Each year typically brings multiple front office shake-ups around the NBA. In 2018, the Hornets, Pistons, Sixers, and Timberwolves all dispatched their respective heads of basketball operations. In 2017, even more teams brought in new management groups, including the Knicks, Clippers, Cavaliers, Bucks, and a handful of others.
So far in 2019, the rumor mill has been quiet when it comes to potential front office changes. However, with the end of the regular season less than two months away, it will likely just be a matter of time before we get word of a team or two going in a new direction.
Front office shake-ups aren’t always easy to predict — before a bizarre Twitter-related scandal surfaced last summer, Bryan Colangelo didn’t appear to be in any danger in Philadelphia, but just over a week after that story broke, he was gone. While a saga like that one is unlikely to be repeated, it’s possible we’ll get some surprising front office news this summer.
For now though, there are a few general managers or presidents of basketball operations who already might be on the hot seat.
Wizards president of basketball ops Ernie Grunfeld is one of those executives, as his club has failed to get past the second round of the playoffs at all during his lengthy tenure in Washington, and has taken a significant step back this season. John Wall‘s four-year, super-max deal, which will begin this July, looks like perhaps the worst contract in the NBA, and the Wizards aren’t exactly loaded with assets around Wall and backcourt mate Bradley Beal.
Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace and Pelicans GM Dell Demps have faced plenty of criticism in recent years as well. Memphis, bogged down by Chandler Parsons‘ overpriced contract and declining veteran assets, has struggled mightily in the last two seasons, and Demps’ issues navigating the Anthony Davis waters have been well documented — as have his issues building the roster around Davis over the last several years.
In Chicago, a few good moves from Bulls executives John Paxson and Gar Forman, such as drafting Lauri Markkanen and Wendell Carter, have helped mask some questionable decisions in free agency and on the trade market. But with the Bulls’ win total set to decline for a fourth straight year, fans are losing their patience with the Paxson/Forman duo.
As the 2018/19 approaches its home stretch, we want to get your thoughts on the front office situations around the league. Do you expect any or all of the executives we mentioned above to lose their jobs this spring? Do some deserve another chance? Are there any other GMs or presidents across the NBA that you believe should be replaced?
Jump into the comment section below to share your two cents!
Dell Demps is easily in the worst shape. First of all he gave up Tyreke a first+second rounder and Hield who is having tremendous success for Cousins who wasn’t signed back but should’ve been to capitalize on having a top 5 player in the league under contract in AD. Secondly i believe that Dell has lost some leverage on an AD trade by waiting until the offseason because that clearly means he is waiting for Boston. Honestly if Kuzma Ball Ingram multiple first rounders and other filler players were on the table I would’ve taken it. When it comes to Boston, the C’s have Tatum who is better than Kuzma but I’m not sure the next two players in the deal would be more appealing than Ingram and Ball from an age and contract perspective. Plus the Clippers pick seems like it may not convey to Boston this year because of the Tobias trade and the Kings aren’t slowing down and that pick might not even be a lottery pick.
Your absolutely on point here. I also think that, if the Lakers can sign a star free agent, they are less likely to offer the Pels all of their young players for AD. They will still offer a package if Boston takes Tatum out of the deal, but it won’t be all of their productive young players, because those guys would help LeBron and another star alot on the court. Demps took a huge risk, because Tatum is really the only thing Boston has to offer that’s better than the young Lakers, and as you said the current Boston picks just aren’t turning out to be high end, like the Net picks did.
I agree that Dell should be replaced, but I don’t think the Lakers’ reported offers were all that appealing. And I get not wanting to deal with them.
Still hard to believe he couldn’t have gotten something impressive for AD from another team.
Maybe the Knicks come through in the offseason to save the day for Pelicans fans?
Lol the offer was anyone they want except LeBron plus picks and cap relief by taking back Solomon Hill. Canned right after he trades AD for a lesser package.
No one they have except lebron is any good. That’s why they’re in 10th place
I agree with pretty much everything you said. If Dell Demps is a lame duck though, he needs to be fired before the AD trade though; that’s not a move you want someone making on their way out.
Chicago needs a shake up. They won the Butler trade but proceeded to continue to give out big money deals to players who don’t fit the system. The fact that Grunfeld still has a job is shocking. For years Wall and Beal have admitted to hating each other and he has not brought in anyone to help that issue. Even after jettisoning Porter the wizards are still in contract hell.
