His supposed "wizardry" has been discussed plenty on this site. His incompetence probably even more. SBnation bashes BC, and quite frankly, I think its hard to oppose their opinion.
Source: http://www.sbnation.com/2010/7/22/15...pat-riley-heat
27. Bryan Colangelo
Hired: 2006.
Coaches: Sam Mitchell (2006-2008), Jay Triano (2008-present)
Long-term plan: Stay competitive, even if it means throwing cap flexibility into the wind.
Draft picks: Andrea Bargnani (1st, 2006), DeMar DeRozan (9th, 2009), Ed Davis (13th, 2010),
Trades:
2006: Traded Charlie Villanueva to the Bucks for T.J. Ford, who was promptly given a four-year, $32 million extension.
2008: Traded Ford, the rights to the 17th pick and Rasho Nesterovic's expiring contract to the Pacers for Jermaine O'Neal (max contract until 2010)
2010: Traded Hedo Turkoglo to the Suns for Leandro Barbosa and Dwyane Jones.
Free agent signings: Chris Bosh in 2006 (three-year max contract), Jorge Garbajosa in 2006, Anthony Parker in 2006, Jason Kapono in 2007 (four years, $24 million), Jose Calderon in 2008 (five years, $45 million), Andrea Bargnani in 2009 (five years, $50 million), Turkoglu in 2009 (five years, $53 million), Jarrett Jack in 2009 (four years, $20 million), Amir Johnson in 2010 (six years and $33 million), Linas Kleiza in 2010 (four years, $20 million)
Free agents let go: Mike James (2006), Marion (2009) Anthony Parker and Jamario Moon (both 2009).
Many LeBron James defenders say he should have left Cleveland because his general manager, Danny Ferry, failed at surrounding him with a good supporting cast. However, the truth is that argument should hold far more water with Chris Bosh than with LeBron. Bosh is not as good as LeBron, but he's had far less help from Bryan Colangelo, who squandered many of Bosh's best years with impulsive decisions.
Colangelo had a good reputation in Phoenix, but his tenure in Toronto has been abysmal. He's has thrown money around irresponsibly, despite being given several chances at the kind of cap flexibility necessary to build a good long-term foundation. Colangelo has had cap space in 2006 and 2009 and came away with T.J. Ford and Hedo Turkoglu. He traded many key assets for an overpaid and broken-down Jermaine O'Neal, then somehow made things worse by signing Turkoglu with the money he saved by eliminating his own mistake. He's given out long-term mid-level contracts to marginal players like Jarrett Jack, Jason Kapono and Amir Johnson. He's overpaid his own flawed players, giving Ford a big contract despite his injury issues, Calderon a bigger contract despite his defensive problems and Bargnani an even bigger contract despite not showing he was worth it consistently. In other words, he's the worst stereotype of the impatient GM, unwilling or unable to contain himself when he has some money in his pocket.
But none of those issues are as damaging as his handling of Bargnani in general. While the 2006 draft wasn't exactly full of superstars, Bargnani wasn't even on anyone's radar with the No. 1 pick until Colangelo began talking him up. Bargnani ultimately was a poor fit next to Bosh and played inconsistently, but that didn't stop Colangelo from constantly defending him, firing a head coach (Sam Mitchell) who didn't like him and giving him a big contract extension in 2009.
The difference between Ferry and Colangelo is Ferry learned from his initial mistakes and made shrewd moves to try mitigate them, whereas Colangelo just keeps making the same mistakes over and over again. That's why Colangelo is way down on this list.
Hired: 2006.
Coaches: Sam Mitchell (2006-2008), Jay Triano (2008-present)
Long-term plan: Stay competitive, even if it means throwing cap flexibility into the wind.
Draft picks: Andrea Bargnani (1st, 2006), DeMar DeRozan (9th, 2009), Ed Davis (13th, 2010),
Trades:
2006: Traded Charlie Villanueva to the Bucks for T.J. Ford, who was promptly given a four-year, $32 million extension.
2008: Traded Ford, the rights to the 17th pick and Rasho Nesterovic's expiring contract to the Pacers for Jermaine O'Neal (max contract until 2010)
2010: Traded Hedo Turkoglo to the Suns for Leandro Barbosa and Dwyane Jones.
Free agent signings: Chris Bosh in 2006 (three-year max contract), Jorge Garbajosa in 2006, Anthony Parker in 2006, Jason Kapono in 2007 (four years, $24 million), Jose Calderon in 2008 (five years, $45 million), Andrea Bargnani in 2009 (five years, $50 million), Turkoglu in 2009 (five years, $53 million), Jarrett Jack in 2009 (four years, $20 million), Amir Johnson in 2010 (six years and $33 million), Linas Kleiza in 2010 (four years, $20 million)
Free agents let go: Mike James (2006), Marion (2009) Anthony Parker and Jamario Moon (both 2009).
Many LeBron James defenders say he should have left Cleveland because his general manager, Danny Ferry, failed at surrounding him with a good supporting cast. However, the truth is that argument should hold far more water with Chris Bosh than with LeBron. Bosh is not as good as LeBron, but he's had far less help from Bryan Colangelo, who squandered many of Bosh's best years with impulsive decisions.
Colangelo had a good reputation in Phoenix, but his tenure in Toronto has been abysmal. He's has thrown money around irresponsibly, despite being given several chances at the kind of cap flexibility necessary to build a good long-term foundation. Colangelo has had cap space in 2006 and 2009 and came away with T.J. Ford and Hedo Turkoglu. He traded many key assets for an overpaid and broken-down Jermaine O'Neal, then somehow made things worse by signing Turkoglu with the money he saved by eliminating his own mistake. He's given out long-term mid-level contracts to marginal players like Jarrett Jack, Jason Kapono and Amir Johnson. He's overpaid his own flawed players, giving Ford a big contract despite his injury issues, Calderon a bigger contract despite his defensive problems and Bargnani an even bigger contract despite not showing he was worth it consistently. In other words, he's the worst stereotype of the impatient GM, unwilling or unable to contain himself when he has some money in his pocket.
But none of those issues are as damaging as his handling of Bargnani in general. While the 2006 draft wasn't exactly full of superstars, Bargnani wasn't even on anyone's radar with the No. 1 pick until Colangelo began talking him up. Bargnani ultimately was a poor fit next to Bosh and played inconsistently, but that didn't stop Colangelo from constantly defending him, firing a head coach (Sam Mitchell) who didn't like him and giving him a big contract extension in 2009.
The difference between Ferry and Colangelo is Ferry learned from his initial mistakes and made shrewd moves to try mitigate them, whereas Colangelo just keeps making the same mistakes over and over again. That's why Colangelo is way down on this list.
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