While this may be premature (Vlade may be setting himself up for this award NEXT year in an effort to save his job), there is no doubt that he has been one of the more ACTIVE General Managers.
Of course, there is no way he gets even a few votes this year, but just by dint of his activity, you would think that he should at least be in the CONVERSATION.
The runaway winner is likely Kevin Pritchard for what he has done in Indiana, but Dell Demps may get some votes.
Pritchard:
His hand forced by Paul George (who lowered his trade value by announcing that he would be in LA in 2018-19), he still managed to acquire two gems for him.
1) Kehinde Babatunde Victor Oladipo: Likely unanimous winner for Most Improved Player. Signed him for next four years at $21 mil per year - the end of that contract may look like one of the best bargains in the NBA.
2_ Domantos Sabonis: would be a starter on most other teams (who filled in as starting center when Myles Turner missed a month, despite really being a PF), He will get votes for sixth man of the year and could even win it.
Made two key free agent acquisitions.
1) Darren Collison (and at a reduced length and rate - 2yrs/20 mil)
2) The bigger (and possibly better) Bogdonovich (Bojan languished on the market - i have no idea why - 2yrs/21 mil).
Brought Lance Stephenson back from the dead
Actually signed Stephenson to a 10 day last year, but inked him to a two year deal in March 2017 (2 yrs/9 mil). And all Lance has done is played in every Pacers game averaging 22.7 minutes off the bench, 9.3ppg and an astounding 5.0rpg!
Traded for/stole Cory Joseph, who was stuck behind Kyle Lowry in Toronto for two years (8.5, 9.3ppg) after four years stuck behind Parker/Mills on Spurs. Got him for a Euro who will never see an NBA game unless he buys a ticket.. That is picking the bones of two good franchises. Signed him to reasonable deal (2yrs/15 mil) and for awhile, it looked like he was taking Collison's job (80 gms/17 starts). Heir apparent or solid backup with 71 games of playoff experience (13.6mpg)
Pritchard did all this without burdening the team with long term contracts or overpaying (benefited by inheriting last three years of Sabonis' rookie contract). That should count.
Drafted PF T.J. Leaf (UCLA) who has hardly played (8mpg), but is positioned to be phased in as Thaddeus Young is phased out (Young turns 30 next month). Leaf only needed one week in the G-League, which says something. Like Sabonis The Elder, his dad played many years overseas and has also been a long time coach, so, T.J. The Lesser looks like a solid pick at #18.
Also drafted C Ike Anigbogu from UCLA (2nd round/#47) who has been mostly in the D-League - fate unknown.
Waivers: Picked up Trevor The Elder aka Trevor The Lesser Booker from Philly and he actually has produced good numbers - 15 games, 15.4mpg, 5ppg, 4.5 rpg!. Per 36, that would be 12ppg/10.4rpg!). 76ers paying off the $9.1 mil - bargain shopping. If this gives him the inside track to Devin (can you believe he was the FOURTH Kentucky player drafted - #13 - in 2015? Willie was second at #6), then "what a brilliant move".
Overcame long injury to Glenn Robinson 111 (21 games/13mpg), who was being penciled in as 6th man before season.
Only failing: couldn't unload last 1+ years of Al "Oh, My Aching Knees"Jefferson's contract.
also on the roster is Mighty Joe Young, obviously separated at birth from Buddy Hield, but he was drafted in 2015 (Round 2 pick #43), so, doesn't count towards winning the award.
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/y/youngjo01.html
same with Myles Turner (2015 Round 1 #11) who seems to be developing way faster than Willie.
Important Factor: Vegas over/under line for wins in 2017-18 was 31 1/2 (Kings were 28 1/2). Pacers currently sitting on 48 wins with 1 game left, after clinching 5th seed (next up - Cavs). Just mail Pritchard the award now.
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Demps:
Dell Demps MIGHT have something to say about that.
