Here's an article from ESPN.com about NBA GMs. Actually it's not really an article at all. It's a ranking from #1 to #29 of GMs around the league. When I first saw the article, I didn't care who ESPN ranked at the top... I scrolled all the way to the bottom to see if Garry St. Jean was there at #29. I was surprised. Wes Unseld of the Wiz beat him out for the bottom spot. The thing is... I don't see why. He was able to pull off the trade for Stackhouse not too long ago. Sure, Stack'll probably be around for only a year... just like MJ, but at least they'll be interesting for this coming year. And besides, they'll unload a bunch of money for free agency the following year. Hughes, Stack, Russell/Jordan, Brown, Haywood. That's maybe a marginal playoff team... but then I think well, what do the Warriors have to show right now? Arenas/Welsch, Richardson, Dunleavy, Jamison, Dampier. Comparing the two, I'd have a hard time saying that I'd pick the Warriors. There's still no reason to put the words Warriors and playoffs together.
Somebody might argue... well that's not St. Jean's fault. Anyone who says that hasn't been watching Warriors basketball. A few words to explain. Exhibit A: Mookie Blaylock. Picked up Mookie instead of drafting Jason Terry because at the time St Jean was quoted as saying something like "We have the chance to win today... not the future." Always the optimist. Always the optimist beyond reason.
Exhibit B: Antawn Jamison. He's a good player. But the max contract? Is really a franchise player? I don't think so. Very few people think so. Shaq, KG. Jamison? I don't think so.
Exhibit C: Marc Jackson. The Warriors finally accidentally stumbled upon a quality center. And he leaves. In return the Warriors get Dean Garrett. Enough said.
And that's just recent history!
Finally, here's a quote from St. Jean I found... he made this not too long ago! "We don't have Jason Kidd, but look what happened with New Jersey. They turned it around in one year. I look at other teams that have made 10- and 15-win jumps. That's not out of the picture for us." Do I have to say anything to that? I didn't think so. But suppose, the impossible happens and the Warriors make a "15 win jump." Last I checked, the Warriors finished with 21 wins last year. That brings the Warriors to 36 wins. Still not playoffs! Especially in the West.
So, forget trading players and signing free agents, hiring and firing coaches. The Warriors need a revamping of the front office. The Griz had the right idea.