It a high compliment these two picked him. He has experience as GM and as assistant coach.

That, or they love to get him drunk and he tells those hilarious stories of what it was like to work for Dolan after he fired checketts and was drinking!

Layden was not our best hire but he was a good guy and family man.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--spurs-hire-ex-knicks-president-and-gm.html

CrushAlot wrote:Did Dolan tear up at the press conference when he announced layden's firing? I seem to remember him being vey emotional.

Dry heaves.

We got to go thru the 12 step with him.

smackeddog wrote:I remember the joy and relief upon hearing Layden had finally been fired, never suspecting that his replacement would somehow manage to be even worse in a completely different kind of way.

I suppose, to be fair, didn't Checketts say a few years ago that Layden was never intended to be the true GM- the idea was that he would be Checketts number cruncher/scout/practical issues (all of which he was more suited for), while Checketts himself would make the decisions. Alas Checketts got fired soon after and the Layden regime began in earnest. That kind of makes his hiring make more sense- he was a terrible terrible fit as GM of a NY team (didn't he used to attend practices in shorts and open toed sandals?).

He might actually be well suited to the Spurs role.

Anyway, here's a nice trip down memory lane, written the day he was fired:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2003/basketball/nba/12/22/knicks.layden.ap/?cnn=yes

It makes sense. Layden was the perfect hire after checketts as Dolan could be the face of management and Layden could just be the Basketball geek.

Im not being negative BTW, just revisionist. The era sucked. Whats the one consistent factor thru 13 years of suckatude? Dolan.

WE all rejoiced when Layden was fired and Isiah was starphuched in except for a few. Why? Cuz we got to figure who the captain of the ship was and so long as he is there has been bad management. One might even construe its still happening. Not to beat the dead horse again, but ONE PART of Lin leaving is Dolan taking it personal. )Ok, Just one part of many. not saying its just dolan so lets not go there again.)

Layden was a bad hire for the job of GM of the knicks but one Dolan's ego could handle.

Im curious to what the game plan is for the spurs the next few years as Duncan, manu and to a lessor extent Parker age out.

How long do they ride this and do they trade Parker for some value or let him retire a Spur? Is this a multi year plan of rebuilding to also include "tanking" or can they manage it near seemless?

I hope he does well there.

Bonn1997 wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:People are starting to catch on to the fact that failing under Dolan doesn't mean you suck

Layden and Isiah sucked. Layden is a nice guy and has a ton of connections in the league. I think it has more to do with that then it does who his boss was when he made his case for worst nba executive on the planet.

If he didn't fit within a broader pattern of individuals leaving their time with Isiah with much worse reputations than they came in with, I'd give your view more credibility.

Here are the transactions that he made during his Knick tenure. I think his record stands alone regardless of others.

SEASON 2003-04

December 22 2003
Fired by the New York Knicks.
October 27 2003
Waived guard Matt Carroll and center Travis Knight.
October 21 2003
Waived guard Tommy Adams.
October 9 2003
Signed center Dikembe Mutombo and waived Ronald Blackshear.
September 29 2003
Signed guards Matt Carroll, Tommy Adams and Ronald Blackshear.
August 13 2003
Signed forward Maciej Lampe.
July 23 2003
Traded guard Latrell Sprewell to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Keith Van Horn from the Philadelphia 76ers and signed center Slavko Vranes.
July 7 2003
Signed forward Mike Sweetney.
Draft 2003
Selected forwards Mike Sweetney (9th overall pick) and Maciej Lampe (30th overall pick) and center Slavko Vranes (39th overall pick).
June 20 2003
Named Lon Kruger assistant coach.
May 30 2003
Named Brendan Malone assistant coach and Michael Malone assistant coach and advance scout.

SEASON 2002-03

April 15 2003
Signed head coach Don Chaney to a multi-year contract extension.
October 30 2002
Signed forward Lee Nailon.
October 29 2002
Signed coach Don Chaney to a contract extension; waived guard Toby Bailey.
October 24 2002
Waived guard Danny Johnson.
October 23 2002
Waived guard Jemeil Rich.
October 21 2002
Waived center Todd Lindeman.
September 30 2002
Signed guards Toby Bailey, Danny Johnson and Jemeil Rich, forwards Tim James and Mark Pope and center Todd Lindeman.
August 7 2002
Signed center Michael Doleac.
July 8 2002
Signed guard Frank Williams to a three-year contract.
Draft 2002
Selected forward Nenê (7th overall pick) and guard Milos Vujanic (36th overall pick.)
Traded center Marcus Camby, guard Mark Jackson and the draft rights to forward Nenê to the Denver Nuggets for forward Antonio McDyess, the draft rights to guard Frank Williams and a 2003 second-round draft pick.

