Spurs' Buford finishes second in Executive of the Year voting
The 2011-12 San Antonio Spurs team is stacked and their depth is staggering. From rookie Kawhi Leonard, the "Big 3," to having Stephen Jackson, Manu Ginobili, Boris Diaw, Tiago Splitter, Gary Neal come off the bench, there is no doubt San Antonio's roster can be intimidating for any opposing team. Much of this is due to Spurs GM R.C. Buford.
Buford was able to create a roster which has allowed the Spurs to capture the best record in the Western Conference and own a 15-game winning streak which includes a sweep of the Jazz in the first-round of the playoffs.
However, all this success wasn't good enough as Pacers President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird won the 2011-12 NBA Executive of the Year with R.C. coming in second in the voting.
Bird set the tone for the 2011-12 season by naming Frank Vogel, who had served in an interim capacity for 46 games during the 2010-11 season, head coach on July 6, 2011. He added to an already strong nucleus by signing David West in December, and beefed up the Pacers' bench by trading for Lou Amundson and Leandro Barbosa. Indiana's draft picks under Bird's watch have included three key contributors on this year's team: Paul George (2010), Tyler Hansbrough (2009), and Roy Hibbert (2008).
Buford finished with 56 points (eight first-place votes). Keep in mind, other NBA executives voted for this year's winner.
OK sure Bird assembled a solid team but it pales in comparison to what Buford did this season. Not only did he swing a Draft Day trade with Indiana which netted Kawhi Leonard, he also managed to trade Richard Jefferson and his albatross of a contract to the Warriors for Jackson.
What do you have to say Spurs fans? Think Buford got robbed?
I think Buford deserved it, but I can live with the Larry bird win. I never paid attention to them before the George hill trade, but I don't remember their name in title talks in recent years, and here they are running with the heat! And I don't know that he got screwed by the hill-leonard trade. They needed a contributor now and with a new coach and young team hill was probably a better choice for them. Hill adds leadership that he acquired from the spurs, and the spurs can direct Leonard with that same leadership. I don't think Leonard would be nearly as effective for Indiana as he is for san Antonio.
And lorbek didn't want to go to Indiana. He said he wasn't going to go the the NBA but now that the spurs have his rights he's looking at it. Or something like that, so losing lorbek was a nonissue for them.
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funny they forget to mention how bird got raped by RC on the hill for leonard, a pick and lorbek trade.
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Why? It's pretty obvious that RC deserves it. I love Larry man and have high respects for that guy but the award belongs to RC. RC finding ways to let go of Jefferson and that huge contract is more than enough to land him the award. Well I guess it's a beauty contest and Larry is more popular than RC.All the more reason why it would be sweet to win the title this season.
