Who is the greatest NBA general manager of all time?

Answer 1

Red Auerbach.

Auerbach spent the first three seasons of his pro career with the Washington Capitols before moving on to the Tri-Cities Hawks for one campaign. At this point, Walter Brown, who owned the struggling Boston Celtics, appointed Auerbach as the man to lead the squad into what would ultimately become the greatest franchise in pro basketball annals.

Auerbach carefully crafted a competitive team, and his moves culminated with an April 29, 1956 transaction that sent Ed Macauley and Cliff Hagan to St. Louis for the Hawks' first-round pick; with that selection, the Celtics chose Bill Russell. This blockbuster trade would spur the Celtics into the most dominant franchise in pro basketball history and helped spawn the legend that is Auerbach and the Celtics. From 1950-1966, Auerbach coached the Celtics to nine world titles, including eight in succession from 1959-1966. His incredible record was 938-479 (.662) in regular-season play and an equally impressive 99-69 (.589) in post-season encounters. Prior to the 1966-67 season, the "coach" removed himself from the bench in order to concentrate on his duties as General Manager, and appointed Bill Russell as player-coach.

With Red's guidance and knowledge, the Celtics continued to win. In 1968 and 1969, the Celtics added two more titles. After a down period in the early 1970s, Auerbach restructured the team, adding key personnel through trades and the draft, and ultimately raised banners in 1974 and 1976. It was the subsequent years that would provide Auerbach with his biggest challenge, as the late '70s proved to be a dismal period for the Celtics. Yet Auerbach once again saved the franchise with the shrewd selection of Larry Bird in the 1978 draft. Although he would have to wait a year before Bird could play in the NBA, Auerbach sensed that the Indiana native was the man to rejuvenate the proud organization. Five other teams had a shot at Bird, but all passed.

In 1981, Boston became the NBA champions again as Auerbach orchestrated another amazing trade, this time dealing the first and 13th picks in the 1981 draft to Golden State for Robert Parish and the third overall pick (Kevin McHale). Boston added two more titles in 1984 and 1986 thanks to the master's keen additions of Danny Ainge, Dennis Johnson, Bill Walton, and others.

The only other GM who even comes close is Jerry West.

West became general manager of the Lakers in 1982, helping to build their dynasty in the 1980s.

West was named the NBA Executive of the Year for 1995 after the Lakers posted their best record in four seasons.

He was also at the forefront of rebuilding the Lakers into championship shape by adding Shaquile O'Neal as a free agent and trading for Kobe Bryant. Those two players formed the nucleus of three consecutive championship teams beginning with capturing the 2000 NBA Finals.

Answer 2

Red Auerbach. He had a .662 career win percentage, and won 9 NBA Championships (including 8 in a row). Then he became general manager, and pulled off some of the greatest moves of all time.

1978: Drafted Larry Bird as a "junior eligible". Bird wouldn't be able to play for a year but Auerbach drafted him anyway. The rule has been amended to prevent teams from drafting 7th graders.

1980: Made the greatest trade of all-time, bar none. Auerbach got two Hall of Famers, Robert Parrish and the draft rights to Kevin McHale for Joe Barry Carroll and Rickey Brown. Any time you get two Hall of Famers in a trade, I don't care what you give up.

1986: Auerbach drafted Len Bias, who had the potential to be one of the best players of all-time. Sadly, Bias died of a cocaine overdose. Keep in mind the Celtics had just won the NBA Championship for a 16th time, and some (like myself) consider the 1985-86 Celtics team to be the best team ever. The Celtics haven't even been to the Finals since. Can't blame Auerbach.

Answer 3

You gotta go with Red Auerbach of the Boston Celtics. They won too many championships back in the days and Red played an major role in bringing in the great players ( Bill Russell, Robert Parish, Kevin McHale, Larry Bird, etc) to make it work.

Answer 4

it is not him. its the gamers that he drafted. they're all proficient, yet they don't seem to be mentally waiting for the nba. Take Adam Morrison, to illustrate. He grow to be a brilliant action picture star at Gonzaga, and any gm could have taken him in the event that they had the bobcat's %. interior the draft. MJ has merely gotten fairly unlucky with who he's picking. the two that, or the undeniable fact that he's drafting in accordance with their college information, not on their mentality and artwork ethic, and issues like that. to illustrate, interior the draft classification of ninety six, while Kobe grow to be interior the draft, he had the final numbers of all of us getting into the draft, alongside with allen iverson. yet he wasn't picked first because of the fact he grow to be too youthful and the fighters he had performed against have been all smaller than him, because of the fact he grow to be in intense college. for this reason, he grow to be drafted thirteenth, and rightfully so. He purely averaged 7 factors a recreation in his 1st season. yet he have been given extra suitable, human beings like morrison did not.....

Answer 5

Jerry West. Showtime in the 80's plus the Shaq-Kobe years. Look at how the Lakers have detiorated after he left.

Answer 6

Red Aurbach of the Boston Cletics.

Just look at all the great teams he put together and the number of championships they won.

Answer 7

donny walsh...indiana pacers.

kept reggie miller on the time his entire career, always makes good draft decisions, and has dealt with player issues (artest, stephen jackson) in a timely and fan friendly manner.

Answer 8

Auerbach.

Current best one is Joe Dumars.

Answer 9

brian colangelo