NBA has a dumb G.M. problem
Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2025 10:05 pm
Watching the press conference Dumars (and Queen sadly) had to address the backlash over the Queen trade and it's clear Joe Dumars isn't the only idiot in this situation. First though, it really sucks for Queen receiving the amount of scrutiny and expectations this awful trade has put on his plate. He doesn't deserve having to address this. He just realized his dreams, is a good player and just wants to ball. Now he has an embarrassing soundbite out there and hasn't helped himself and this will be a major topic of conversation and talking point likely his whole career.
Basically the reason for this post is to talk about all the G.M.s that were also offered this trade but declined. Joe said during the press conference that he started offering this package to teams at 9 and kept asking until a team said yes. So the Raptors, Suns, Blazers, and Bulls. None of these teams should have passed on this deal. This is a fireable offense.
Raptors
The Raptors have a tough time getting FAs. They need to build through the draft or via trades. Yes, CMB is a fine young player and falling back to pick 23 is quite the leap. But CMB is a non-shooter that plays the 4/5. He, nor anyone else was going to change the team's trajectory this season. There was a very good chance they would have been able to draft a 4/5 at 23. Obviously they couldn't have known who would still be on the board but it's not unreasonable to believe that one of: Newell, Fleming, Wolf, Konan-Niederhauser, Penda, Kalkbrenner and Raynaud would have been there. And getting an unprotected 2026 pick plus that player is world's better than just getting CMB.
Pelicans
It's not just the Queen trade. They laughably traded an expiring contract in McCollum for a worse player (though debatable) in Poole who has more years and a bad contract. Then knowing Poole is undersized and a poor defender they choose the even smaller Fears to be his backcourt mate. Then there's the Queen pick itself. He's an atrocious defender too. This team is going to be absolutely terrible on the defensive side of the ball and there's very little chance even if their oft-injured players stay healthy they'll be fighting for a play-in in the brutal Western Conference.
Suns
This is a tough one. Maluach has immense upside and I completely understand not wanting to move off the pick in a vacuum. However, they already knew Mark Williams was going to be their center. There would have been at least one of the players listed above still there at 23 and because they also had other needs, players like Clifford and Richardson who would have addressed needs to. This would have been an easy way for the Suns to recoup an additional and best asset from that KD trade.
Trailblazers
They did end up trading back with the Grizzlies to the 16th pick. And word is, the Nets would and someone else had Yang in their sites and would have taken him so trading back with the Grizzlies would have allowed them to still get Yang and pick up a 2028 (and 2nds) from the Magic. But listen, they literally just drafted Clingan last year to be their center of the future. There would have been at least one of those players listed above still on the board that would actually compliment the current roster even better. Plus they get the much superior Pelicans unprotected 2026 1st than the Magic's 2028 1st.
Bulls
this makes the least amount of sense to me. This is a rebuilding team that needs assets. Essengue is a fine player with upside but he has major flaws and is a project. The drop off from him to the guys listed above is negligible if there even is one. Fleming could have gone 12 overall and not many would have batted an eye. So essentially the rebuilding Bulls turned down an unprotected 1st in next year's loaded draft, in the middle of a rebuild/reset, for Essengue. Just baffling stuff.
Each of these owners, upon learning they were made this offer need to call these G.M.s into their offices and tell them that if the player they chose doesn't prove beyond a shadow of a doubt to be special and the Pelicans pick in a top 10 pick in a loaded draft, they're getting fired. Put them on notice. This is inexcusable.
The questionable draft day decisions aren't isolated to the Pelicans trade. We got the Hornets taking a role player over legit #1 options, we got the Wolves who are trying to compete repeating the same mistake they made last year by taking raw prospects that are unlikely to help them. They even doubled down and took two centers which is baffling since they still have Gobert and Reid. Brad Stevens continuing to be a bad drafter. The Bucks drafting BPA and rumored to be a draft and stash (could change though) when they need immediate help to appease Giannis. The Bulls inexplicably trading Lonzo to the Cavs for Okoro. I'm sure we're goign to see more examples in the coming days as FA arrives in full swing. It's not good for the game.
Basically the reason for this post is to talk about all the G.M.s that were also offered this trade but declined. Joe said during the press conference that he started offering this package to teams at 9 and kept asking until a team said yes. So the Raptors, Suns, Blazers, and Bulls. None of these teams should have passed on this deal. This is a fireable offense.
Raptors
The Raptors have a tough time getting FAs. They need to build through the draft or via trades. Yes, CMB is a fine young player and falling back to pick 23 is quite the leap. But CMB is a non-shooter that plays the 4/5. He, nor anyone else was going to change the team's trajectory this season. There was a very good chance they would have been able to draft a 4/5 at 23. Obviously they couldn't have known who would still be on the board but it's not unreasonable to believe that one of: Newell, Fleming, Wolf, Konan-Niederhauser, Penda, Kalkbrenner and Raynaud would have been there. And getting an unprotected 2026 pick plus that player is world's better than just getting CMB.
Pelicans
It's not just the Queen trade. They laughably traded an expiring contract in McCollum for a worse player (though debatable) in Poole who has more years and a bad contract. Then knowing Poole is undersized and a poor defender they choose the even smaller Fears to be his backcourt mate. Then there's the Queen pick itself. He's an atrocious defender too. This team is going to be absolutely terrible on the defensive side of the ball and there's very little chance even if their oft-injured players stay healthy they'll be fighting for a play-in in the brutal Western Conference.
Suns
This is a tough one. Maluach has immense upside and I completely understand not wanting to move off the pick in a vacuum. However, they already knew Mark Williams was going to be their center. There would have been at least one of the players listed above still there at 23 and because they also had other needs, players like Clifford and Richardson who would have addressed needs to. This would have been an easy way for the Suns to recoup an additional and best asset from that KD trade.
Trailblazers
They did end up trading back with the Grizzlies to the 16th pick. And word is, the Nets would and someone else had Yang in their sites and would have taken him so trading back with the Grizzlies would have allowed them to still get Yang and pick up a 2028 (and 2nds) from the Magic. But listen, they literally just drafted Clingan last year to be their center of the future. There would have been at least one of those players listed above still on the board that would actually compliment the current roster even better. Plus they get the much superior Pelicans unprotected 2026 1st than the Magic's 2028 1st.
Bulls
this makes the least amount of sense to me. This is a rebuilding team that needs assets. Essengue is a fine player with upside but he has major flaws and is a project. The drop off from him to the guys listed above is negligible if there even is one. Fleming could have gone 12 overall and not many would have batted an eye. So essentially the rebuilding Bulls turned down an unprotected 1st in next year's loaded draft, in the middle of a rebuild/reset, for Essengue. Just baffling stuff.
Each of these owners, upon learning they were made this offer need to call these G.M.s into their offices and tell them that if the player they chose doesn't prove beyond a shadow of a doubt to be special and the Pelicans pick in a top 10 pick in a loaded draft, they're getting fired. Put them on notice. This is inexcusable.
The questionable draft day decisions aren't isolated to the Pelicans trade. We got the Hornets taking a role player over legit #1 options, we got the Wolves who are trying to compete repeating the same mistake they made last year by taking raw prospects that are unlikely to help them. They even doubled down and took two centers which is baffling since they still have Gobert and Reid. Brad Stevens continuing to be a bad drafter. The Bucks drafting BPA and rumored to be a draft and stash (could change though) when they need immediate help to appease Giannis. The Bulls inexplicably trading Lonzo to the Cavs for Okoro. I'm sure we're goign to see more examples in the coming days as FA arrives in full swing. It's not good for the game.
