Best GMs in sports (Forbes)

[Zurvan]

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This methdology is so retarded:

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The Timberwolves' McHale has been harshly criticized in the press for not giving superstar Kevin Garnett the supporting cast to win a championship. But McHale has guided the Timberwolves to eight playoff births and a .539 regular season winning percentage--more than double his predecessor’s .244. Winning improvement under McHale has been so great that it offset a 19% rise in salary against the NBA's median payroll during his 11 years as GM.

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So he is the best GM in sports for this level consistent performance? How does this thing not factor in opportunity cost or something? And winning championships?

-Al

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I would assume Forbes is looking at it purely from a profit standpoint, and not from a sports standpoint. Based on that, their methods aren't terrible.

But really, anytime Forbes touches sports, they're way off base, just because they don't have enough knowledge of the industry. Which makes me wonder just how good their insights are in to other areas of business.

[Assani Fisher]

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Assani, GKA,

Really? No beef with calling McHale the best GM? Or are you simply saying given Forbes method, then it's correct? Do you not agree that it's a retarded method?

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I think its a great method and rankings.

[Pudge714]

[20:12] TheNoodleMan: 1 Kevin McHale NBA Minnesota Timberwolves
2 Jay Feaster NHL Tampa Bay Lightning
3 Billy King NBA Philadelphia 76ers
4 A.J. Smith NFL San Diego Chargers
5 Lou Lamoriello NHL New Jersey Devils
6 Don Waddell NHL Atlanta Thrashers
7 Marty Hurney NFL Carolina Panthers
8 Jerry Angelo NFL Chicago Bears
9 Bill Polian NFL Indianapolis Colts
10 John Paxson NBA Chicago Bulls
[20:12] Pudge: Billy King LOL
[20:12] TheNoodleMan: Polian should be #1
[20:13] Pudge: The other giant flaw is that bad football gms can run hot as balls in NFL
[20:13] Pudge: Like last years Bucs.
[20:14] TheNoodleMan: Polian should be #1 because he's done it everywhere over a really long time
[20:14] Pudge: Rather the year before.
[20:14] Pudge: It
[20:14] Pudge: It's not that hard to create a decent list.
[20:14] Pudge: Like there are tons of guys who would be fine choices in a top 10.
[20:14] TheNoodleMan: "really good list imo, can't say I disagree with anything. "
[20:15] Pudge: That has to be Assani Fisher.

[Aloysius]

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I would assume Forbes is looking at it purely from a profit standpoint, and not from a sports standpoint. Based on that, their methods aren't terrible.

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Zurvan - maybe I missed it:

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Only the 98 current GMs with at least three years of service were reviewed. In terms of enhancing the value of a sports franchise, winning is more important than payroll. So we double-weight winning percentage in our scoring to discount GMs (like Mark Shapiro of the Cleveland Indians) who successfully cut costs but in so doing damaged their franchise.

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But they don't seem to directly factor in franchise value, or PnL (or at least what they could dig up). That would actually make some sense if they did.

-Al

[Jack of Arcades]

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Assani, GKA,

Really? No beef with calling McHale the best GM? Or are you simply saying given Forbes method, then it's correct? Do you not agree that it's a retarded method?

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I think its a great method and rankings.

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How can it be a great method when it discriminates against MLB GMs?

[Green Kool Aid]

obv joking.

having paxson is fricken terrible...

billy beane, patriots management, and bryan colangelo are on a whole different level in their respective sports.

[suppasonic]

Hmmmm...

So the best MLB GM is only as good as the 10th best NFL and the 8th best NHL GM? Bullcrap.

Brian Sabean as the #4 GM in baseball? Most baseball people wouldn't rank him in the top 20.

"Interestingly, most of MLB's GMs fall in the middle of the pack. One possible explanation is that baseball's relatively long season and greater yearly payroll fluctuations due to free agency create an unintended balancing effect."

Ok. Then why are you comparing all 4 sports if they are inherently different and dont work using your ranking system?

[PokerFink]

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This methdology is so retarded:

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Agreed. McHale isn't number one because he has done a good job, he is number one because he has done a mediocre job after the previous GM did a terrible job.

So if you take over for a complete moron and turn the team into a .500 club, you're the best GM in sports. Right. That makes a ton of sense.

[PokerFink]

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I think its a great method and rankings.

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Please explain.

[PokerFink]

Ok, I'm trying to come up with a Not-Retarded top 10 list. So far, I've got...

Joe Banner (PHI Eagles)*
Billy Beane (OAK A's)
Lou Lamoriello (NJ Devils)
Scott Pioli (NE Patriots)
Bill Polian (IND Colts)
John Schuerholz (ATL Braves)
A.J. Smith (SD Chargers)

Now we need some NBA guys and maybe another hockey guy. Who can help out?

* Joe Banner is officially the President of the Eagles, and their GM is Tom Heckert. Heckert used to be the VP of Player Personnel but they changed his title to GM last January. But Banner (along with Andy Reid) is really the guy running the show - and has been for a while now.