Did the Suns make the right move naming Mike D'Antoni GM, as well as Coach?

[BC867]

Would the Suns be better served if they had a GM other than the Coach? As someone posted, Mike D'Antoni hasn't distinguished himself yet with trades.

A GM, of course, who would be compatible with the D'Antoni style of coaching.

Does Mike have the experience to handle those two major jobs together?

I am concerned that he (and Nash) having confidence in only seven players on the roster is going to do the Suns in by the playoffs.

What are your opinions?

 

[King A]

i think the suns are closely looking what players'a re available. tkate marvon ely for example, he could be available, so the suns are monitoring him. banks on the other hand, will be the subject of a trade, if the right deal comes along.
you currently don't need any major changes.
so far, big mistake of the D#Antoni GM ara is signing Banks, which nobody can deny anymore was a majaor or at least a big mistake.

 

[zett]

What are your opinions?

My opinion is, if it,s not broke, don't fix it!
I think he's more than competent to know the type of players he want's.

I'm sure if there is a way of improving our team, and it's not going to morgage the future, He will get it done.

 

[devilalum]

My opinion is, if it,s not broke, don't fix it!
I think he's more than competent to know the type of players he want's.

I'm sure if there is a way of improving our team, and it's not going to morgage the future, He will get it done.

Exactly, when you've got the second best record in the league and are on a 12 game winning streak you sit back and wait for the other guy to blow you away with an offer.

 

[Ryanwb]

Yes, but Banks was a poor decision regardless of who made it

 

[msdundee]

Does Mike have the experience to handle those two major jobs together?

He's also Executive VP of Basketball Operations, so he wears a third hat. He may take the flak for some decisions but he doesn't make them all by himself. As head coach he has six very capable assistants and while D'Antoni may make the final call, the assistants work hard and he values their input. As head of Basketball Operations he has a whole department working on Player Personnel and Scouting -- including David Griffin and Mark West. As GM we know there's plenty of influence exerted by the owners and the Chairman/CEO when it comes to major moves, and rightly so.

To this point the Suns are way above and beyond what anyone expected of them back at the beginning of the season so he must be doing something right. At any rate, if those who have hundreds of millions invested in this team think D'Antoni can handle his responsibilities, they should know.

 

[zett]

Yes, but Banks was a poor decision regardless of who made it

Yes hindsight is nice, but were you stating that when the deal was made.
All I heard was how good he was on D and could run fast and keep up the pace with nash out! I didn't hear anyone saying this was a poor decision
at the time the deal was made.

 

[krispydude]

remember we woulda had salmons instead of banks if he wouldnt have backed out and that prolly would have been a good sign.

 

[elindholm]

All I heard was how good he was on D and could run fast and keep up the pace with nash out! I didn't hear anyone saying this was a poor decision
at the time the deal was made.

You didn't? I didn't come out and say that it was necessarily a poor decision, but I did say that (a) Banks sure didn't look like a PG to me and (b) his signing evidently meant that Barbosa was gone. When Barbosa was extended shortly thereafter, I then said that the Banks signing made no sense.

 

[fordronken]

No matter what, unless the Suns hired an experienced GM, there's going to be an adjustment period. Remember how long it took Bryan Colangelo to figure it out? It's also not a totally clean cut, "one man in charge" GM situation. He has the final say. Now, obviously, Bryan Colangelo is a guy who can now make mostly good decisions when it comes down to it, but I think D'Antoni knows basketball, clearly knows his system, and will eventually turn into a good GM. Also, everyone else who had been helping BC along for all those years is still there.

 

[Forrestham]

I realize Banks hasn't worked out too well but lets not micromanage. The team has won 12 straight games and 28 of the last 30. These are players D'Antoni wanted. IF soemthing doesn't work out, the good teams recover and move on.
I expect a trade to be made soon. They found their backup pg on LB. After the 2005 playoffs, the majority of people wanted him to be traded for a bag of peanuts. The best trade may be the one they did not make

 

[fordronken]

I realize Banks hasn't worked out too well but lets not micromanage. The team has won 12 straight games and 28 of the last 30. These are players D'Antoni wanted. IF soemthing doesn't work out, the good teams recover and move on.
I expect a trade to be made soon. They found their backup pg on LB. After the 2005 playoffs, the majority of people wanted him to be traded for a bag of peanuts. The best trade may be the one they did not make

There's a huge difference between Barbosa and Banks. Barbosa was younger, making a whole lot less money, and had played a lot more up to that point.

