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NBA: Top 10 Candidates For Executive Of The Year Award In 2016-17

By Gerald Bourguet

May 10, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers speaks during the 2015-2016 NBA Most Valuable Player trophy awarded to guard Stephen Curry (not pictured) at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
May 10, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers speaks during the 2015-2016 NBA Most Valuable Player trophy awarded to guard Stephen Curry (not pictured) at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 18, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs general manager R.C. Buford waves to the fans during the NBA championship parade at San Antonio River Walk. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /

3. R.C. Buford

To be perfectly honest, I think the San Antonio Spurs downgraded this summer — not just because Tim Duncan retired, but also because R.C. Buford opted to trade Boris Diaw to make room for Pau Gasol.

Gasol’s passing will be a downright sexy fit within San Antonio’s potent offense, but losing the versatility of Diaw, the interior defense of Duncan and the Boban-ness of Boban Marjanovic hurts the Spurs’ mighty defense and depth from last year.

However, with a tried and true formula of Gregg Popovich + Kawhi Leonard + Tony Parker + Manu Ginobili + underrated role players (not to mention LaMarcus Aldridge, who helped the Spurs reach a franchise-record 67 wins last season), the end result usually = a top seed in the West.

San Antonio racks up regular season wins every year, this much is inevitable. In this world, nothing can be said to certain except death, taxes and the freaking Spurs. If that’s the case again in 2016-17 (which it probably will be), Buford will be in the mix for his third Executive of the Year Award.