Free Agents:
Signed Rajon Rondo as free agent when no one else was going to. Rondo was injured early but has really stepped it up since Cousins season ending injury. Smart move by Demps because Rondo was coming off 1 year-14 mil monstrosity of a contract in Chicago and collected a 3 mil buyout, so Demps got him for 1 year at 3.3 mil. Sure enough, visions of yet another "contract year" may result in even more NBA time for the 32 year old Rajon.
Signed Ian Clark (former Warrior) - bargain at 1 year/1.5 mil has played 19.1mpg averaging 7.3ppg, which is double his first year with Warriors and half a point higher than his second. Smart signing for a playoff team (32 playoff games/13.7mpg with Puds), which no one but Demps thought they would be.
Took huge gamble by signing Jrue Holiday (Holiday The Younger) to monstrosity of a 4 year contract (105 mil!!!). However, even though it seems like he has been around forever (he was younger when drafted by Philly than Fox was when drafted by Kings), he is actually about to turn only 28 and will be barely exiting his prime when the contract expires. Considering just this year's production, good signing.19.1ppg, .491sp, 5.9 assists (higher because Rondo missed time) and an excellent 4.5rpg.
Demps was active, as the roster this season totals 23 (Pacers used 20) - when Rondo went down, he signed Jameer Nelson (for nothing - Denver paying then waiving), and Nelson was effective for the Pelicans, coaxing one more year out of his career. When Rondo returned, Dell packaged Nelson with Tony Allen (and even managed to unload the horrid Omar Asik in the trade - which may be why Demps had to include a #1 that could have even become just two number twos if they failed to make the playoffs - it is "protected" for years and years, but this draft only top 5 protected, so, likely goes to Chicago) for his grandest move, that which gets him in the competition:
Trading for Nikola Mirotic - WHAT a move (who knew?). Chicago basically HAD to let him go (after the Portis fight) and there was Demps when Cousins went down. And the Pels got BETTER. In 28 games, mostly as a sixth man in New Orleans (9 starts), he is averaging 14.1ppg/7.7rpg, but in his last three games (going in reverse order), all as a starter, with the playoffs on the line, Mirotic has scored 28 (in a win in Oakland on a back to back against the rested Warriors), 31 in a win in Phoenix and 25 in a home win against Memphis. If it wasn't for Anthony Davis, he would be Player of the Week.
Obtaining Mirotic alone gets Demps into the conversation (and I wish I knew if Vlade even faked an attempt to obtain either Mirotic or the Better Bogdonovich - isn't "knowing European Players" one of his few strengths?) but there is actually more:
When nobody else even knew that Emeka Okafor was still ALIVE (at 35, having not played in the NBA for the last four seasons), Demps signed him to a couple of 10 days in February (again, replacing Cousins by committee) and then signed him for the rest of the year for the minimum and has gotten something out of him (25 games/13.9mpg, 4.4ppg but 4.7rpg - 11.5ppg/12.2rpg at 36 minutes).
Drawbacks:
1) Has stuck with Alexis Anjica (7 foot center) for too long, but that does count against this year, since he signed him to a four year contract in 2015.
2) He actually brought in Josh Smith for 3 games (12 minutes of desperation time) before coming to his senses
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vlade:
This has gone on longer than I expected, so I will only comment briefly on Vlad The Enabler. I was against the signing of Zach after his lame excuses last summer ("I Wuz Framed") because it both went against the "culture" statement and it looked dicey on the risk/reward scale to put him around a bunch of youngsters learning the do's and don'ts of the nba - it kind of felt like hiring Dock Ellis as a pitching coach. At the time, I did a good deal of research and the best description I heard of Z-Blunt was "he's a great guy if you get him alone, but if you see him with his posse, all bets are off". To Vlade's credit (or just luck?) there have been no issues, although every time Randolph goes missing (like now), I wonder what's up. And, there are many games we would not have even been IN without him. Plus, the kids seem to like him, hopefully not because he's buying for them until they turn 21.
