2021 Executive of the Year
May 1, 2021 22:20:56 GMT -6
Minnesota Timberwolves and Sacramento Kings like this
Post by Dallas Mavericks on May 1, 2021 22:20:56 GMT -6
2021 Executive of the YearIntroduction: Founder's 2021 Address to the League
Welcome to the presentation thread for the annual Executive of the Year award! Due to the season ending early, there were no awards given last year but it's time to get us back on track! Since the start of November with Off Season Free Agency, the regular season tipped off towards the end of December in what can only be described as a bizarre season with COVID-19 still plaguing most of the world. Despite some of the challenges, the NBA and Basketball Guru season carried on and as the vaccine rollout progressed, the number of positive COVID-19 cases in the NBA went down. Teams were not spared from numerous players being listed as out due to health and safety protocols but the season pushed on as teams adapted and role players stepped up. Oh, and the Toronto Raptors are now playing in Tampa as if it wasn't bizarre enough already.
Despite only 13 trades passed this season, a record low, activity has been high. Our iconic Guru Gazette had two editions published: Guru Gazette #4 (November 2020) and Guru Gazette #5 (April 2021). There were even new arrivals to the league including the LA Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks, and Sacramento Kings. We even had a couple Power Rankings go up (that really should be picked up again), newcomer Sacramento Kings gave us his 2020 Guru Draft Review, Suns created a tribute to retired Guru legends (with new nicknames too!), the Lakers promised to be more active this season and then dropped off the face of the Earth, and the occasional reminder about how amazing Talen Horton-Tucker (thanks Suns), Aleksej Pokuševski (thanks Philly), and Théo Maledon (thanks Kings) backed up by incredible statistics (none better than per 36). We really have the greatest sim league community in the world. The Guru Gazette, the Discord channel, and the tireless work done by the Minnesota Timberwolves all season makes Basketball Guru a very special place.
At the time of writing this, Basketball Guru has the playoffs going on with the Dallas Mavericks (8) vs LA Clippers (4) and the Minnesota Timberwolves (3) vs the New Orleans Pelicans (7). In the history of Basketball Guru, there has never been an eighth or seventh seed that advanced past the first round. Will the newcomer, LA Clippers, who was counted out and told to rebuild win it all? Will the teacher impart one last lesson? Will the Pelicans win it all or choke just like his predecessor? Will the eighth seed Mavericks come from behind and win it all? The answer to these questions will be answered very soon. One thing is for certain: there will be a new Basketball Guru champion at the end of the season.
We've now had six seasons of Basketball Guru! Back in 2015 the world seemed like a far different place compared to now and throughout it all, even with off season delays added into the mix, we've stuck with the process and been a place of continuity and community that grows and evolves year by year. It's been a labor of love and I don't see it ending any time soon. The single most defining aspect of Basketball Guru in 2021 that has arisen for me personally is that the quality of GMing has really reached new heights. Gone are the days of an easy lowball for an emerging star that has formed many of the great roster cores of years past, there is no easy route to the top any more - people know their stuff and a great demonstration of that has emerged in our new Discord chat's daily discussions. With the 2021 season coming to a close in a matter of weeks, just around the corner is OSFA, it's worth reflecting on just how amazing some of our GMs are.
First Place
Boston Celtics
It's been a transcendent year for the Boston Celtics as they transform from "the worst franchise in Guru history" into a legitimate contender. Steady, unwavering, continuous improvement has propelled this team to the top of the standings and the team with the most Points For this season. This year, to the surprise of many, the Celtics entered the regular season predicted to be a top 3 team among many of the league's pundits. The level of GMing shown by the Celtics has caused a "sea-change" in the way the league operates and how GMs approach the prospect of building a contender. When a GM can change the way the league thinks about rebuilding - that is impressive in and of itself. The Celtics, basking in their new-found glory, made moves throughout the season to ensure they were competitive and had as high a chance as anyone at winning the championship.
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None of these alone will blow anyone away, but looking at the bigger picture with Malcolm Brogdon, arguably the best off-season signing in 2020, Montrezl Harrell, another great signing outperforming his contract, Donte Divencenzo averaging 25 FPPG, Tim Hardaway Jr.'s insane start to the season, Julius Randle becoming a star in New York, and the continued growth of Tyler Herro and Colby White makes the Celtics standout as the team that has made the most improvement in a season. They have successfully navigated the harsh road to becoming a contender.
The Boston Celtics will occupy an elite place amongst the elite teams of Basketball Guru next season. The Celtics have put together a team that's stacked at every position, a monster among monsters, young enough to contend for years and cause GMs like me to despair for how I'm going to compete!
Congratulations to one of the longest tenured GMs to take the gold wreaths, your 2021 Basketball Guru Executive of the Year: Boston Celtics!
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Second Place
Phoenix SunsThe 2020 Basketball Guru champion finishes second in the executive of the year race, take a bow!
Let's not waste any time. The big story with the Suns? Cap space and flexibility! The Suns put all the pieces in place to have cap space flexibility while maintaining a top tier team in the league. The cap clearing trades gained the Suns a few interesting pieces along the way, but the freedom it provides in the future really goes to show how much of a difference can be made in just one season with the right level of enthusiasm and tinkering. The Suns managed to shed the pounds this year whilst simultaneously retaining a roster of talented players, maturing youth, and intriguing prospects. The first trade that comes to mind (previously covered in the Chicago Bulls post) is the D'Angelo Russell for PJ Washington and Brandon Clarke trade. Here the Suns received more production while also shedding a little over $9m in cap space. Although the trade does look favorable for the Suns, it should not be neglected to mention that Suns had to use a re-sign on Russell and the Grizzlies seemingly having no room for Brandon Clarke who is set to turn 25 in just a few months. A few minor trades worth mentioning - flipping Rubio for Theis, then flipping Theis for a second rounder (an en-theis-ing offer indeed), acquiring Zubac for an expiring Buddy Hield, trading a 2024 first round draft pick, 2022 LAL second rounder, and Tyrese Maxey to a rebuilding Washington Wizards squad, and finally Devonte Graham for Cody Zeller and the Wolves 2021 1st rounder.
