery picks.  One problem with 2 lottery picks is it sucks up cap space for FA.  I wouldn't be surprised to see Utah move one for a pick in the future, or to get on the receiving end of a sign and trade.  They have done a great job.  At the same time they have to make good moves with their present situation.  They are close to returning to their status 1990's status, but tehy still have to do it.

Lakers  -  Jerry West did a wonderful job, and until this past summer Kupchack has been marginal.  If they Lakers don't win with Malone and Payton you can't blame Kupchack, that is a coach and player issue.  The key for measuring if Mitch has been successful is if he can transition from Shaq & Kobe and still be a high quality team.  West missed the playoffs one 1 time, and then the Lakers were once again elite.  That is tremendous.

Portland -  They were once this type of organization, but the last 2 to 3 years of Bob Whitsitt changed that.  Nash has made some very shrewd moves this year, and they may rebuild and not miss the playoffs.  They are still tarnished by Whitsitt though.  Twenty two straight playoff apperances though must count for something.  Lets see about this year, and what happens in 2 more, once their youth matures.

Sacramento  -  They have done a tremendous job the last 6 to 8 years, IMO the best in the NBA.  They are a premier franchise.  The proof in the pudding will be can they maintain it, and can they actually get to the finals.  At this point they are a very good organization, but not the same as the SA, LA, Utah, or even Portland.  They are moving up the list fast.

SA  -  They have got more fortutious breaks than any franchise, but they have finished on the layups.  Two seasons out of the playoffs, and both times they get the #1 pick and they pick DRob, and TD.  Give them credit, because they have 2 titles, and will have lots of cap space next year.  At the same time that is some serious luck.

Denver  -  Lets get real.  They have sucked forever, and just because they are a borderline playoff team this year doesn't change the fact that they have sucked forever.  See me in 6 years, after some visits to the WC finals or the NBA finals and I may change my opinion.  They haven't even made the playoffs yet, and until they do they are just lottery fodder.

Memphis  -  See Denver.  Jerry West, God Bless is Heart is a basketball genius.  He has done many good things in a very short period of time in Memphis, and because of that I will give him a little more latitude.  At the same time, they could easily be the TWolves of the next 10 years, and they have NEVER PLAYED in a playoff series.

Minnesota  -  They have been snake bitten by being a good team, in a conference loaded with great teams.  McHale has made some good calls, but really only 1 great call (drafting Garnett).  Above average at best.  Portland is a better organization.

Indiana  -  Best organization in the east.  By Western standards only good.

Dallas  -  No way are they an elite organization.  They sucked for years, and they still haven't taken it to the level of greatnesses.  Not as far along as Sacramento, and Cuban I believe will pull a Whitsitt (if he hasn't already).

Phoenix  -  I would rate Phoenix above the Mavs.  Lots of playoff appearances.  they have rebuilt quickly a couple of times, unlike the Wizards, or the Clipps, or the Celtics, or the Hawks, or the Bucks who are constantly rebuilding.  We will see, but I believe in 2 years they will once again be a top notch Western team.  The Colangelos do a fine job.