Bogi: Trading down and wasting a pick on Papagiannis looks like a net plus, given that Chriss has hardly set the world on fire. And there is Skal, (if Marvin Webster was "The Human Eraser", then Skal is "The Human Question Mark") who we got from that trade, but this is an annual award so the trade doesn't count, but the signing (Bogi) DOES - he gets credit there.
But missing on BOTH Mitchell and Kuzma pretty much knocks him out of the conversation - if he drafts BOTH (AND signs Bogi or even BOTH Bogeys), he wins this award (maybe).
The Cousins trade doesn't count because this is an annual award, but I give him credit for sticking with Buddy. The Giles move (holding him out) may be a set-up for next year. If Giles wins Rookie of the Year in 2019, Vlade gets a new contract. If he flops, one "Killer V"'is gone.
Fox and Jackson can't really be judged yet, by which I mean you really can't give Vlade a plus OR minus for drafting them or trading down, but I give Divac credit for (finally) bringing in some good veterans (and I hope he manages to keep Koufos and Temple, but they don't count for this year either - if had extended them midseason, that would have been a plus in this competition).
The Kings have won just about what Vegas predicted, but to be fair, three of those home wins were "gifts" based on referee mistakes and some were from opposition tanking.
Give him some credit for establishing "stability" in coaching.
I think more of Willie and less of Skal than most people, but I give him credit for not jettisoning them prematurely.
Cutting Papa midseason simply makes no sense at all - a nonsensical move.
Although I gave him points for bringing in George Hill, it appears that for whatever reason, they had a failure to communicate and that particular trade looks like it was made from a position of weakness. Certainly no "trade plus" there. And trying to sneak Papa into the deal is a minus (lowers the authenticity of the franchise).
I still don't understand keeping and then trading Malachai - make up your freaking mind. Bruno gets only an incomplete.
But overall, he has remade the roster and there is a"chance" that it will succeed and points for"being active" without surrendering.
That does not compare to Pritchard and Demps, but do any of you think that Vlade deserves to at least be in the conversation, even if just as an afterthought for Executive of the Year?
Of course, there is no way he gets even a few votes this year, but just by dint of his activity, you would think that he should at least be in the CONVERSATION.
The runaway winner is likely Kevin Pritchard for what he has done in Indiana, but Dell Demps may get some votes.
Pritchard:
His hand forced by Paul George (who lowered his trade value by announcing that he would be in LA in 2018-19), he still managed to acquire two gems for him.
1) Kehinde Babatunde Victor Oladipo: Likely unanimous winner for Most Improved Player. Signed him for next four years at $21 mil per year - the end of that contract may look like one of the best bargains in the NBA.
2_ Domantos Sabonis: would be a starter on most other teams (who filled in as starting center when Myles Turner missed a month, despite really being a PF), He will get votes for sixth man of the year and could even win it.
Made two key free agent acquisitions.
1) Darren Collison (and at a reduced length and rate - 2yrs/20 mil)
2) The bigger (and possibly better) Bogdonovich (Bojan languished on the market - i have no idea why - 2yrs/21 mil).
Brought Lance Stephenson back from the dead
Actually signed Stephenson to a 10 day last year, but inked him to a two year deal in March 2017 (2 yrs/9 mil). And all Lance has done is played in every Pacers game averaging 22.7 minutes off the bench, 9.3ppg and an astounding 5.0rpg!
Traded for/stole Cory Joseph, who was stuck behind Kyle Lowry in Toronto for two years (8.5, 9.3ppg) after four years stuck behind Parker/Mills on Spurs. Got him for a Euro who will never see an NBA game unless he buys a ticket.. That is picking the bones of two good franchises. Signed him to reasonable deal (2yrs/15 mil) and for awhile, it looked like he was taking Collison's job (80 gms/17 starts). Heir apparent or solid backup with 71 games of playoff experience (13.6mpg)
Pritchard did all this without burdening the team with long term contracts or overpaying (benefited by inheriting last three years of Sabonis' rookie contract). That should count.