As a Chicago fan, we have been absolutely done with Gar/Pax since 2015. Sadly they are installed by ownership to the point that they won’t be fired regardless of how badly they screw things up.
GarPax’s front office is a felony offense to season ticket holders and any serious fan. They are protected by the capo, Reinsdorf, and until either they die or he does (and maybe not even then) they will be able to continue inflicting their fetid pile of “management” on the NBA.
Paxson seems to be wearing thin, I am sure the criticism is starting to weigh on him, as evidenced by his recent interviews. Gar? He’s a GD Leech and will hold on for the last drop of blood. Any other city would have had them both drawn and quartered by now. #FireGarPax
Demps and Grunfeld should be gone
Hard to predict what will actually happen, but all these front offices should been turned over:
-Wizards
-Pelicans (you can’t let Dell be the one to trade AD)
-Timberwolves
-Bulls
I get the Grizzlies argument, but I like what they got for Gasol and their drafting of Jaren Jackson Jr, so I would give one more year.
I think the Knicks’ front office is a mess, but so is their ownership, so that’s probably just what they’re always going to be like.
With you on your Grizzlies comments. The window closed fast and hard – building the next viable contender will either be Wallace’s legacy or downfall. Echoing your comments, though, the Grizz have a pretty decent start on rebuilding.
Really?!?!? Wallace has been there 10+ years and he has only drafted 2 guys (Conley & JJJ) worth anything. 10% or so of the rest (that have actually been able to stick around) have been bench guys. That leaves EVERYONE else, that aren’t even in the league anymore. You draft Kevin Love to trade him for OJ Mayo? A big swing-and-miss with Thabeet? He’s never even been able to find a Head Coach that sticks around for more than 4 years. The 7-year playoff run was nice, but once GS got their stuff together, he should’ve started rebuilding. Especially when you have teams like the Rockets, Spurs, etc. to contend with as well. You start the rebuild then (because everyone knew GS was going to keep their core), get prime value for your vets, and MAYBE be able to draft some other assets (wouldn’t hold my breathe on that last one though, given his history). All that said, Wallace has got to go. Get some fresh perspective in there, who can hopefully draft better, and start the rebuild around JJJ.
Grunfeld just keeps doing what he does. I find it amazing that he’s survived all these years. Wall’s contract is clearly the worst in the league now, but that’s NOT why he should be replaced. It’s his strategy over 2 decades of “win now” without really winning much (not even one ECF appearance).
Demps did a great job in not being railroaded into a deal on AD. It really doesn’t matter what’s offered in the summer, his job to see what it is, when a real market will develop (not allow a single bidder to usurp it). BUT he still has to answer for the last 7 years, as the Pels evaluate who should run their new rebuild. Since the new one won’t start with AD as a foundation piece, and he couldn’t get it done with one that did, it’s a hard case to argue that he’s the best guy going forward. If so, should he really make the AD trade?
Dell Demps sucks.
Demps gotta be done, one has to wonder if ownership didn’t want to trade AD until getting a new GM in the off-season
Demps shouldve been fired years ago when they decided to move away from Monty Williams which itself made no sense. Prediction, they can Demps towards seasons end and end up taking a poo platter package for Davis.
That’s a soap opera. Dell Demps wants Jayson Tatum enough he’s willing to wait until Kyrie signs with the Celts July 1. He doesn’t like the Lakers players in the trade proposal, so the Lakers would have to use a 3rd team to make a trade. If the trade hasn’t been made by July 1, Ingram, Kuzma, Ball, Hart, Wagner, Boganga (spelling?), and LeBron will be their only tradeable pieces since thr rest the team will be free agents. And it’s possible Demps won’t even be there and the new GM may like a package from a team other than the Lakers or Celts. AD needs to stop listening to Paul. With as much power Paul has, they’ve made a complete mess of things.
IDK the basketball climate in Orlando, but Weltman/Hammonds made choices that have some risk. If Fultz works out like Jerian Grant did, and, they go from 3 promising centers to Mozgov, their seat could get… Warm. Maybe it’s too soon to be truly hot, as this is their 2nd year.
A good move for EC competitors DET, CHI, ATL would be to make a strong offer for improving Khem Birch.