Ranking top 4 NBA General Managers: Where Houston Rockets’ Daryl Morey Lands

OAKLAND, CA – FEBRUARY 12: Golden State Warriors General Manger Bob Myers presents players Klay Thompson #11, Stephen Curry #30 and Kevin Durant #35 with their All Star jerseys prior to the start of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz at ORACLE Arena on February 12, 2019 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

3. Bob Myers-Golden State Warriors

Golden State Warriors General Manager Bob Myers arguably could be higher on this list because he compiled the league’s best roster ever assembled. In addition, he also won the NBA Executive of the Year award in both 2015 and 2017.

Myers took over the reigns as the sole General Manager ahead of the 2012-2013 season, and drafted Harrison Barnes and Draymond Green in the 2012 NBA Draft. Green would prove to be the ultimate steal of that draft class, as Green was selected in the second round, meaning every team passed on him in the first round. Green has gone to be one of the league’s best defenders and also has been the catalyst of the Warriors “Death Lineup”, which has crippled Rockets center Clint Capela in the postseason.

Myers also was responsible for the trade that sent future Hall of Famer Andre Iguodala to the Dubs in 2013. In addition he also signed reserve Shaun Livingston to the Warriors in 2014. The Dubs were able to win the 2015 NBA championship, in part due to Myers’ roster acquisitions.

The true dominance of the Warriors came following the addition of former MVP Kevin Durant in 2016. The Warriors won the next two championships following the acquisition of KD, which is to be expected considering they were viewed as the best in the Western Conference before landing Durant.

But Myers doesn’t deserve all of the credit for landing Durant, as Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andre Iguodala and Draymond Green are as responsible for Durant joining the Dubs. This is because they personally went to the Hamptons hotel KD was staying in to recruit Durant. It was later revealed that Green actually called Durant following the Warriors defeat in the 2016 NBA Finals to personally recruit KD also.

Myers actually was done a favor by Durant, as KD consistently signed for less than the maximum salary so Myers could continue to put more talent around him.

Myers signed DeMarcus Cousins in the summer of 2018, who essentially didn’t have any other options in free agency. This allowed the Warriors to use their mid-level exception on Cousins, although the 2018-2019 season is the only year the Warriors didn’t win the NBA title with Durant on the roster. This is in part due to the fact that Myers actually compromised the depth the Warriors had in previous years to sign Cousins. This would later prove to be costly when Durant, Cousins and Klay Thompson each got injured in the 2019 playoffs.

Myers also deserves a lot of credit for landing All-Star D’Angelo Russell and not losing Durant without getting anything in return.

Next: No. 2