Drafted PF T.J. Leaf (UCLA) who has hardly played (8mpg), but is positioned to be phased in as Thaddeus Young is phased out (Young turns 30 next month). Leaf only needed one week in the G-League, which says something. Like Sabonis The Elder, his dad played many years overseas and has also been a long time coach, so, T.J. The Lesser looks like a solid pick at #18.
Also drafted C Ike Anigbogu from UCLA (2nd round/#47) who has been mostly in the D-League - fate unknown.
Waivers: Picked up Trevor The Elder aka Trevor The Lesser Booker from Philly and he actually has produced good numbers - 15 games, 15.4mpg, 5ppg, 4.5 rpg!. Per 36, that would be 12ppg/10.4rpg!). 76ers paying off the $9.1 mil - bargain shopping. If this gives him the inside track to Devin (can you believe he was the FOURTH Kentucky player drafted - #13 - in 2015? Willie was second at #6), then "what a brilliant move".
Overcame long injury to Glenn Robinson 111 (21 games/13mpg), who was being penciled in as 6th man before season.
Only failing: couldn't unload last 1+ years of Al "Oh, My Aching Knees"Jefferson's contract.
also on the roster is Mighty Joe Young, obviously separated at birth from Buddy Hield, but he was drafted in 2015 (Round 2 pick #43), so, doesn't count towards winning the award.
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/y/youngjo01.html
same with Myles Turner (2015 Round 1 #11) who seems to be developing way faster than Willie.
Important Factor: Vegas over/under line for wins in 2017-18 was 31 1/2 (Kings were 28 1/2). Pacers currently sitting on 48 wins with 1 game left, after clinching 5th seed (next up - Cavs). Just mail Pritchard the award now.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Demps:
Dell Demps MIGHT have something to say about that.
Free Agents:
Signed Rajon Rondo as free agent when no one else was going to. Rondo was injured early but has really stepped it up since Cousins season ending injury. Smart move by Demps because Rondo was coming off 1 year-14 mil monstrosity of a contract in Chicago and collected a 3 mil buyout, so Demps got him for 1 year at 3.3 mil. Sure enough, visions of yet another "contract year" may result in even more NBA time for the 32 year old Rajon.
Signed Ian Clark (former Warrior) - bargain at 1 year/1.5 mil has played 19.1mpg averaging 7.3ppg, which is double his first year with Warriors and half a point higher than his second. Smart signing for a playoff team (32 playoff games/13.7mpg with Puds), which no one but Demps thought they would be.
Took huge gamble by signing Jrue Holiday (Holiday The Younger) to monstrosity of a 4 year contract (105 mil!!!). However, even though it seems like he has been around forever (he was younger when drafted by Philly than Fox was when drafted by Kings), he is actually about to turn only 28 and will be barely exiting his prime when the contract expires. Considering just this year's production, good signing.19.1ppg, .491sp, 5.9 assists (higher because Rondo missed time) and an excellent 4.5rpg.
Demps was active, as the roster this season totals 23 (Pacers used 20) - when Rondo went down, he signed Jameer Nelson (for nothing - Denver paying then waiving), and Nelson was effective for the Pelicans, coaxing one more year out of his career. When Rondo returned, Dell packaged Nelson with Tony Allen (and even managed to unload the horrid Omar Asik in the trade - which may be why Demps had to include a #1 that could have even become just two number twos if they failed to make the playoffs - it is "protected" for years and years, but this draft only top 5 protected, so, likely goes to Chicago) for his grandest move, that which gets him in the competition:
Trading for Nikola Mirotic - WHAT a move (who knew?). Chicago basically HAD to let him go (after the Portis fight) and there was Demps when Cousins went down. And the Pels got BETTER. In 28 games, mostly as a sixth man in New Orleans (9 starts), he is averaging 14.1ppg/7.7rpg, but in his last three games (going in reverse order), all as a starter, with the playoffs on the line, Mirotic has scored 28 (in a win in Oakland on a back to back against the rested Warriors), 31 in a win in Phoenix and 25 in a home win against Memphis. If it wasn't for Anthony Davis, he would be Player of the Week.
