Executive of the Year: Ainge or Kupchak?

Pats19andO · Post #41 » by **Pats19andO** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 12:28 am

Cammo101 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

I'm confused, aside from Rondo, where is the young talent? I see the young, I just don't see the talent.

haha ok. Hows is Rashard and his 118 million?

1. Unlike Ainge with Jefferson, he didn't trade Andrew Bynum for an aging superstar, thus protecting the Lakers' future.

2. Decided not to offer Smush Parker a contract, thus enhancing the team through subtraction. that was a no brainer

3. Signed veteran presence Derek Fisher, who has added a bit of stability and leadership to the point guard position. Just like we signed Posey, Cassel, and Brown

4. Picked Javaris Crittenton in the draft even though he had a future point guard in Farmar. As we know now, Gasol wouldn't be able to be had without crittenton.

5. Decides not to trade Kobe Bryant for less than true value despite immense pressure.

6. Gets rid of Brian Cook and Maurice Evans for athletic defensive swingman Trevor Ariza.

Those are the non-Gasol moves that made the Lakers an elite team and he did them all this season.

Add that to the Gasol heist and it's pretty clear Mitch is GM of the year. He not only made the Lakers as much of a favorite as the Celts, but he made the team competitive for a long time as well. Something you can't say about Boston.

Post #42 » by **snaquille oatmeal** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 12:34 am

Cammo101 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

Jerry West is still a consultant for the Grizzlies and has a lot of sway in that organization. It is curious that LA was the only team Memphis talked to about a Gasol trade at the deadline and that LA did not have to take back Cardinal when a Mike Miller deal hinged on it. Seems a pretty hard pill to swallow that West did not facilitate this for LA.

and you can prove this how?

Post #43 » by **blkout** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 12:54 am

3. Signed veteran presence Derek Fisher, who has added a bit of stability and leadership to the point guard position. Just like we signed Posey, Cassel, and Brown

So because a bunch of older players want rings and think Boston is the most likely place for that to happen, Ainge is some genius GM for picking them up? It wouldn't matter if Ronald McDonald was the GM, they would still have signed with Boston.

Sarlonus · Post #44 » by **Sarlonus** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 1:07 am

I think you are all missing the man behind both Celtics' and Lakers' success. Chris Wallace influenced both teams. I believe he was the GM (or some other front office position) with the Celtics last year. After he left they started making good personal decisions. Meanwhile he was the one that traded Gasol to the Lakers. He has to be considered for the EOY.

JellosJigglin · Post #45 » by **JellosJigglin** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 1:08 am

Kupchak rebuilt a contender, did it in less time than Ainge, with less chips to play with (only 1 lottery pick); made a big trade for a franchise cornerstone and gave up less talent; signed, traded, or drafted role players that are producing on the deepest bench in the league.

Ainge had his team in the dirt long enough that you would think he'd eventually get it right. Kupchak just did it quicker and more efficiently, and under much more pressure.

Kupchak is the executive of the year.

shrink · Post #46 » by **shrink** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 1:24 am

Buss deserves more credit than Kupchek for the Gasol trade, since he was willing to pay double and stay in the lux, when 25-of-30 owners try to stay under the lux.

Kind of like giving Joe Torre awards when George Steinbrenner buys you a team.

Cammo101 · Post #47 » by **Cammo101** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 1:27 am

Jules Winnfield wrote:6. Gets rid of Brian Cook and Maurice Evans for athletic defensive swingman Trevor Ariza.

Orlando thanks Kupchak daily for this trade. We got a starter and a solid backup for an injury prone guy who couldn't beat out Keith Bogans for a spot.

Cammo101 · Post #48 » by **Cammo101** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 1:29 am

Pats19andO wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

Shard is just fine. You should know this already considering he has beat you twice already. :crazy:

EvadedHavoc · Post #49 » by **EvadedHavoc** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 1:35 am

Cammo101 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

Shard is just fine. You should know this already considering he has beat you twice already.

Somewhere Hedo sheds a tear because a fan forgets his game winning shot.

JellosJigglin · Post #50 » by **JellosJigglin** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 1:37 am

Cammo101 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

Orlando thanks Kupchak daily for this trade. We got a starter and a solid backup for an injury prone guy who couldn't beat out Keith Bogans for a spot.

Well than it worked out for both teams.

Obviously I'm concerned about Ariza's injury, but man he was a great pick up for this team. Kupchak actually said Ariza was a guy who he had his eye on for a while, and sure enough, he turned out to be a perfect fit in this system.

Cook and Evans were both expendable with the development of Bynum and the bench.

GTO · Post #51 » by **GTO** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 2:13 am

Neither... the real EOY is Daryl Morey.

LakerFanMan · Post #52 » by **LakerFanMan** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 2:45 am

My completely unbiased opinion says it's Kupchak.

GregB · Post #53 » by **GregB** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 3:03 am

It is definitely going to be ainge. I would love to take a sig bet with anyone who thinks otherwise though.

LakerFanMan · Post #54 » by **LakerFanMan** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 3:24 am

You wanna take this outside Greg?

stevenger · Post #55 » by **stevenger** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 3:38 am

Danny ainge will win it. If lakers can lead in wins Kupchack can win it.

A.J. · Post #56 » by **A.J.** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 4:02 am

Morey ftw

but seriously, out of those 2 i would have to say, Ainge

Cevap · Post #57 » by **Cevap** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 4:10 am

shrink wrote:Buss deserves more credit than Kupchek for the Gasol trade, since he was willing to pay double and stay in the lux, when 25-of-30 owners try to stay under the lux.

Kind of like giving Joe Torre awards when George Steinbrenner buys you a team.

yeah, we all know ainge somehow got KG (bwahahah) to sign for less so that boston can get under the lux tax. Kupchak couldn't do it.