Thoughts on winning the NBA Executive of the Year

Posted on LakersGround.net on 4/4/06.

Let's take a look at it. I think the three biggest factors for winning Executive of the Year are (1) improvement in record, (2) big personnel move such as a trade or free agent signing that is given as the reason for the big improvement in record and (3) a record at least good enough for the playoffs.

Here are the teams that have improved their winning percentage over last year:
NO/Oklahoma City 0.266
Utah 0.162
Detroit 0.149
Atlanta 0.147
Milwaukee 0.141
LA Clippers 0.132
LA Lakers 0.118
New Jersey 0.099
Cleveland 0.091
San Antonio 0.061
Charlotte 0.050
Dallas 0.036
Memphis 0.019
Golden State 0.002

Look at the teams:
NO/Oklahoma City
Currently aren't making the playoffs. Big move was drafting the rookie of the year with the #3 pick. Not good enough

Utah
Currently aren't making the playoffs. Big move was having Kirilenko healthy. Not good enough

Detroit
Best record in the NBA. Big move was hiring a new coach. Not good enough

Atlanta
A terrible team that improved to really bad. Not good enough

Milwaukee
My #1 choice
* Drafted on of the top rookies (Andrew Bogut) with the #1 pick
* Fired coach Terry Porter
* Hired a new coach (Terry Stotts)
* Signed free agent Bobby Simmons
* Re-signed Michael Redd and Dan Gadzuric
* Acquired Jamaal Magloire

LA Clippers
My #3 choice
* Drafted Yaroslav Korolev with the #12 pick
* Signed free agent Cuttino Mobley
* Traded RFA Marko Jaric for Sam Cassell and a first round pick

LA Lakers
My #4 choice

New Jersey
No major personnel changes. Not good enough

Cleveland
My #2 choice
* Signed free agents Larry Hughes, Donyell Marshall and Damon Jones
* Re-signed Zydrunas Ilgauskas
* Traded Mike Wilks for Flip Murray

Note: LA Clippers' Elgin Baylor won the '05-'06 Executive of the Year award