I've always thought that there were some geniuses for General Managers in the NBA. Jerry West may probably be the most lauded of them all. How he turned the Los Angeles Lakers into a power is the stuff of legend. He had a modicum of success in Memphis but Mr. Clutch is still the standard for GMs.Jerry Colangelo is another. How he turned around the Phoenix Suns after that drug scandal is a masterstroke that changed the franchise for the next couple of decades. The Valley of the Sun became a desirable destination for free agents with the professional atmosphere cultivated by Colangelo, and coaches Cotton Fitzsimmons and Paul Westphal? Who would have thought that unlikely cast-offs Kevin Johnson, Dan Majerle, Tom Chambers, Mark West, Richard Dumas, and Charles Barkley would turn the team into a contender?
One can make a case for the much-maligned former Chicago Bulls' GM Jerry Krause (have you noticed that they're all named Jerry) after all he not only surrounded Michael Jordan with great talent but he brought in quite a few serviceable players in the post-championship era.
But another oft overlook GM is Donnie Walsh. He too turned the Indiana Pacers around and his longevity with the club gave it legitimacy, consistency, and good basketball sense. Until the Malice at the Palace. He also gave a couple of novice coaches their first jobs... Isiah Thomas and Larry Bird. It's hard to believe that Thomas was pretty good early on but bombed out in the end in a devastating way with the New York Knicks.
The word is now that former Knicks Rookie of the Year Mark "Action" Jackson is a strong favorite for next season's coach. Walsh must see something good in Jackson who was also his player in Indiana and who later played for the Toronto Raptors.
In other news, word is from the Windy City that Rick Carlisle might be the next Bulls' coach. Er, his style is very much like the recently deposed Scott Skiles. What are you thinking, Johnny Pax? Bring Manu Ginobili over from San Antonio if you must. He could be the next coming of (his idol) Michael Jordan over there.
One can make a case for the much-maligned former Chicago Bulls' GM Jerry Krause (have you noticed that they're all named Jerry) after all he not only surrounded Michael Jordan with great talent but he brought in quite a few serviceable players in the post-championship era.
But another oft overlook GM is Donnie Walsh. He too turned the Indiana Pacers around and his longevity with the club gave it legitimacy, consistency, and good basketball sense. Until the Malice at the Palace. He also gave a couple of novice coaches their first jobs... Isiah Thomas and Larry Bird. It's hard to believe that Thomas was pretty good early on but bombed out in the end in a devastating way with the New York Knicks.
The word is now that former Knicks Rookie of the Year Mark "Action" Jackson is a strong favorite for next season's coach. Walsh must see something good in Jackson who was also his player in Indiana and who later played for the Toronto Raptors.
In other news, word is from the Windy City that Rick Carlisle might be the next Bulls' coach. Er, his style is very much like the recently deposed Scott Skiles. What are you thinking, Johnny Pax? Bring Manu Ginobili over from San Antonio if you must. He could be the next coming of (his idol) Michael Jordan over there.
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