RealGM

Article from Ben Rohrbach of Yahoo Sports. They developed a fairly complex system (dubbed "Sabermetrics") to rank current NBA executives based on drafting, trades, free agent signings, strength of roster, etc. There is a ton of detail in the article as far as the methodology and the reasons for each ranking. So click the link for more info:

https://sports.yahoo.com/the-danny-ainge-system-using-sabermetrics-to-rate-every-nba-teams-top-executive-222824265.html

The ranking:
1. Danny Ainge, Boston Celtics (2003-2021) • Utah Jazz (2021-)
2. Masai Ujiri, Denver Nuggets (2010-13) • Toronto Raptors (2013-)
3. Brian Wright, San Antonio Spurs (2019-)
4. James Jones, Phoenix Suns (2018-)
5. Kevin Pritchard, Portland Trail Blazers (2007-10) • Indiana Pacers (2017-)
6. Pat Riley, Miami Heat (1995-)
7. Troy Weaver, Detroit Pistons (2020-)
8. Koby Altman, Cleveland Cavaliers (2017-)
9. Brad Stevens, Boston Celtics (2021-)
10. Tim Connelly, Denver Nuggets (2013-22) • Minnesota Timberwolves (2022-)
11. Zach Kleiman, Memphis Grizzlies (2019-)
12. David Griffin, Cleveland Cavaliers (2014-17) • New Orleans Pelicans (2019-)
13. Sam Presti, Oklahoma City Thunder (2007-)
14. Daryl Morey, Houston Rockets (2007-20) • Philadelphia 76ers (2020-)
15. Rob Pelinka, Los Angeles Lakers (2019-)
16. Monte McNair, Sacramento Kings (2020-)
17. Lawrence Frank, Los Angeles Clippers (2017-)
18. Rafael Stone, Houston Rockets (2020-)
19. Jon Horst, Milwaukee Bucks (2017-)
20. Sean Marks, Brooklyn Nets (2016-)
21. Jeff Weltman, Orlando Magic (2017-)
22. Leon Rose, New York Knicks (2020-)
23. Artūras Karnišovas, Chicago Bulls (2020-)
24. Mitch Kupchak, Los Angeles Lakers (2000-17) • Charlotte Hornets (2018-)
25. Nico Harrison, Dallas Mavericks (2021-)

(Sample sizes deemed too small for the metric to judge: Denver Nuggets general manager Calvin Booth, Portland Trail Blazers GM Joe Cronin, Atlanta Hawks GM Landry Fields, Washington Wizards team president Michael Winger and Golden State Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy Jr.)

There's a ton to read, so again, click the link for more info: https://sports.yahoo.com/the-danny-ainge-system-using-sabermetrics-to-rate-every-nba-teams-top-executive-222824265.html

What do we think, RGM friends of mine?

its a pretty good list, we can quibble about order for sure though.

Am I the only one who has never heard of Brian Wright? Or maybe I just don't remember him.

Probably a good thing, though. No scandals, no blown picks, no dumb interviews etc.

So like you get top 3 for just being bad and winning the lottery and being around just long enough for expectations to still be zero?

Yeah I don't think this works, most of these guys haven't been at their job very long and getting a high draft picks says nothing of your front office abilities.

Sorted out into specific categories:

Top 5 executives: Draft picks
(Minimum five transactions)
1. Tim Connelly, Denver Nuggets (2013-22) • Minnesota Timberwolves (2022-)
2. Zach Kleiman, Memphis Grizzlies (2019-)
3. Masai Ujiri, Denver Nuggets (2010-13) • Toronto Raptors (2013-)
4. Rafael Stone, Houston Rockets (2020-)
5. Sam Presti, Oklahoma City Thunder (2007-)

Top 5 executives: Trades
(Minimum five transactions)
1. Danny Ainge, Boston Celtics (2003-2021) • Utah Jazz (2021-)
2. Kevin Pritchard, Portland Trail Blazers (2007-10) • Indiana Pacers (2017-)
3. Masai Ujiri, Denver Nuggets (2010-13) • Toronto Raptors (2013-)
4. Pat Riley, Miami Heat (1995-)
5. Jon Horst, Milwaukee Bucks (2017-)

Top 5 executives: Free-agent signings
(Minimum five transactions)
1. James Jones, Phoenix Suns (2018-)
2. Rob Pelinka, Los Angeles Lakers (2019-)
3. Kevin Pritchard, Portland Trail Blazers (2007-10) • Indiana Pacers (2017-)
4. Pat Riley, Miami Heat (1995-)
5. Daryl Morey, Houston Rockets (2007-20) • Philadelphia 76ers (2020-)

Weaver over Presti makes no sense.

Also

https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/best-nba-record-since-2010

-Luke- wrote:Am I the only one who has never heard of Brian Wright? Or maybe I just don't remember him.

Probably a good thing, though. No scandals, no blown picks, no dumb interviews etc.

They have had blown picks, Primo and Samanic.

They have also gotten great returns for late players and have flexibility in the future and no bad contracts.

I am happy as a fan that they finally bottomed out and gave themselves a chance at the lottery and they were fortunate to get Wemby.

