Top 10 GMs of 2000-2009

[Andrew]

Yes, another top ten.

1. R.C. Buford, Spurs
2. Joe Dumars, Pistons
3. Donnie Nelson, Mavericks
4. Danny Ainge, Celtics
5. Otis Smith, Magic
6. Mitch Kupchak, Lakers
7. Kevin Pritchard, Blazers
8. Pat Riley, Heat
9. Mark Warkentien, Nuggets
10. Daryl Morey, Rockets

I think #1 is spot on. In the comments, people are arguing for Kupchak to be first or second but I think it's fair enough to rank him lower; a lot of Lakers fans were calling for his head before Memphis came along and handed them Pau Gasol. Only a fool would've passed up such a steal (which seems a good time to bring up the rumoured swap with Chicago involving Joakim Noah that Pax apparently turned down as he wanted to move Tyrus Thomas instead). Utah's Kevin O'Connor is a notable snub though.

[Modifly]

Good to see that Morey made the list.

[Null17]

I think Dumar has nullified whatever he has done to make that championship team a while to by doing all the crappy moves he's done lately. So I think he should be ranked lower.

[benji]

R.C. is in another class, but the Spurs entire organization is as well. Joe D despite his failures recently is just epic, he set out to win a title and did it in like two years and nailed everything along the way. That's why they were The Perfect Team.

That said. Otis Smith? Really? As noted the GM before him built the core of the team, and did it while dumping McGrady for nothing basically.

I can't put Ainge on the list, the Wolves called him offering KG for Jefferson and scraps after he already had Pierce, Allen and Rondo.

At least Pritchard and Presti knew to stockpile draft picks.

[jonthefon]

Fuckin' Donnie. The guy nearly picked Podkolzin at #5.

I think Nellie Snr. was calling the shots for a lot of the Mavs' moves until he left in '05.

[The X]

I'm waiting for "Worst 10 GMs of 2000-2009" just to see Andrew's reaction

[Andrew]

I'm interested to see if he'll adhere to a one entry per team rule on a top 10 worst GMs list or whether he'd put in Krause and Pax; perhaps they'll be jointly listed. I expect MJ will be on the list as well and Elgin Baylor's another standby that'll probably rank in there somewhere.

[Martti.]

No complaints with the list, Buford definitely number #1.