For most fans, the NBA season ends when a champion is crowned, the trophy parade makes for a fitting finale to a long season. But for me, the fun is just beginning. The off-season marks the beginning of draft season. With it comes the combine, the rumors, the smokescreens and the trades. For someone who's a fan of GMs as much as players, this is my time.
This morning the Rockets and GM Daryl Morey traded Chase Budinger, the high flying ginger, to the Wolves for the 18th pick in the draft. For most, this is a rather inconsequential, run-of-the-mill deal. And, in reality, it is. It doesn't mean Houston is cleaning house and it doesn't make Minnesota much more dangerous than they were yesterday. But there's another, more interesting, layer to this.
In the 2009 draft, with the Detroit Pistons on the clock with the 44th pick, Morey gave Pistons GM Joe Dumars a call offering a future protected 2nd rounder and some cash for the spot. Dumars, not liking what he had to choose from at that point in the night, made the deal. The pick was top 40 protected in 2012, top 35 protected in 2013 and 2014 and unprotected in 2015.
Fast forward to 2012 and that future 2nd is now the 44th pick in this year's draft. For Detroit, the deal has worked out well. They pick from the same spot, but now in a deeper draft, and picked up a little cash along the way.
But for Houston and Morey, it was GMing magic. In two simple sleights of hand, he turned the 44th pick into the 18th pick in the same draft. Whether he uses that spot to select a talented prospect who slid further than expected or packages to either move into the lottery or trade for a veteran, Morey has shown why he's one of the most respected GMs in the league.
While everyone pays attention to the big signings and blockbuster trades, it's under-the-radar moves like this that truly builds a team into a contender. I can't wait for the next couple days.
Stay tuned for The Reserve Clause's mock draft on Thursday.
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