The trading has been spectacular and the drafting...not too shabby. The Suns took Tyrese Maxey with the 15th pick, Aaron Nesmith 22nd, and Malachi Flynn with the 23rd pick.
Signings were overall good. Josh Jackson (24.5 FPPG) for $0.5m for two years, Kevin Love for $0.5m for four years, and Talen Horton-Tucker for $1.5m for four years were all good signings. Decent signings include OG Anunoby for $8m, which seems fair but he played the same amount of games as Kristaps Porziņģis (yikes). One bad signing in Kelly Oubre Jr. blemishes the Suns otherwise flawless track record. Kelly really struggled in the early part of the season, started to improve, and then got injured. Given the inconsistent shooting, low fantasy production, and high price tag, Kelly seems like a high risk. I'm very high on the THT signing and think the Lakers made a big mistake not bidding higher.
Although we have had many executive of the years, they all share one common trait: each has improved their team from the year prior. While the Suns finished sixth and made the playoffs, the 2021 season marks the lowest the organization has placed in the playoffs and also marks the lowest finish in Points For (finishing fifth with 17188) since 2018. The Suns main enemy is a lack of draft picks, but if anyone can handle it it's the Suns.
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Third Place
Minnesota TimberwolvesThat's right everyone - he's back, the former 2018 Executive of the Year is once again in the EOTY-hunt. How does this guy do it?
Active in OSFA, the Wolves displayed impressive GMing from the start. What started as an innocuous off season re-tooling ended up turning into - Dragic (24.1 FPPG) for $2m/yr, Malik Beasley (30 FPPG) for $2m/yr, Larry Nance Jr. (27.6 FPPG) for $0.5m/yr, Tristan Thompson (22.3 FPPG) for $1m/yr, and DeAndre Jordan (22.7 FPPG) for $1.5m/yr. Flawless? No. Impressive? Oh yes. It didn't end there. The signings continued into the regular season with the Wolves signing Kyle Anderson (29.7 FPPG) for $2m/yr, Josh Hart (24.8 FPPG) for $0.5m/yr, and Robert Williams (26.9 FPPG) for $0.5m/yr.
Wolves takes the third place, not only for his signings, but also for his trading. Let's take a look:
Terry "Scary Terry" Rozier has indeed been scary this season. Averaging 34.7 FPPG on a modest $4.5m/yr contract, Rozier looks to be one of the better OSFA signings and has been a nice source of points for the Wolves all season. By sheer luck, the Wolves nabbed Stormin Norman to add to his collection of current Trail Blazers. Norman has quietly increased his production this season when compared to last season and at 27 years old, there's still room for improvement. Jordan "Flame Thrower" Clarkson has also increased his production from 23.1 FPPG last season to 27.2 FPPG this season. A second rounder and Lou Williams ($4m) for the 28 year old Clarkson on a $5m deal? Sign me up! The one trade that I think was a slight loss was the 1st rounder for Graham trade. Nothing against Graham, but investing this much in the Charlotte Hornets backcourt is about as risky as investing in Dogecoin right now. All in all, a great season for the Wolves (once again).
He's the most beloved GM in the history of Basketball Guru and he's once again proved himself enough to get back into contention here as a finalist. Welcome back to the EOTY race!
He's the most beloved GM in the history of Basketball Guru and he's once again proved himself enough to get back into contention here as a finalist. Welcome back to the EOTY race!
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Fourth Place
Chicago Bulls Perhaps one of the most slept on teams in the league, the Chicago Bulls are brimming with young talent such as Nikola Jokic (who at the time of writing this is leading in the NBA MVP race), Jaylen Brown, Darius Garland, Dejounte Murray, James Wiseman, D'Angelo Russell, and Tyrese Haliburton (The average age of the seven players is just 23!) With perhaps one of the best steals in the draft, the Bulls drafted Tyrese Haliburton with the 10th overall pick in the 2020 draft, picked up Myles Turner in free agency for $7.5m a year for 4 years, and signed Bobby Portis and Jalen Brunson to respectable deals in the regular season. Overall, a pretty solid job.
On the trading front, the Bulls made one big trade in the off season: Brandon Clarke and PJ Washington for D'Angelo Russell. This trade was met with a lot of controversy (rightfully so) and although it's too early to declare a winner with Russell only playing in 34 games and starting in 19 of them, Clarke shifting to a role that can only be described as mediocre with Jaren Jackson Jr. poised to take the starting forward position in Memphis, and PJ Washington's value only increasing as he locks up the starting center position in Charlotte, I question whether the Bulls really won this trade with PJ Washington being the healthier, cheaper, and just as productive asset. Even if Clarke is mediocre, PJ Washington brings you roughly 30 FPPG for the next 4 years and for the low price of $8.3m. Can Russell return to his former self and average 38 FPPG next season? Maybe. For $54m across the next four seasons, I hope so.
Although not pegged for the playoffs, the Bulls put up a fight and finished 9th. I would not be surprised to see him in the playoffs next season and climb atop the GM rankings.
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