Study Finds Isiah Thomas As Best Drafting GM Since 1989

Laimbeer · Post #1 » by **Laimbeer** » Sat Apr 5, 2014 12:59 pm

Isiah Thomas is the best drafting general manager in the NBA, according to an empirical study conducted by ESPN.

While with the Toronto Raptors and New York Knicks, Thomas had a Net Expected Wins Average of +1.7 per pick. Thomas drafted Damon Stoudamire seventh overall in 1995 and Tracy McGrady at ninth during his tenure with the Raptors. David Lee, Trevor Ariza, Wilson Chandler and Nate Robinson were all high value picks with the Knicks.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/23 ... Since-1989

Spider156 · Post #2 » by **Spider156** » Sat Apr 5, 2014 2:06 pm

I hope Gores doesn't buy into that

mercury · Post #3 » by **mercury** » Sat Apr 5, 2014 2:51 pm

Think Zeke would be an excellent scout.

ElectricMayhem · Post #4 » by **ElectricMayhem** » Sat Apr 5, 2014 2:54 pm

mercury wrote:Think Zeke would be an excellent scout.

If I could be assured that he was content as a scout and didn't have designs on usurping authority, I would hire him.

wallace72 · Post #5 » by **wallace72** » Sat Apr 5, 2014 3:22 pm

mercury wrote:Think Zeke would be an excellent scout.

Sure he is,
But don't give em a job as your GM, even not as an assistant.

chrbal · Post #6 » by **chrbal** » Sat Apr 5, 2014 3:32 pm

Isiah Thomas head of pistons draft department, absolutely. But after the draft is over let him be a roaming scout with no say in anything else.

DonVitoReturns · Post #7 » by **DonVitoReturns** » Sun Apr 6, 2014 12:53 am

I'd strongly support Isiah playing a role in this organization as some kind of talent evaluator. Just need to have checks and balances in place to prevent bad trades, etc.

When he says no one has more passion for the Pistons than he does, I believe him. I'd like him back in some capacity.

Ghost · Post #8 » by **Ghost** » Sun Apr 6, 2014 1:57 am

When them rumors came out that Detroit was interested in him I went back and looked through all of his transactions (there's a thing on basketball reference) and I was very impressed by his drafting. Didn't think he would be labeled as the best but it did look good. Unfortunately, his trading... Not so good :lol:

DBC10 · Post #9 » by **DBC10** » Sun Apr 6, 2014 2:10 am

I wouldn't mind having him as a advisory role when it comes to scouting for draft picks and rookies.

Just keep him the hell away from the major decisions.

Clarity · Post #10 » by **Clarity** » Sun Apr 6, 2014 2:14 am

a New Study finds that Study is on crack.

Q00 · Post #11 » by **Q00** » Sun Apr 6, 2014 2:27 am

Ghost wrote:When them rumors came out that Detroit was interested in him I went back and looked through all of his transactions (there's a thing on basketball reference) and I was very impressed by his drafting. Didn't think he would be labeled as the best but it did look good. Unfortunately, his trading... Not so good

He did get Zach Randolph in his prime from Portland for Francis and Frye. That was a great trade.

Isiah was good at acquiring good players, whether via draft or trades. His problem was when it came to putting all those good players together into a team, the pieces didn't fit.

That's why I think if he had Laimbeer working with him he could be successful. He knows how to identify the good players and acquire them. He just needs help identifying which of those players are the best fits for his team. Laimbeer is good at that.