RealGM

Who is the better GM? Mitch or West?

Well I'm gonna be real about this one....

Truth is J.West only real big FA signing was Shaq, but he drafted well and filled the roster with good role players over his time as GM.

But Mitch on the other hand has done his damage by way of big trades. Pau, Steve and Howard. And he too also filled in with some decent role players, Artest being his biggest. But he didn't draft as well as West did.

It's really hard for me to decide on who was better, so many factors to consider. The cap rules are way more stringent than they were for Jerry, they had just started to get tighter when he landed Shaq. Mitch has had to deal with some straight up BS cap wise and dick moves by the league also.

But I'm gonna be a trooper and say Mitch only because of the way the business has gone, much tougher now than it was for Jerry.

Kobe and Shaq. Two top 10 players. Don't think that can be topped.

West became the Lakers GM in the summer of 1982. The first thing he did was draft James Worthy with the 1st overall pick in the draft.

[url]West[/url]
+drafted James Worthy (1st overall)
+drafted Byron Scott (4th overall)
+drafted Vlade Divac (26rh overall)
+drafted Nick Van Excel (37th overall)
+drafted Eddie Jones (10th overall)
+drafted Elden Cambell (27th overall)
+traded Vlade Divac for Kobe Bryant
+signed free agent Shaq O'Neal
+traded for Cedric Ceballos (Phoenix got a 1st round pick)
+traded Cedric Ceballos for Robert Horry
+signed free agent Rick Fox
+traded Eddie Jones & Cedric Ceballos for Glen RIce
+signed free agent Dennis Rodman
+hired Phil Jackson as coach
West is credited with 6 championships (even though he left as GM in the summer of 2000 because he built the Shaq, Kobe, Phil, Horry Fox core)

[url]Mitch[/url]
+signed free agent Karl Malone
+signed free agent Gary Payon
+traded Shaq O'Neal for Lamar Odom and assets
+drafted Andrew Bynum (10th overall)
+drafted Marc Gasol (48th overall)
+traded for Trevor Ariza (gave up Cook & Evans)
+traded Marc Gasol and assets for Pau Gasol
+signed free agent Ron Artest
+hired Mike Brown as coach
+traded Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom for Chris Paul (*NBA historically killed the deal for bball reasons)
+traded pieces from Lamar Odom departure and picks for Steve Nash
+traded Andrew Bynum and picks for Dwight Howard
Mitch is credited with the 2 championships

Can we just be happy the two best GM's of all time worked for the Lakers. But if I had to pick one, it would have to be Mitch for sure, his persona is that of a BOSS lol additionally to the fact that he was able to make two super teams within the past 8 years, the first one did not work out to well in 2004 due to injuries and Shaq&Kobe dispute however, I am pretty sure we can all concede we had the more talented team in that 2004 Finals and if given a chance to go at it again in 2005 without the fighting, we would of been favorites to win it in 2005. Did I mention Mitch is a BOSS, and he steals other teams franchise players for scrubs i.e Kwame Brown for Pau Gasol or damaged goods in Bynum for Dwight Howard.

Thats a tough one. I could not have chosen a better successor to Mr. West than Kupchak. Those 2 are identical in their research, toughness, holding and folding, non-transparency and silent policy towards the press, acquiring the best bigmen in the game, the whole 9yards. toss-up.

Its like picking between who to sleep with tonight. Jessica Alba or Scarlett Johansson. Tough call.

slight edge to jerry west because he provided a better bench

Sofa King wrote:Its like picking between who to sleep with tonight. Jessica Alba or Scarlett Johansson. Tough call.

Lmaaaaaaao Scarlett and Jessica Alba is a tough call? Scarlett wins that easily but we will leave it at that.

DO IT MITCH!

Stebo_SSK wrote:

Sofa King wrote:Its like picking between who to sleep with tonight. Jessica Alba or Scarlett Johansson. Tough call.

Lmaaaaaaao Scarlett and Jessica Alba is a tough call? Scarlett wins that easily but we will leave it at that.

you can leave it at this


here's more if you can handle it

I didnt say Alba wasnt tight but Scarlett is a much better overall looking woman. Comparable faces but Johannsen has a much better body, where Alba lacks considerably, but any who I'll let you cook.

West also traded for Thompson mid season who ended up being a big contributor during the championship runs in the 80's. What a great problem to discuss who is the better gm when some teams have never had even one quality gm let alone two of possibly the greatest of all-time.

Sofa King wrote:Its like picking between who to sleep with tonight. Jessica Alba or Scarlett Johansson. Tough call.

On point

I pick Mitch though for his trades....if 2014 goes as planned and we won't miss a beat it's a wrap

Sofa King wrote:Its like picking between who to sleep with tonight. Jessica Alba or Scarlett Johansson. Tough call.

The only correct answer is "Both."

But I was around for West's entire Career as GM and Mitch's too... I think they're equal at this point, but Mitch is still going... So...

West had much more autonomy as GM than Mitch did/does... He pretty much had free reign to do what he thought was best for the team. Dr Buss trusted him and let him run with it more than Mitch.
The question is, do you think that makes Mitch a worse GM or better? I'd say managing the Buss' along with BBall operations is a tougher job...
In fact, it's a job West couldn't handle... He claims a heavier hand from the Buss' in the form of the Phil hiring was a major factor in his decision to leave...

Ehhhh.......Scarlett is just bigger up top, but her body isn't blowing Jessica's out the water Stebo.

Back to discussion....Kilroy brings up a great point, having full autonomy was key for Jerry. Also as I pointed out earlier the CBA is much tougher though for Mitch, that's really been the tale of the tape for those two. To me Mitch has been at a disadvantage because the economics are much different today.

I think the board will be divided on this, but many factors come into play also on who to pick.

Stebo_SSK wrote:I didnt say Alba wasnt tight but Scarlett is a much better overall looking woman. Comparable faces but Johannsen has a much better body, where Alba lacks considerably, but any who I'll let you cook.

100% agree Scarlett is better overall than Alba. But I'd take down either

Speedlot wrote:Kobe and Shaq. Two top 10 players. Don't think that can be topped.

If you factor in the circumstances under which both players ended up joining the Lakers, it's not as impressive as you think. West is one of my favorite executives of all time in professional sports, but he shouldn't be given more credit than he deserves.

leeprettyp wrote:

Stebo_SSK wrote:I didnt say Alba wasnt tight but Scarlett is a much better overall looking woman. Comparable faces but Johannsen has a much better body, where Alba lacks considerably, but any who I'll let you cook.

100% agree Scarlett is better overall than Alba. But I'd take down either

2 words: Kate Upton



Actually a picture is worth 1000 dirty words

Mitch started off terribly but has totally become a boss. I still give the edge to Jerry (slightly) because every time we needed something he came up with it via draft or trade & he was the master swendler in trades, but Mitch is on his heels for sure.