I have my doubts about him by the way, I think he has bust potential but if he is like even 60% of his hype he is a good foundation

bisme37 wrote:Sorted out into specific categories:

Top 5 executives: Draft picks
(Minimum five transactions)
1. Tim Connelly, Denver Nuggets (2013-22) • Minnesota Timberwolves (2022-)
2. Zach Kleiman, Memphis Grizzlies (2019-)
3. Masai Ujiri, Denver Nuggets (2010-13) • Toronto Raptors (2013-)
4. Rafael Stone, Houston Rockets (2020-)
5. Sam Presti, Oklahoma City Thunder (2007-)

Top 5 executives: Trades
(Minimum five transactions)
1. Danny Ainge, Boston Celtics (2003-2021) • Utah Jazz (2021-)
2. Kevin Pritchard, Portland Trail Blazers (2007-10) • Indiana Pacers (2017-)
3. Masai Ujiri, Denver Nuggets (2010-13) • Toronto Raptors (2013-)
4. Pat Riley, Miami Heat (1995-)
5. Jon Horst, Milwaukee Bucks (2017-)

Top 5 executives: Free-agent signings
(Minimum five transactions)
1. James Jones, Phoenix Suns (2018-)
2. Rob Pelinka, Los Angeles Lakers (2019-)
3. Kevin Pritchard, Portland Trail Blazers (2007-10) • Indiana Pacers (2017-)
4. Pat Riley, Miami Heat (1995-)
5. Daryl Morey, Houston Rockets (2007-20) • Philadelphia 76ers (2020-)

Boy putting Stone high in the drafting category… that relies on some subjective beliefs about picking Green and Jabari and let me just say I do not agree. The later picks I think have been pretty good though.

Blame Rasho wrote:

-Luke- wrote:Am I the only one who has never heard of Brian Wright? Or maybe I just don't remember him.

Probably a good thing, though. No scandals, no blown picks, no dumb interviews etc.

They have had blown picks, Primo and Samanic.

They have also gotten great returns for late players and have flexibility in the future and no bad contracts.

I am happy as a fan that they finally bottomed out and gave themselves a chance at the lottery and they were fortunate to get Wemby.

I have my doubts about him by the way, I think he has bust potential but if he is like even 60% of his hype he is a good foundation

no, the problem was primo was attempting to get blown

Sad part of that was likely the most that the Spurs were talked about last season until they won the lottery.

bisme37 wrote:Sorted out into specific categories:

Top 5 executives: Draft picks
(Minimum five transactions)
1. Tim Connelly, Denver Nuggets (2013-22) • Minnesota Timberwolves (2022-)
2. Zach Kleiman, Memphis Grizzlies (2019-)
3. Masai Ujiri, Denver Nuggets (2010-13) • Toronto Raptors (2013-)
4. Rafael Stone, Houston Rockets (2020-)
5. Sam Presti, Oklahoma City Thunder (2007-)

Top 5 executives: Trades
(Minimum five transactions)
1. Danny Ainge, Boston Celtics (2003-2021) • Utah Jazz (2021-)
2. Kevin Pritchard, Portland Trail Blazers (2007-10) • Indiana Pacers (2017-)
3. Masai Ujiri, Denver Nuggets (2010-13) • Toronto Raptors (2013-)
4. Pat Riley, Miami Heat (1995-)
5. Jon Horst, Milwaukee Bucks (2017-)

Top 5 executives: Free-agent signings
(Minimum five transactions)
1. James Jones, Phoenix Suns (2018-)
2. Rob Pelinka, Los Angeles Lakers (2019-)
3. Kevin Pritchard, Portland Trail Blazers (2007-10) • Indiana Pacers (2017-)
4. Pat Riley, Miami Heat (1995-)
5. Daryl Morey, Houston Rockets (2007-20) • Philadelphia 76ers (2020-)

Interestingly, Brian Wright (Spurs) is 3rd overall while not being top 5 in any of the sub-categories

MoneyTalks41890 wrote:

bisme37 wrote:Sorted out into specific categories:

Top 5 executives: Draft picks
(Minimum five transactions)
1. Tim Connelly, Denver Nuggets (2013-22) • Minnesota Timberwolves (2022-)
2. Zach Kleiman, Memphis Grizzlies (2019-)
3. Masai Ujiri, Denver Nuggets (2010-13) • Toronto Raptors (2013-)
4. Rafael Stone, Houston Rockets (2020-)
5. Sam Presti, Oklahoma City Thunder (2007-)

Top 5 executives: Trades
(Minimum five transactions)
1. Danny Ainge, Boston Celtics (2003-2021) • Utah Jazz (2021-)
2. Kevin Pritchard, Portland Trail Blazers (2007-10) • Indiana Pacers (2017-)
3. Masai Ujiri, Denver Nuggets (2010-13) • Toronto Raptors (2013-)
4. Pat Riley, Miami Heat (1995-)
5. Jon Horst, Milwaukee Bucks (2017-)

Top 5 executives: Free-agent signings
(Minimum five transactions)
1. James Jones, Phoenix Suns (2018-)
2. Rob Pelinka, Los Angeles Lakers (2019-)
3. Kevin Pritchard, Portland Trail Blazers (2007-10) • Indiana Pacers (2017-)
4. Pat Riley, Miami Heat (1995-)
5. Daryl Morey, Houston Rockets (2007-20) • Philadelphia 76ers (2020-)

Boy putting Stone high in the drafting category… that relies on some subjective beliefs about picking Green and Jabari and let me just say I do not agree. The later picks I think have been pretty good though.

Above Presti...
is Jones good at signing free agents? Hard to say, they are attracted by location and KD. Anyone good signed there as a FA when they sucked? And Pelinka, well...

It is helped that he has a short tenure as a GM and less to be judged on.

Masai is overrated

Masai Ujiri still riding that Kawhi trade.

Ckay wrote:Masai Ujiri still riding that Kawhi trade.

That, and the Bargnani trade, the JV trade, the Gay trade, the multiple first round / second round pick hits, the UDFA hits...

Masai was a top 3 executive even before 2019 my guy.

Current EOY ranked 16th.

Tier 1 is Riley / Stevens / Masai / Ainge and the spurs “GM”

The rest are all interchangeable

Presti should be higher even taking into account the Harden trade. Way too much success drafting and trading, not to mention all the winning despite being in arguably the worst market in the L.