 

[Gaddabout]

D'Antoni has done nothing as GM that warrants praise, and he's done a few things that deserve some criticism. I think the majority of us hacks thought taking a flier on a PG in the draft would've wise and shrewd, but D'Antoni felt asking a rookie PG to cut down on Nash's minutes would've been too much. In hindsight, considering who they would've had and what they would've paid for them, the Banks signing looks ridiculous. I'll be the first to admit I was somewhat satisifed with the Banks signing, but I don't get paid to know how poor he functions in the halfcourt offense. It's just hideous when he's in.

BC was no Mr. Perfect, either, but he was pretty good at erasing his mistakes over a two- or three-year period. In general, he had a good repoire with the scouting staff and seemed to trust their judgment, a relationship that literally produced the team we see today save for Banks. It also produced two first-round picks what could be the deepest draft in a decade.

If Bryan can learn on the job, I see no reason D'Antoni can't, but he's got a few mistakes he has to recover from before I put a gold star on his report card. I think the Suns would be better off at this point just handing the job over to David Griffen or even Mark West, but that's not going to happen. So I'll wait and see and D'Antoni, and I'll reserve judgment until he has another year or two under his belt, or he finds a way to blow this team up.

 

[panfolk]

Anybody know whom Griffen would've taken since the Suns "couldn't" move up last year?

 

[F-Dog]

Thabo Sefolosha.


Obviously D'Antoni's GM skills aren't worth as much as "proven outstanding GM candidate the Suns never had a shot at", but there's another side to the story, which is that he's a big-time coach now, and the GM job is the perk that's going to keep D'Antoni from talking with Toronto or another large-market team about their coaching vacancies in the next few years.

In any case, D'Antoni hasn't been all bad. His best move so far was negotiating the Barbosa contract--the obvious move would have been to let Barbosa go into his contract year and keep the team's financial and roster flexibility--but he also hasn't traded for Steve Francis or signed Antoine Walker to a big deal.

 

[HooverDam]

I personally never like a coach wearing so many hats. I think it stretches them too thin. To draw an analogy to the film world, often times when you have a movie that written, produced, directed and starring one person, its usually a disaster (exception, Citizen Kane)- you need someone to say "he idiot, you need to try something different here." That said, you need everyone involved to have a similar vision and game plan. I wish the Suns had someone else as GM, especially someone who wasn't allergic to draft picks.

Hopefully D'Antoni is just keeping the GM seat warm for someone inside the organization that the Suns are possibly going to promote down the line. Though I have no ideas of anyone who would fit that description, any ideas?

 

[F-Dog]

Hopefully D'Antoni is just keeping the GM seat warm for someone inside the organization that the Suns are possibly going to promote down the line. Though I have no ideas of anyone who would fit that description, any ideas?

As things stand, David Griffen is the "R.C. Buford" to D'Antoni's "Gregg Popovich". There's room there for Griffen to take more of a leading role down the line, if the other bigwigs think he can handle it.

 

[panfolk]

Thabo Sefolosha.

That's who they wanted to trade up for. I was asking if Griffen liked anybody at the level they could've picked at.

It's strange to me that they'd pass on Sergio just because he wouldn't stay in Spain another year.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

You know whats funny. I actually think that Marcus Banks is going to end up being a good signing. I know he has not looked that great so far but it has alot to do with the fact that we are a championship type team and D'antoni is not one to screw around and let him get PT and work out he kinks. I for one like his athleticism and willingness to learn from Nash and also believe that he could develop a jump shot in time. Remember Diaw was once viewed as a poor shooter and hes adequate now and getting better.

If the Suns just hold onto him and give him an off season to bust his a$$ working on what the coaches want him too he could be a good player for this team. Not every decision has to have a definitive conclusion four months after it is done. We don't need him right now and lets make a judgement after a little more time passes.

Oh and i think Griffen and D'Antoni are just fine where they are. In fact i think D'Antoni is a basketball god and i will give him benefit of the doubt atleat until they start losing....

 

[Hugh D'Man]

D'Ant and co's inexperience/ineptness surfaced last off season when plan's A, B, and C were crumbling. Their anti-rookie attitude in the draft put them into a reactionary mode. Clearly, a talented PG was available (Williams) that WAS NOT expected to be there. Those on the fly decisions need to be made accurately.

