Why can’t an owner be a GM?
The consensus on Lacob seems to be: a) he is improvement on Cohan b/c every sentient being is an improvement on Cohan and b) he shouldn’t be too involved in personnel decisions b/c…well, just b/c he shouldn’t. That’s what you have general managers for.
But why can’t an owner who’s knowledgeable and connected like Lacob take charge of the business side AND the personnel side of the operation?
First, he would still have scouts and advisors. No decision would be made unilaterallly. Second, I refuse to believe compiling an NBA roster is as hard as some general managers make it look. Here is the formula: draft quality players, don’t overpay role players in free agency and maintain cap flexibility to sign the right guy unless you are a contender. Why couldn’t Lacob or another competant owner do this? Marc Cuban already does it. God bless Chris Mullin and his flat top, but I’ve never understood how having a sweet jump shot qualifies you to run a business organization any more than, say, someone who has been running a business organization.
Larry Riley will get at least one more year to be the general manager of the Warrriors. Lacob has admitted he has been involved in personnel decisions to date, approving the Randolph trade and initiating the Lin signing, but he also expressed confidence in Riley’s ability. If the Warriors go 30-52 this year, though, who knows. There might be an empty chair in the general manager’s office.
Why couldn’t the owner make himself comfortable?
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