GM watch: Who leads the next era of Rip City?

[Rastapopoulos]

I wish I could feel happier about Olshey's firing, given that we've been wishing for it for so long.

BUT. He leaves us with a mess. And he wasn't even that terrible. I say he was solidly middle of the pack as a GM, largely because he was super cautious and thus didn't tend to make egregious blunders (sort of the opposite of Trader Bob). We could easily do a lot worse (see Blazer GMs immediately before him), and given the people in charge of choosing, it's not all that unlikely.

Why the fuck would we look at people from Chicago and New York? They've got flash-in-the-pan success surrounded by decades of mediocrity. Get me someone from Miami (amazing finders of diamonds-in-the-rough), Utah (the model for small markets, consistently good) or Toronto (league-leading player-development).

 

[Bingo Bango]

Your list is a little kooky, given that Danny Ainge is probably the leading candidate.

 

[Buffalo Custard]

I wish I could feel happier about Olshey's firing, given that we've been wishing for it for so long.

BUT. He leaves us with a mess. And he wasn't even that terrible. I say he was solidly middle of the pack as a GM, largely because he was super cautious and thus didn't tend to make egregious blunders (sort of the opposite of Trader Bob). We could easily do a lot worse (see Blazer GMs immediately before him), and given the people in charge of choosing, it's not all that unlikely.

Why the fuck would we look at people from Chicago and New York? They've got flash-in-the-pan success surrounded by decades of mediocrity. Get me someone from Miami (amazing finders of diamonds-in-the-rough), Utah (the model for small markets, consistently good) or Toronto (league-leading player-development).

The only thing I would quibble with is the "middle of the pack" evaluation. His worst mistakes in free agency involved re-signing his own players. Of course, those were also the only free agent signings he made that weren't minimum wage dumpster diving. His drafting was hit or miss - but he limited the big mistakes by trading the picks away. His trades were also hit or miss, but they never involved top tier players anyway. His payroll management really was that terrible. If you looked at the numbers during his tenure, I have no doubt we would have one of the worst ratios of dollars spent to wins.

For the record, I do share your fears about the next hire. An astute organization would have a "do not hire from this team!" list. The words "vulcan" and "astute" are rarely used together in a sentence.

 

[Buffalo Custard]

Your list is a little kooky, given that Danny Ainge is probably the leading candidate.

Ainge left his last job due to health concerns. He shouldn't be the leading candidate on any list - including "organ transplant candidate."

 

[Buffalo Custard]

Just like Jahlil Okafor is master of the low post game

If Okafor was 6'3" with the same limited skill set, how many draft picks would Olshey have traded for him?

OK, I need to stop dancing on the grave. It is unseemly, undignified, and likely unsanitary.

 

[barfo]

If Okafor was 6'3" with the same limited skill set, how many draft picks would Olshey have traded for him?

This could be a new 'screw in the lightbulb' series of jokes: "How many draft picks would Olshey trade to do X"?

And the answer is always: "all of them"

barfo

 

[BigGameDamian]

 

[riverman]

Dwight Jaynes is desperate for another old white guy to take the reigns so he can relate to him......sad

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Phew!

 

[UncleCliffy'sDaddy]

Uhh…………..maybe they’re a shit ton smarter than you are Dwight……

 

[Hoopguru]

There will not be a new GM hired, if at all before the end of the season. The Vulcans will simply say with zero urgency, let's see how our interim guy does then go for there. Watch our cost and take our time.

 

[wizenheimer]

Uhh…………..maybe they’re a shit ton smarter than you are Dwight……

Dwight Jaynes was Canzano before Canzano was Canzano

 

[Cugel]

The interim needs to be sure to deal the expiring contracts to a team looking to make a deep playoff run in return for something, like a pick.

 

[Strenuus]

He's never going to notice you, Dwight. Leave it alone. Set the boombox down.

 

[Buffalo Custard]

Uhh…………..maybe they’re a shit ton smarter than you are Dwight……

We are talking about a guy who thought PJ was a great coach and Adelman was a horrible hire.

 

[Scalma]

Jodi with back to back good decisions within a week wow there’s hope.

