For the first time in years, the NLL welcomed a large and varied crop of new GMs. After seasons with the same GM helming a team, we saw a large amount of turnover during the offseason. Although it’s early, it’s time to check in and see how these new guys are faring in the early weeks of the season. Being a new GM can be tough. You often inherit a team in shambles and then have to make deals with crafty veterans looking to capitalize on the noobie’s excitement to simply make a deal. So, here is a snapshot of how things look for these rookie GMs and how their teams look at the end of Week 2.

 

Atlanta Hawks

New GM: RyanChiasson

Prior GM(s): Houndy

Last season’s record: 22-60 (.268)

Current record: 1-5 (.167)

State of old team: The Hawks have been one of the worst NLL teams since, like forever. However, right before Houndy quit right at the start of this season, the Hawks looked like they finally benefited from having a long-term GM and could even be poised to make a run for the playoffs with a good balance of stars and up-and-coming talent.

Biggest trade: Moving four good players (Mozgov, Olynyk, Bradley, Robinson III) for Dwyane Wade.

Analysis: When Ryan took over the Hawks he said he wasn’t going to blow up the team. He did just that. Taking on Wade has hamstrung the team’s salary, already bloated with Bosh and Lowry, making it hard to surround the stars with quality role players as the team had to shed salary to get closer to the lux tax line. The Hawks have not performed with or without the oft-injured Wade on the floor. More trades, out of frustration, may happen soon. Hopefully, the Hawks won’t slip back into their perennial place in the NLL cellar.

 

Brooklyn Nets

New GM: wizkid

Prior GM(s): Proid and Boyd

Last season’s record: 30-52 (.366)

Current record: 4-4 (.500)

State of old team: Let’s face it; the Nets were pretty bad at the end of last season. Proid blamed Boyd for the team’s demise, especially since the Professor had a plan (one that was cut short when he abruptly quit) to make the team good in the offseason. Boyd 2.0 was no great shakes either and after five uneventful weeks, time where the team actually got worse, the once mercurial GM was shown the door.

Biggest trade: Giving up Wade for four good players.

Analysis: Calling Wizkid new is kind of cheating since he has helmed two NLL teams in the past, two successful NLL at that. Looking at what Wizkid had to work with, the Nets are looking quite good. He got maximum value of fading star Wade, making these young Nets an exciting NLL team to watch. Moving Garnett was a boon. Now, if only he can find a taker for Gerald Wallace’s $10 million….

 

 

Denver Nuggets

New GM: Rootsey

Prior GM(s): Nick

Last season’s record: 45-37 (.549)

Current record: 1-7 (.125)

State of old team: The Nuggets were always a contender and Nick left them in really good shape before he was shown the door, kicking and screaming.

Biggest trade: Giving up Evan Fournier for Danilo Gallinari and his bum knee.

Analysis: New GM Rootsey will be the first to admit that Nuggets aren’t having a glorious second birth after their old boss got the boot. Getting the injury-riddled Gallinari (especially after giving a similar, cheaper and younger player) wasn’t the best move. John Wall is playing on fire and Derrick Favors is great, but that’s about it. The team does have some nice, young pieces in Cody Zeller and Alex Len. Perhaps moving one of them for a good veteran will keep this team from sinking, but a 1-7 start (and another Gallinari injury) does not portend good things for these new-look Nuggets.

 

 

Houston Rockets

New GM: spudspace

Prior GM(s): Loose and Thebirdfalcon

Last season’s record: 22-60 (.268)

Current record: 4-4 (.500)

State of old team: One of the worst, most neglected teams in the league. The Rockets went from having the most passive GMs in the league (Loose) to a new GM who no one liked (ex-GM Nick even called him the “village idiot” of fantasy basketball). Basically Kobe and a band of junk for years, the Rockets were in sad shape.

Biggest trade: Moving Nikola Vucevic and Thomas Robinson for Samuel Dalembert and Thaddeus Young.

Analysis: Spudspace has also been in the league before, but I cannot remember for which team, so maybe his prior impact wasn’t so great. However, his impact HAS been great, taking the Rockets from joke to viable in one summer. Thaddeus Young, Jeff Green and Jrue Holiday are all impact players and the team even garnered a nice bench via free agency! Rockets fans probably all let out a sigh of relief when Thebirdfalcon abruptly quit following an embattled few months during the offseason. The Rockets are suddenly a team no one wants to face on their schedule.

 

 

Memphis Grizzlies

New GM: bacthemac

Prior GM(s): Rasho

Last season’s record: 17-65 (.207)

Current record: 2-5 (.286)

State of old team: Can you believe the Grizzlies once won the NLL Championship? GM Rasho let things slip in the past few years, making bad trades and not being aggressive enough. When he finally quit past season, he did this team a favor.

Biggest trade: Markieff Morris for C.J. McCollum

Analysis: It is going to take the Grizzlies some time to turn it around. Moving Gallinari for Fournier was a smart, smart move. Moving Markieff (who is having a breakout year) for McCollum most likely won’t be.  This franchise still needs a lot of help and GM bacthemac should look to move their last remaining veterans (Lopez, West, Splitter, possibly Teague) for young guys like Fournier who will make a difference very soon.

 

 

New Orleans Pelicans

New GM: blackmajestic

Prior GM(s): Daved

Last season’s record: 40-42 (.488)

Current record: 5-3 (.625)

State of old team: The Pelicans, under Daved, usually followed a Cinderella narrative: faring mediocre in the season, turning on the jets at the end, making the playoffs and being everyone’s favorite underdog. After years of service, Daved left in a huff after disagreeing with the admin on some rule changes.

Biggest trade: Bogdan Bogdanonvic (and 1^st rounder?) for Trevor Ariza.

Analysis: The Pelicans have been a real surprise this season, the only team helmed by a new GM that is above .500. Although the foundation was there when he took over (Daved WAS a good GM in that regard), picking up Ariza bolstered his offense and ditching Kirilenko for points was a smart move. The jury is still out on the Dragic  for Pekovic deal, especially since Pekovic is dealing with a long-term injury. The center would look good starting for this squad, but Tristan Thompson is filling in quite nicely for these Pelicans!