Obtaining Mirotic alone gets Demps into the conversation (and I wish I knew if Vlade even faked an attempt to obtain either Mirotic or the Better Bogdonovich - isn't "knowing European Players" one of his few strengths?) but there is actually more:
When nobody else even knew that Emeka Okafor was still ALIVE (at 35, having not played in the NBA for the last four seasons), Demps signed him to a couple of 10 days in February (again, replacing Cousins by committee) and then signed him for the rest of the year for the minimum and has gotten something out of him (25 games/13.9mpg, 4.4ppg but 4.7rpg - 11.5ppg/12.2rpg at 36 minutes).
Drawbacks:
1) Has stuck with Alexis Anjica (7 foot center) for too long, but that does count against this year, since he signed him to a four year contract in 2015.
2) He actually brought in Josh Smith for 3 games (12 minutes of desperation time) before coming to his senses
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vlade:
This has gone on longer than I expected, so I will only comment briefly on Vlad The Enabler. I was against the signing of Zach after his lame excuses last summer ("I Wuz Framed") because it both went against the "culture" statement and it looked dicey on the risk/reward scale to put him around a bunch of youngsters learning the do's and don'ts of the nba - it kind of felt like hiring Dock Ellis as a pitching coach. At the time, I did a good deal of research and the best description I heard of Z-Blunt was "he's a great guy if you get him alone, but if you see him with his posse, all bets are off". To Vlade's credit (or just luck?) there have been no issues, although every time Randolph goes missing (like now), I wonder what's up. And, there are many games we would not have even been IN without him. Plus, the kids seem to like him, hopefully not because he's buying for them until they turn 21.
Bogi: Trading down and wasting a pick on Papagiannis looks like a net plus, given that Chriss has hardly set the world on fire. And there is Skal, (if Marvin Webster was "The Human Eraser", then Skal is "The Human Question Mark") who we got from that trade, but this is an annual award so the trade doesn't count, but the signing (Bogi) DOES - he gets credit there.
But missing on BOTH Mitchell and Kuzma pretty much knocks him out of the conversation - if he drafts BOTH (AND signs Bogi or even BOTH Bogeys), he wins this award (maybe).
The Cousins trade doesn't count because this is an annual award, but I give him credit for sticking with Buddy. The Giles move (holding him out) may be a set-up for next year. If Giles wins Rookie of the Year in 2019, Vlade gets a new contract. If he flops, one "Killer V"'is gone.
Fox and Jackson can't really be judged yet, by which I mean you really can't give Vlade a plus OR minus for drafting them or trading down, but I give Divac credit for (finally) bringing in some good veterans (and I hope he manages to keep Koufos and Temple, but they don't count for this year either - if had extended them midseason, that would have been a plus in this competition).
The Kings have won just about what Vegas predicted, but to be fair, three of those home wins were "gifts" based on referee mistakes and some were from opposition tanking.
Give him some credit for establishing "stability" in coaching.
I think more of Willie and less of Skal than most people, but I give him credit for not jettisoning them prematurely.
Cutting Papa midseason simply makes no sense at all - a nonsensical move.
Although I gave him points for bringing in George Hill, it appears that for whatever reason, they had a failure to communicate and that particular trade looks like it was made from a position of weakness. Certainly no "trade plus" there. And trying to sneak Papa into the deal is a minus (lowers the authenticity of the franchise).
I still don't understand keeping and then trading Malachai - make up your freaking mind. Bruno gets only an incomplete.
But overall, he has remade the roster and there is a"chance" that it will succeed and points for"being active" without surrendering.
That does not compare to Pritchard and Demps, but do any of you think that Vlade deserves to at least be in the conversation, even if just as an afterthought for Executive of the Year?
