Buford at 1 is a no-brainer, it gets a bit sketchy after that...

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/kelly_dwyer/06/25/gm.rankings/index.html


3. Joe Dumars, Detroit Pistons

Pluses: Dumars realized early that cap flexibility can sustain a team's chances of remaining a powerhouse and allow a decision-maker to take advantage of teams looking to clear onerous contracts. His series of gutsy decisions from the summer of 2002 to February '04 gave Detroit its third NBA championship: He threw the full mid-level exception at journeyman Chauncey Billups, took Tayshaun Prince with the 23rd pick of the '02 draft, dumped '02 Coach of the Year Rick Carlisle for Larry Brown in '03 and rolled the dice with a midseason trade for Rasheed Wallace, who was the missing piece of the '04 championship team.

Minuses: Cap flexibility and unwillingness to take on bad contracts cost the Pistons the services of Mehmet Okur in 2004 and Ben Wallace in '06. Though it makes sound fiscal sense, Dumars sometimes acts as though he's working with an NFL-like hard cap -- witness his recent trade of the inconsistent Carlos Delfino to the Raptors for two second-round picks. The trade was made to clear up cash to re-sign Billups even though the Pistons can far exceed the salary cap to retain the point guard. Dumars also deserves heat for not only passing on a series of future All-Stars in order to draft Darko Milicic, but also for compounding his mistake by dealing the big man to Orlando to clear money he thought needed to keep Ben Wallace, who ended up signing a free-agent deal with Chicago.

Bottom line: Dumars' Pistons have been the class of the East for years, but he's also developed a roster that is long on arrogance and short on sealing the deal in the playoffs since the 2004 championship. Outside of Antonio McDyess, recent attempts at adding new blood (Milicic, Delfino, coach Flip Saunders) have been met with locker-room derision. This sated group desperately needs a jump-start. Dumars may have his toughest challenges ahead of him.

I couldn't agree more.

I still think Isiah is ranked too high.

I still think Isiah is ranked too high.

Same for McHale.

That's a fair analysis, I think. I think Dumars is 3. If this list was 2 years ago he'd be #1 or #2 easily. There have been a series of bad or underwhelming moves, but he's still living off that amazing stretch from 02 to 04.

Dumars and Colangelo have never been #1. Buford's been the man for awhile.

Same for McHale.

laffo

well, most would say "give me tim duncan and i'll look pretty good as a gm, too". and that is true. the spurs front office (not just the gm) did real good in drafting TP, and great with MG at the bottom of the draft. but how good do they look because of TD?

im not sold that donny N is better than joe, either. dallas basically became legit when they let avery build up the D and they stopped makeing fantasy trades, allowing the team to gel. good gm'ing, but genius?

joe's roster moves for years now have been pretty blah, to be kind. but joe does more than make 5 or 6 moves a year. he's constantly player managing and also helps w/ the game planning. i have no doubt that joe's day to day stuff is among the tops in the league.

i like bryan colangelo, too. what he's done w/ toronto probably puts him near the top, in my book. im not too familiar w/ portland's front office, but i loved their move's last year. webster for william's was a blunder, but who's fault was that?

I'm in awe of the Spurs' cap management. They don't have anyone but their Big Three signed after next year, it seems. They have all the flexibility in the world to keep their success engine going.

I don't think Joe would be #3 if the folks here at WTFD re-did this poll today.