And Nobody gets a medal for signing Pike, JuJones, Rose, Marks, and right now Banks, let alone being involved in the process for Burke, Grant, Shirley, McCarty, and even Q. (fer christsakes, we had to GIVE AWAY draft picks to move some of that deadweight)

Really, the only productive FAs outside of NASH has been Thomas and House. This yrs crop is pathetic. And for D'Ant to profess 'he doesn't like to play rookies' is a crazy considering he doesn't play ANYONE but the Secausus Seven. Might as well have a cheap young prospect on the bench-rather than a 'Last Call for Basketball'-er. D'ants player developement is atrocious, yet one of their prizebabies (Barbosa) was just such a young player they publicly scoff at.

Their GM efforts so far = C-......... and Champ teams need better than that.

 

[sly fly]

D'Ant and co's inexperience/ineptness surfaced last off season when plan's A, B, and C were crumbling. Their anti-rookie attitude in the draft put them into a reactionary mode. Clearly, a talented PG was available (Williams) that WAS NOT expected to be there. Those on the fly decisions need to be made accurately.

And Nobody gets a medal for signing Pike, JuJones, Rose, Marks, and right now Banks, let alone being involved in the process for Burke, Grant, Shirley, McCarty, and even Q. (fer christsakes, we had to GIVE AWAY draft picks to move some of that deadweight)

Really, the only productive FAs outside of NASH has been Thomas and House. This yrs crop is pathetic. And for D'Ant to profess 'he doesn't like to play rookies' is a crazy considering he doesn't play ANYONE but the Secausus Seven. Might as well have a cheap young prospect on the bench-rather than a 'Last Call for Basketball'-er. D'ants player developement is atrocious, yet one of their prizebabies (Barbosa) was just such a young player they publicly scoff at.

Their GM efforts so far = C-......... and Champ teams need better than that.

And, your point is??? What, 31-8 isn't good enough for you?

How many free agents do you want? Let's see...

... if Nash, Amare, Diaw, Bell, Barbosa, KT, James Jones, and Marion ARE getting it done, where the hell is there room for any more players??????

Oh, I get it. Let's substitute Barbosa for Rajon Rondo. KT for Melvin Ely. Marion for Garnett. Amare for Gasol.

Yeah, I guess that "Secausus Seven" isn't getting it done.

Despite your venom for the Suns brass, you'll be giggling like a little girl if they reach the Finals.

 

[Mainstreet]

My recollection (which is shaky), is that D'antonni was fully on board in regard to the need to sign Salmons. However, when the Suns couldn't sign Salmons, Griffen (later on) came up with the option of signing Banks as a backup PG for Nash (which was admittedly a need). However, I got the impresssion that D'Antonni more or less rubber stamped it and was not fully involved in the search for another player. If this is basically correct, it could point to the need for a separate GM or perhaps Griffen just made a mistake in evaluating Banks. Of course, everyone makes mistakes in the NBA in evaluating talent.

What trouble me more, perhaps, is that I did not get the impression that D'Antonni was heavily involved in scouting preparations for the past draft except for a few key players like Thabo and perhaps Carney. Also I worry that D'Antonni may not have the time devote to evaluating players in this upcoming draft and also are the Suns' scouts doing a good job in finding sleeper talent?

 

[Hugh D'Man]

Sounds like you (SlyFly) are 'little-girl-giggling' right now. Don't rest so easy on our inflated record. Sure, we are playing good and winning games we should...and, until now, we have done it injury free. .... but you cant escape the dismal contributions the last dozen free agents have made to this team.

Rose
JuJones
Banks
Marks
Piebenchski
TimThomas
House
McCarty
Grant
Burke
Shirley
Q

Thats my point.

NON of these signings are doing ANYTHING for us now. The two that did help, (Thomas+House) we let go.

You want to prance around waving that 31 and 8 flag....go right ahead. But due to D'Ant's decisions to sign old washed uppers, we aren't but one twisted ankle from seeing Burke play 15 - 20 minutes a game.

 

[elindholm]

The two that did help, (Thomas+House) we let go.

Since you keep bringing this up, it's worth noting that Bell was a FA signing who has been pretty good. Everyone else on your list, except for Banks, was for a minimum contract. Minimum-wage 12th men almost never contribute anything, so that's not really a strike against Suns management.

 

[sly fly]

The two that did help, (Thomas+House) we let go.

Since you keep bringing this up, it's worth noting that Bell was a FA signing who has been pretty good. Everyone else on your list, except for Banks, was for a minimum contract. Minimum-wage 12th men almost never contribute anything, so that's not really a strike against Suns management.

Scoreboard. Thanks, Eric. You just save me a couple minutes.