Bird deserves Executive of the Year

IndieRuso420 · Post #1 » by **IndieRuso420** » Fri Oct 3, 2008 4:07 pm

Even if I wasn't a Pacers fan, I would still think this. I am only 23, but I cannot remember another executive completely changing the complection of one team so drastically in such a short period of time.

I seriously couldn't have scripted it better myself. I was one of few that saw absolutely no hope with JO & Tins still on this team. I guess Bird shared those opinions. He was able to turn two of the most worthless and overpaid players in recent years in the NBA into SIX PLAYERS. At least 3 of them are really decent, and the other three could be suitable role players. That's a lot of two players that are have been absolutely killing this team for the last three years. IMO if I was a GM, I would consider JO/Tins two of the most immovable and unwanted players in the league. Bird turned waste into something valueable.

I will stop there with that though, not trying to turn this into a hater JO/Tins rant. However, Bird has not only changed the immediate future of the team, but he has given plenty of hope for the future. IMO, this team is so much closer now to rebuilding a championship calibur team and I think the Pacers could be back in the ECF in two years. If we would have kept JO/Tins, I think it would have taken double that much (four years).

So I just wanted to state my thoughts hear and say cheers to Larry. Sometimes, you are hard to read and I have highly disagreed with some of your decisions of the past (hated Artest for Peja) but you have done an excellent job this summer and have given this Pacer fan a lot to be excited about.

Dunthreevy · Post #2 » by **Dunthreevy** » Fri Oct 3, 2008 4:47 pm

As much as I love the moves that Larry has been able to pull off, it's way too early to make a statement like this. We haven't even seen this team on the court yet. While I do agree that we have a much more promising future now (as opposed to 6 months ago), there's a guy out there in Portland that has done an equally excellent job with his team and will likely put a better team on the court when the season starts.

IndieRuso420 · Post #3 » by **IndieRuso420** » Fri Oct 3, 2008 4:54 pm

Dunthreevy wrote:As much as I love the moves that Larry has been able to pull off, it's way too early to make a statement like this. We haven't even seen this team on the court yet. While I do agree that we have a much more promising future now (as opposed to 6 months ago), there's a guy out there in Portland that has done an equally excellent job with his team and will likely put a better team on the court when the season starts.

I understand what you mean, but I don't think its too early. If you compare POR and IND, its really easy to see my point.

POR even last year had an excellent future in the making with Roy, Oden, Aldridge, Webster, Outlaw, Sergio, Rudy... All those guys were either already picked or already there.

There really is no change in landscape at all. POR really only did two things, lost James Jones and added Ike & Bayliss. Their future was already in place.

Compare that to IND, we have what 9 new players and traded 3 former players. That's a completely new team compared to POR.

Now I understand we haven't seen this team hit the court yet thats a good point. I truely believe though that the Pacers will win more games than last season, and as I said these moves have drastically increased the likelihood the Pacers will be contenders sooner. I guess we will just have to wait and see, but I don't think there any doubt that the Pacers are the most redone team in the NBA this season (and in my mind the moves will without a doubt produce results).

Dunthreevy · Post #4 » by **Dunthreevy** » Fri Oct 3, 2008 4:56 pm

I agree with you that we are definitely going to win more games than last season. I'm personally predicting a 45-37 season from our boys. I just think that the way it's voted on, it's more likely than Pritchard out there in Portland will get the nod for exec. of the year. Larry has definitely made his impact felt and will be noticed eventually.

dc · Post #5 » by dc » Fri Oct 3, 2008 5:39 pm

IndieRuso420 wrote:Even if I wasn't a Pacers fan, I would still think this. I am only 23, but I cannot remember another executive completely changing the complection of one team so drastically in such a short period of time.

Even if you're just 23, I'm sure you can remember what Danny Ainge did last year in a relatively short period of time.

IndieRuso420 · Post #6 » by **IndieRuso420** » Fri Oct 3, 2008 5:50 pm

dc wrote:
IndieRuso420 wrote:Even if I wasn't a Pacers fan, I would still think this. I am only 23, but I cannot remember another executive completely changing the complection of one team so drastically in such a short period of time.

Even if you're just 23, I'm sure you can remember what Danny Ainge did last year in a relatively short period of time.

Very good point that is so true. I would say that the change the Pacers have gone through is on a much larger scale as far as player turnover. However, Ainge did completely change the culture, present, and future of that team. Great point. I hope that the Pacers can have similar results. Obviously expecting a championship is out of question, but I think this team is capable of making it to the second round of the playoffs. That a pretty big jump from two straight lottery teams.

MillerTime101 · Post #7 » by **MillerTime101** » Fri Oct 3, 2008 5:59 pm

Bird deserves alot of credit for what he has done but this award tends to be based more on results. Best case this year I have the Pacers finishing 7th, last year we were 9th, not sure if thats a big enough improvement to get Larry the kind of recognition he deserves.

Post #8 » by **Charcoal Filtered** » Fri Oct 3, 2008 7:02 pm

You reward someone for getting themselves out of a hole they put themselves in?

This team still does not have a true franchise player. It is not inconceivable that no one on the current roster will ever make the all-star team. While I applaud the JO and possibly JT deals, we are still a team stuck in the mid-lottery/8 seed land. It may be some time before we get out.

Let's hold off on awards until the team atleast makes the playoffs and then it would just be a consideration.

MillerTime101 · Post #9 » by **MillerTime101** » Fri Oct 3, 2008 7:56 pm

Actually this is Larry Bird first year as GM so its not his hole.

cdash · Post #10 » by **cdash** » Fri Oct 3, 2008 11:40 pm

dc wrote:
IndieRuso420 wrote:Even if I wasn't a Pacers fan, I would still think this. I am only 23, but I cannot remember another executive completely changing the complection of one team so drastically in such a short period of time.

Even if you're just 23, I'm sure you can remember what Danny Ainge did last year in a relatively short period of time.

Oh give me a break, Kevin McHale deserves more credit than Danny Ainge for the Celtics' success.

dc · Post #11 » by dc » Fri Oct 3, 2008 11:48 pm

cdash wrote:Oh give me a break, Kevin McHale deserves more credit than Danny Ainge for the Celtics' success.

McHale ended up getting the best deal that was available at that particular time.

Now what he should have done in the first place was traded KG two years prior when he was 29 instead of 31 (and had higher value), but he turned down better offers back then. Considering that he dealt him WHEN he dealt him, he got Al Jefferson, which was the best return available out there at the time.

cdash · Post #12 » by **cdash** » Sat Oct 4, 2008 7:02 am

My comment was kind of tongue-in-cheek, and in all honesty, the deal wasnt bad for Minny. AJ is a stud, and Gomes and Telfair ended up being pretty decent rotation guys, couple that with the Ratliff expiring and the draft picks, it really was a decent deal. It's just more enjoyable to poke fun at McHale.

wajr · Post #13 » by **wajr** » Mon Oct 6, 2008 1:25 pm

Really? Already?

Why not give it to Phillies Gm for signing Brand out of left field? Or how about Collangelo for being able to pair CB4 with JO? No wait. Elgin should get it because he was able to sign B. diddy, Maggette and traded peanuts for Camby.

In all seriousness how about we play some games first to see if Larry's moves pan out? Just because the moves look good on paper doesn't mean they will translate into success. I think Bird did what he had to do which was overhaul his roster and he did a pretty good job of doing it. With that being said crowning him EOY right now is comical at best. The Pacers will have to have an amazing season for your prediction to come true. Time will tell.