How To Properly Build An NBA Team

After watching a thorough beat down at the hands of the Utah Jazz, it made me wonder, how does a successful NBA front office compare to the Wolves GM? The Utah Jazz have made the playoffs 21 times in the last 28 years, this includes a Western Conference Finals appearance last year. They make a great example of how good a small market team can be, when properly run.

Here's how the Jazz break down. Seven of their players were acquired through the draft. Two of their three perennial All-Stars were signed in Free Agency. For the most part the Jazz continually build better and better teams through the draft with an occasional free agent signing.

Based on playing time and points, 4 of the top 6 players this season are Jazz draft picks. The other two - Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur were both giving 6 yr deals back in 2004.

Andrei Kirilenko - 1999 1st rounder.

Jarron Collins - 2001 2nd rounder.

Deron Williams - 2005 1st rounder.

CJ Miles - 2005 2nd rounder.

Ronnie Brewer - 2006 1st rounder.

Paul Millsap - 2006 2nd rounder.

This group with Boozer and Okur are wining at a consistant .600 - .650 pace.

Now compare the Jazz success through the draft with the hopeless Timberwolves going back to 1999 when the Jazz selected Kirilenko.

Wally Szczerbiak - 1999 1st rounder (traded multiple times).

William Avery - 1999 1st rounder (not in league).

Louis Bullock - 1999 2nd rounder (not in league).

Igor Rakocevic - 2000 2nd rounder (not in league).

Loren Woods - 2001 2nd rounder (not in league).

Marcus Taylor - 2002 2nd rounder (not in league).

Ndubi Ebi - 2003 1st rounder (not in league).

Rick Rickert - 2003 2nd rounder (not in league).

Blake Stepp - 2004 2nd rounder (not in league).

McCants & Wright - 2005 picks on team.

Loukas Mavrokefalidis - 2006 2nd rounder (not in league).

Bobby Jones - 2006 2nd rounder (6 teams in 2 years).

Craig Smith - 2006 2nd rounder on team.

Brandon Roy 2006 1st rounder Traded to Portland (NBA All-Star).

From 1999 to 2005 not a single Timberwolves pick is still in the NBA other than the oft traded Wally (on 4th team in last 3 years). And what about Free Agent signings in that span? Nothing other than Sam, Spree and Smith years ago.

I guess the point I'm making is you can't expect to build a successful NBA team when 8 of your 9 draft picks in a 6 year span aren't even playing in the league anymore.

Successful NBA teams are built through the draft year after year after year supplemented by the occasional free agent signing (ie. Jazz, Spurs, Pistons). If the Timberwolves hope to build something better in the next decade they should do by hiring a GM who understands talent and who understands the draft. Trading for a bunch on young kids on the worst East team and planting them in the West won't get it done.

It will however give you a shot at the worst record and potentially the #1 pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. Let's only hope you finally learn how to use that pick.

Christian Laettner (1992 3rd overall), Isaiah Rider (1993 5th overall), Donyell Marshall (1994 4th overall) and Ray Allen (1996 5th overall Traded) might be available to help guide you on how best to use it.