Post by Dallas Mavericks on Apr 5, 2018 15:43:25 GMT -6
2018 Executive of the Year
Introduction: Commissioner's 2018 Address to the League
Last year he was 3rd Place in the running for EOTY. This year he has moved all the way up to first place to win the award. Was there really any debate about who would be here? The 2018 Basketball Guru Executive of the Year Award goes to the Minnesota Timberwolves!
The Wolves are masterful planners. They make sure they have enough resigns for their key players and they make big moves when they have to. When the opportunity to trade for Blake Griffin presented itself, Wolves jumped on it. Moves were made throughout the season to eliminate any salary concerns going forward. They also managed to bring in Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum without trading Karl-Anthony Towns or Myles Turner.
The only knock against the Wolves this season has been their trading with the notorious masterful trader, Charlotte. In the offseason, the Wolves traded for Nerlens Noel while giving up Victor Oladipo in return. When Noel isn't sneaking off during timeouts to grab hot dogs, he's been sitting on the bench and struggling to find time on the court. Although, some last season key performances have given faint signs of hope. Giving up Tyreke Evans may not have been so bad after all, the Wolves did acquire Robert Covington after all.
The Wolves have been cautious with their picks as well. Earlier this season, they traded their lowly 2018 first rounder Vancouver's 2021 first. Given how low the Wolves' was, it would not be surprising if Vancouver's conveyed a much higher pick. Their masterful planning and preparation for future drafts has not gone unnoticed.
There's been a legacy of good trading from the T-Wolves throughout his tenure at D5 though. One thing that stands out is his effort levels and single minded tenacity to improve his team, especially through trades! Managing to acquire two marquee guards is no small accomplishment, it's clear that the wolves have emerged as a dynasty that will flourish for years to come. The Timberwolves takes his place today, amongst the most accomplished and decorated GMs in the league, by winning this award. Congratulations T-Wolves, 2018 Basketball Guru Executive of the Year!
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Runner Up
Third Place
Each candidate will be announced from last to first over the next few days to see who has won the most prestigious award in the league!
Introduction: Commissioner's 2018 Address to the League
Season three has ended and we're soon to enter our fourth year at Basketball Guru! The Executive of the Year race this year had three contenders. The process has involved surveying all 16 GMs and collecting feedback from around the league. EOTY does take into consideration the past, but primarily focuses on accomplishments made during the season. It is important to remember that GMs need to be properly rewarded for taking short steps each year that have led to bigger and better longer term successes.2018 Executive of the YearMinnesota Timberwolves
Last year he was 3rd Place in the running for EOTY. This year he has moved all the way up to first place to win the award. Was there really any debate about who would be here? The 2018 Basketball Guru Executive of the Year Award goes to the Minnesota Timberwolves!
The Wolves are masterful planners. They make sure they have enough resigns for their key players and they make big moves when they have to. When the opportunity to trade for Blake Griffin presented itself, Wolves jumped on it. Moves were made throughout the season to eliminate any salary concerns going forward. They also managed to bring in Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum without trading Karl-Anthony Towns or Myles Turner.
The only knock against the Wolves this season has been their trading with the notorious masterful trader, Charlotte. In the offseason, the Wolves traded for Nerlens Noel while giving up Victor Oladipo in return. When Noel isn't sneaking off during timeouts to grab hot dogs, he's been sitting on the bench and struggling to find time on the court. Although, some last season key performances have given faint signs of hope. Giving up Tyreke Evans may not have been so bad after all, the Wolves did acquire Robert Covington after all.
The Wolves have been cautious with their picks as well. Earlier this season, they traded their lowly 2018 first rounder Vancouver's 2021 first. Given how low the Wolves' was, it would not be surprising if Vancouver's conveyed a much higher pick. Their masterful planning and preparation for future drafts has not gone unnoticed.
There's been a legacy of good trading from the T-Wolves throughout his tenure at D5 though. One thing that stands out is his effort levels and single minded tenacity to improve his team, especially through trades! Managing to acquire two marquee guards is no small accomplishment, it's clear that the wolves have emerged as a dynasty that will flourish for years to come. The Timberwolves takes his place today, amongst the most accomplished and decorated GMs in the league, by winning this award. Congratulations T-Wolves, 2018 Basketball Guru Executive of the Year!
Trading:
Signing:
Drafting:
Planning:
Runner Up
New York Knicks
Congratulations to the New York Knicks on being the runner up to the executive of the year!
This award goes to the Knicks for their incredible free agent signings throughout the off season and regular season. Signings such as Michael Beasley, CJ Miles, and Joe Ingles has netted a championship team for the Knicks and their signings have been the best out of anyone this season.
The Knicks championship run begins in the 2017 off season. The run begun when the Knicks traded Draymond Green, Zach LaVine, and the Celtics' 2020 first rounder for Russell Westbrook. The very same day, the Knicks traded Klay Thompson (29 FPPG) for DeAndre Jordan (35 FPPG). Both of these trades stunned the league. First, the Lakers just won a championship and Westbrook had won the MVP award. Secondly, the Knicks already had Stephen Curry and promising rookie Ben Simmons. Did they need another point guard? In retrospect, trading for Westbrook did win the Knicks a championship and he was crucial for them in the playoffs.
Overall it's been a very prolific accrual of exciting talent for the Knicks. It seems like every deal, regardless of whether you think it was a win or lose, nets them a player that is at least more promising and makes their roster look more vibrant and special than it did before and a lot of those players are likely to pan out and become even more valuable with time!
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Third Place
Toronto Raptors
In third place this year is a GM with possibly the quietest build of a championship contender in the league!
One of the reasons for the lack of recognition is the slow pace of accrual in Toronto of a solid roster of excellent players and a deep bench over three years of tenure, the achievements are often spaced by a year of waiting!
Although Toronto would rather we forgot that he signed Norman Powell to a large 4 year/$8,500 deal, his achievements since has been extremely impressive. Plenty of trades have historically smiled on the Raptors over the years and there's one unfolding story that can illustrate this point which centers around the journeys of Jonas Valanciunas. Back in 2015, Jonas Valanciunas was traded from the Raptors in exchange for Kristaps Porziņģis! Valanciunas returned to the Raptors this off season on a 4 year/$8,000 deal. Whilst that was happening, the Raptors still had a top draft pick that conveyed into promising rookie Dennis Smith Jr.. The Raptors also traded Markelle Fultz for John Wall (although the jury is still out on who won this trade). All in all, the Raptors have done a tremendous job in transforming a team that went 2-17 to a team that is competing for a championship and finished with a 16-5 record. Raptors also traded for Thaddeus Young and Avery Bradley, only giving up Marcus Smart and Jae Crowder.
After some reflection here, it does seem that it's a bit premature to count out a Raptors squad who fell in the first round this year to the Sixers. With a team possessed of both an All Star starting cast and a deep bench it's clear that, there'll be plenty of contending years to come! Overall, it's been perhaps the most underrated and unnoticed build of a championship calibre team in Basketball Guru!
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