While at NBA Summer League I canvassed 43 executives on a number of hot topics around the league. The anonymous poll was pretty revealing on how the league’s GMs, assistant GMs and coaches feel about things casual basketball fans and media members argue over every day. Since many of the questions were Raptors related, I didn’t include their staff in the survey.
Who is to blame for the DeAndre Jordan moratorium saga?
A) DeAndre Jordan (7)
B) His agent Dan Fegan (33)
C) Los Angeles Clippers (3)
In full disclosure, a few asked why the Mavericks were not an option or insinuated if they were that would be their answer. Since I didn’t offer it from the start, I didn’t include it as an option as it would have skewed the findings.
“I suppose everyone in the situation could be culpable including the Mavs, who led by Mark Cuban has middled in other teams’ business before. Bottom line is the agent is supposed to cut through all of the back talking and early recruiting, not encourage it. When you don’t have the player’s interest at heart you lose the player.”
Should the NBA alter the moratorium by…
A) Getting rid of it (15)
B) Shortening it (3)
C) No. Keep it the same (25)
“It’s not broken just because Twitter broke with intrigue. Sure, the rules of engagement could be tweaked but ultimately it protects the player’s ability to evaluate and protects the teams from being spread too thin, too soon.”
Who had the best NBA draft?
A) Minnesota (11)
B) Lakers (9)
C) Philadelphia (9)
D) Miami (9)
E) Utah (4)
F) San Antonio (1)
“When you get the best player you win the draft automatically, but the fact they got Jones who was a lottery player on most people’s boards makes it a no-brainer.”
Who has had the best off-season to date?
A) San Antonio (36)
B) Los Angeles (3)
C) Milwaukee (3)
D) New York (1)
“[The Spurs] were big winners in free agency getting the best unrestricted guy, the best bargain, and a rotation player in the draft.”
Who is a team on the rise that can make a quick ascension like Golden State?
A) Minnesota (12)
B) Utah (10)
C) Washington (7)
D) New Orleans (7)
E) Phoenix (7)
“If they stay healthy they might push for a playoff spot. Not over New Orleans or Pheonix but Dallas and Portland could fall off a cliff opening things up for Minnesota. With a taste of that experience they’d be a monster in the next 2 to 4 years.”
What was the Raptors’ biggest off-season move?
A) DeMarre Carroll (30)
B) Cory Joseph (8)
C) Jerry Stackhouse (5)
“They had gaping holes at the 3 and 4 and depending on what Casey wants to do he can fill both. He’s a culture setter which is what that room needs.”
What was the worst signing of the off-season?
A) Wes Matthews (15)
B) Rajon Rondo (8)
C) Paul Milsap (8)
D) DeMarre Carroll (5)
E) Dwyane Wade (4)
F) Cory Joseph (2)
G) DeAndre Jordan (1)
“I love Wes but he’s coming off an injury that is tough to return from at his age and got money few teams were willing to pay.”
What was the best signing of the off-season?
A) LaMarcus Aldridge (21)
B) Marc Gasol (17)
C) DeMarre Carrol (3)
D) DeAndre Jordan (1)
E) Robin Lopez (1)
“If his presence means Pop coaches longer which it sounds like it will that alone makes them better. With him and TD tied together it’s tough to plan your organization deep in the future. Now that’s not an issue. Yeah gain stability.”
Can Las Vegas support a NBA team?
A) Yes (39)
B) No (4)
“No question. This is a basketball town. It very well could be an NBA city before the NHL comes here.”
Who will be NBA rookie of the year?
A) Jahlil Okafor (16)
B) Karl-Anthony Towns (14)
C) D’Angelo Russell (12)
D) Bobby Portis (1)
“He’s the most ready to play which isn’t normally [76ers GM Sam Hinkie’s] MO. Out here in Vegas you could argue he’s been the best player, rookie or not. How many centres are going to be better than him in the East? Not many if any.”
Who will be NBA MVP?
1) LeBron James (30)
2) Steph Curry (7)
3) Anthony Davis (5)
4) Blake Griffin (1)
“He should have been the MVP of the Finals and of the league every year since his third year. No team wouldn’t move heaven and earth to have him.”