NBA.com 2015-16 GM Survey

[Andrew]

NBA.com 2015-16 GM Survey

NBA.COM GM SURVEY HIGHLIGHTS

• 53.6 percent of GMs pick Cavs to win title
• 86.2 percent would start a franchise today with Anthony Davis
• Jahlil Okafor edges Karl-Anthony Towns as predicted Kia Rookie of the Year
• Gregg Poppovich named top NBA coach by 93.1 percent of GMs
• Stephen Curry named top player to take shot with game on the line

Also noteworthy: LeBron has been picked to win his fifth MVP, Andrew Wiggins has been picked to have a breakout season, the Spurs were deemed to have had the best offseason, and the Lottery odds/system was named as the rule that most needs to change.

It does seem like it could be the Cavs' year, if they remain healthy. Having said that, I don't think you can dismiss the Warriors' run as merely lucky, and when a defending champion returns intact - especially when they won as many games as the Warriors did last season - they still have to be one of the frontrunners. Another MVP for LeBron is certainly feasible, he's always going to be in the mix. Anthony Davis being the player GMs would select if they were starting a franchise today might raise some unibrows, but I think he has reached that level, and LeBron's age is starting to become a factor if you're talking about long-term building in a new franchise.

[Nick]

These surveys are fun every year, but they're definitely not to be taken as gospel. Last year Golden State only got 3.8% of the vote for championship vote, Curry got 0% of the MVP vote, and Cleveland only got 75% of the vote for "most improved team" after signing LeBron fucking James.

Anthony Davis being the player GMs would select if they were starting a franchise today might raise some unibrows

Really? Davis seems like the obvious choice there to me. He is 22 years old and already a top 3 player in the league. I don't mean create hysteria but his potential is so damn high he could push GOAT material if he plays his cards right. LeBron is the greatest winner in the league currently, for sure, but he's on the downside of his caeer

[Andrew]

Oh, I'm not saying that Davis is a bad choice. It's just unusual to see such a large swing away from a once-in-a-generation player like LeBron, who should still have quite a few good years left.

[air gordon]

I agree. These are fun especially revisiting them thefollowing year

Times are changing- 30yr olds are on their way down!

[NovU]

What if this was Michael Jordan turning into 31 years of age in his time. I wonder if the GMs still would have overlooked MJ for somebody up and coming like AD.

[Andrew]

Good question.

[shadowgrin]

Why would any GM even build a franchise around a 30-year old, of course a young player would be the obvious choice.

[air gordon]

Jordan at 30 vs Lebron at 30 vs Unibrow?

Jordan off the heels of the first 3peat/retirement. Given Jordan success and less mileage on his knees vs Lebron at that age, I think the vote gets swayed closer to 50/50

It is pretty ridiculous how Davis is killing it in the preseason. Can't wait to see him play when the games start counting.

Nice pun there btw Andrew

[Andrew]

I'm just glad it didn't go unnoticed.

As I said, I don't think Davis is a bad choice, or disagree with the reasoning. In my original post, I did say that he was at that level, and acknowledged that LeBron's age is starting to become a factor. The answer might be different if you were asking which player you'd rather have right now if you were contending for a championship, especially considering the impact LeBron had last season in Cleveland, but Davis is a better long term solution.

[NovU]

86.2 percent still feels like a large number considering Davis is a gamble over proven winners. Even to not consider LBJ or KD, there're some serious talented yet young players like Curry with many prime years still to come. The GMs should have taken meaning of 'start a franchise' as 'rebuilding' for this survey.

[Andrew]

Yeah, it's that overwhelming majority that's a tad surprising, when there are some other viable options. LeBron's still in the discussion, obviously, and Durant and Curry are under 30. Considering that LeBron had 50% of the vote last year, it's a big swing. It's not altogether surprising that Davis placed first, and it's not at all ridiculous to put him there, but I'd have thought that the vote might've been a little more evenly distributed.