NBA: Top 5 candidates for Executive of the Year Award in 2017-18

4. Scott Layden

Most people don’t even know the name Scott Layden, usually referring to every new Minnesota Timberwolves maneuver as the work of Tom Thibodeau by default. However, in April of 2016, the Wolves brought on Layden as the team’s general manager, so if you’re looking for the architect of Minnesota’s eye-popping summer, look no further.

Though it’s no secret Thibs had been eyeing Jimmy Butler for some time as the team’s president of basketball operations, Layden is the one who pulled off the complete swindle of the Chicago Bulls: Jimmy Buckets and the No. 16 pick (Justin Patton) for Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn and the No. 7 pick (Lauri Markkanen).

Getting Butler might have been a victory for the T-Wolves if Chicago had asked for Andrew Wiggins, but to keep Wiggins and only give up a player coming off a season-ending ACL tear, a underwhelming rookie and the No. 7 pick… all while getting Minnesota’s No. 16 selection in return? That’s Executive of the Year kind of work.

While Morey elevated his team to legitimate title contenders, Layden started with less to work with and ensured his team would return to the playoffs for the first time since 2004 — all with a couple of players 22 years and younger and the frozen Minnesota tundra as his main draws. That’s pretty impressive, and the improvement from the 2017-18 Wolves will be remarkable for a team that only won 31 games last year.

Unfortunately, some GMs simply had even more magnificent summers, even with Layden also working to re-upholster the bench by re-signing Shabazz Muhammad and adding Jeff Teague, Taj Gibson and Jamal Crawford.