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Thursday, September 12
Updated: September 13, 11:04 AM ET
 
From 1 to 29: Ranking the GMs

ESPN.com

Editor's note: ESPN.com's team of NBA experts ranked the personnel men for all 29 teams from best to worst. Below are the poll results with the claims to fame of each team president/general manager.

ESPN.COM'S NBA GENERAL MANAGER RANKINGS
President/GM Team Comment
1. Jerry West Memphis Grizzlies Best talent evaluator in the business
2. Geoff Petrie Sacramento Kings Got C-Webb to stay in Sactown
3. Rod Thorn New Jersey Nets Brought an East title to Exit 16W
4t. Don Nelson Dallas Mavericks Now every team wants a Nowitzki
4t. Gregg Popovich,
R.C. Buford
San Antonio Spurs Parker, Ginobili could keep TD in town to make another title run
6. Donnie Walsh Indiana Pacers Playoff teams 12 of last 13 years
7. John Gabriel Orlando Magic Executive of the Year in 1999-00
8. Joe Dumars Detroit Pistons Constructed Central champ in 2 yrs
9. Mitch Kupchak Los Angeles Lakers Has kept Shaq-Kobe dynasty intact
10. Bob Bass New Orleans Hornets 1-12, roster may be East's best
11. Carroll Dawson Houston Rockets Yao continues youth movement
12t. Glen Grunwald Toronto Raptors Toronto's Vinsanity began with him
12t. Larry Brown,
Billy King
Philadelphia 76ers Truly amazing Sixers got to Finals with AI, role players and Raja Bell
14. Ernie Grunfeld Milwaukee Bucks Took Knicks to Finals in '94, '99
15. Pat Riley,
Randy Pfund
Miami Heat Run of six straight playoff seasons under Riles ended in 2001-02
16. Elgin Baylor Los Angeles Clippers Made most of all those lottery picks
17. Jerry Krause Chicago Bulls Believes he can win 7th ring w/o MJ
18. Kevin McHale Minnesota Timberwolves Drafted KG before Smith debacle
19. Chris Wallace Boston Celtics Made key Rogers/Delk deal in Feb.
20. Kevin O'Connor Utah Jazz Life after Stockton/Malone? Maybe
21. Wally Walker,
Rick Sund
Seattle SuperSonics Great foundation with Lewis, Mason, Radmanovic -- that is, if Lewis stays
22. Pete Babcock Atlanta Hawks 7 straight playoff teams (1994-99)
23. Kiki Vandeweghe Denver Nuggets Plan's in place with Skita, Nene
24. Bryan Colangelo Phoenix Suns Traded for (and traded away) Kidd
25. Bob Whitsitt Portland Trail Blazers Gets talent but it rarely meshes
26. Scott Layden New York Knicks McDyess trade was first good move
27. Jim Paxson Cleveland Cavaliers Proved Kemp's deal could be dealt
28. Garry St. Jean Golden State Warriors Proof that nice guys finish last
29. Wes Unseld Washington Wizards Hey, Kwame Brown wasn't his idea






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