 

[illmatic99]

I wonder how many candidates they HAVE reached out to.

Its hilarious to see snowflakes on Blazers social complain about not going after Ainge. Wonder ir they'd maintain this tune when they see he is a vocal trump supporter

 

[Minstrel]

Ainge is famous and won a title. Considering the vast majority of fans have no way of knowing who's a good "GM prospect" and who isn't, that pretty much carries the day.

It's like why @THE HCP likes Melo, minus winning a title.

 

[ABM]

Ainge is famous and won a title. Considering the vast majority of fans have no way of knowing who's a good "GM prospect" and who isn't, that pretty much carries the day.

It's like why @THE HCP likes Melo, minus winning a title.

These are finger-biting moments. They really are.

 

[Scalma]

Quick brought up Abdur-rahim being repped by dames agent. Doubt that will carry much weight but still interesting.

 

[TBpup]

Along with his health, I had heard similar. It's part of the reason I didn't include him in the poll. That may change, but for now, and for several reasons, Ainge is not at the top of their list.

 

[Bingo Bango]

Along with his health, I had heard similar. It's part of the reason I didn't include him in the poll. That may change, but for now, and for several reasons, Ainge is not at the top of their list.

He should be. If I’m not mistaken, he’s the only GM available who’s built a championship team.

 

[TBpup]

He should be. If I’m not mistaken, he’s the only GM available who’s built a championship team.

Yes....but he will be expensive and might not be just a 'Yes man' to the Vulcans.....which isn't their preference.

 

[illmatic99]

Yes....but he will be expensive and might not be just a 'Yes man' to the Vulcans.....which isn't their preference.

olshey was a yes man? nearly every report (and evidence from Olshey's decisions) said he acted as a lone ranger with full autonomy. given how disengaged Jody is, I doubt she even cares enough about moves to direct her GM to do things her way.

 

[TBpup]

olshey was a yes man? nearly every report (and evidence from Olshey's decisions) said he acted as a lone ranger with full autonomy. given how disengaged Jody is, I doubt she even cares enough about moves to direct her GM to do things her way.

Autonomy....until it came to possibly going further over the cap into higher luxury tax consequences is my understanding.

 

[illmatic99]

Autonomy....until it came to possibly going further over the cap into higher luxury tax consequences is my understanding.

if the org actually handcuffed Olshey when he was about to make moves that put us deeper into the tax this summer, they need to be under more fire than Neil.

 

[illmatic99]

interesting. KP hired Cronin as an intern like 15 yrs ago.

 

[TBpup]

if the org actually handcuffed Olshey about moves that went into the tax this summer, they need to be under more fire than Neil.

Why? Given the lack of accomplishment from a team right at the tax level, why would an owner want to spend even more and pay tax versus staying under it and getting tax money? It would be different if they were a contender, but that hasn't been the case even given the high payrolls. Paul even started backing down a bit from spending so much towards the end when the results weren't justifying the cost.

 

[illmatic99]

Why? Given the lack of accomplishment from a team right at the tax level, why would an owner want to spend even more and pay tax versus staying under it and getting tax money? It would be different if they were a contender, but that hasn't been the case even given the high payrolls. Paul even started backing down a bit from spending so much towards the end when the results weren't justifying the cost.

There are eight teams with a higher tax bill than ours this year. The owners have to realize that you have to pay to win in this league. And if this directive to cut costs came AFTER Dame made his comments public this year, then that changes all my opinions on whom exactly he was putting pressure on.

That said, signing off on the extended contracts for Billups and Powell suggest that they're not truly being cheap. So I don't think there's much truth to them handcuffing Olshey because of financial reasons.

 

[tykendo]

All these names are fine. But we won't know if any of them are good on their own, until they get to work and make things happen. Ainge has done great things in the past. But he got stale by trying to get too cute with deals. He added a lot of picks, but didn't turn them into enough special. Plus he ended up with health issues. Pass! I like the idea of going with a young mind. In saying that, i'm thinking staying with Cronin, and letting him get to work ASAP, is best for everyone involved. Plus , he's seen what not to do, by working under Olshey. Time is ticking.