SEASON 2001-02

March 5 2002
Extended the contract of coach Don Chaney.
December 30 2001
Named Herb Williams assistant coach.
December 10 2001
Named Don Chaney coach for the remainder of the 2001-02 season.
December 8 2001
Announced the resignation of coach Jeff Van Gundy.
October 25 2001
Waived forward Michael Wright.
October 12 2001
Waived guard Ed Cota and guard-forward Michael Hicks.
October 10 2001
Waived forward Larry Johnson, who announced his retirement.
October 1 2001
Re-signed guard Lavor Postell; signed forward Michael Wright, guard Ed Cota and guard-forwards Michael Hicks and Larry Robinson.
September 28 2001
Re-signed center Felton Spencer.
September 25 2001
Waived center Luc Longley.
August 10 2001
Traded forward Glen Rice to the Houston Rockets and guard Muggsy Bogues to the Dallas Mavericks for guard Howard Eisley from the Dallas Mavericks and forward Shandon Anderson from the Houston Rockets.
July 23 2001
Re-signed free agent guard Allan Houston to a multi-year contract.
Draft 2001
Selected forward Michael Wright (39th overall pick) and center Eric Chenowith (43rd overall pick).

SEASON 2000-01

February 22 2001
Traded guard Chris Childs and a 2001 first-round pick to the Toronto Raptors for guards Mark Jackson and Muggsy Bogues.
Jan 30 2001
Traded guard Erick Strickland and 2001 first- and second-round draft picks to the Vancouver Grizzlies for forward Othella Harrington.
January 5 2001
Waived forward Pete Mickeal.
October 26 2000
Waived guard Corey Beck and forward Lazaro Borrell.
October 20 2000
Waived center Vladimir Stepania.
October 7 2000
Waived guard John Celestand and forward Stephen Howard.
October 5 2000
Waived guard Vernon Maxwell.
October 3 2000
Signed guards Lavor Postell and John Celestand, forwards Pete Mickeal and Jonathan Kerner and centers Felton Spencer and Stephen Howard.
September 20 2000
Traded Patrick Ewing to the Seattle SuperSonics and Chris Dudley to the Phoenix Suns for forward Glen Rice, Vernon Maxwell and Lazaro Borrell, centers Luc Longley, Travis Knight and Vladimir Stepania, two 2001 first-round draft picks and two 2001 second-round draft picks.
September 1 2000
Named Kevin O'Neill assistant coach.
August 1 2000
Re-signed free agent forward Kurt Thomas.
Draft 2000
Selected forward Donnell Harvey (22nd overall pick) and guard Lavor Postell (39th overall pick).
Traded forward John Wallace and the draft rights to forward Donnell Harvey to the Dallas Mavericks for guard Erick Strickland and the rights to forward Pete Mickeal.

SEASON 1999-00

April 8 2000
Signed guard Brandon Williams to a 10-day contract.
March 1 2000
Signed forward Etdrick Bohannon to a second 10-day contract.
February 20 2000
Signed forward Etdrick Bohannon to a 10-day contract.
February 9 2000
Waived forward Mirsad Turkcan.
December 29 1999
Waived forward DeMarco Johnson.
November 11 1999
Signed guard Latrell Sprewell to a five-year contract extension.
November 1 1999
Waived forward Jimmy Oliver.
October 26 1999
Waived forward-center Ivano Newbill and forward Antonio Smith.
October 14 1999
Signed free agent guard Jimmy Oliver.
October 1 1999
Signed free agent forwards Ivano Newbill and Antonio Smith.
September 28 1999
Waived center Herb Williams; signed free-agent center Andrew Lang, who had been with the Chicago Bulls.
September 21 1999
Re-signed guard Rick Brunson.
September 10 1999
Signed forward DeMarco Johnson.
September 1 1999
Re-signed guard-forward David Wingate

Nalod wrote:
How bout this and make it easy:

Dolan hired Layden. So who sucks?

with all the HOF talent we have bought in to coach an GM (Donnie will be a HOF exec one day) its amazing how we seem to negate the talent?

Why is that? Media?

Bonn1997 wrote:People are starting to catch on to the fact that failing under Dolan doesn't mean you suck

Will you get off his nutz?

Bonn1997 wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:People are starting to catch on to the fact that failing under Dolan doesn't mean you suck

Layden and Isiah sucked. Layden is a nice guy and has a ton of connections in the league. I think it has more to do with that then it does who his boss was when he made his case for worst nba executive on the planet.

If he didn't fit within a broader pattern of individuals leaving their time with Isiah with much worse reputations than they came in with, I'd give your view more credibility.

Here are the transactions that he made during his Knick tenure. I think his record stands alone regardless of others.

SEASON 2003-04

December 22 2003
Fired by the New York Knicks.
October 27 2003
Waived guard Matt Carroll and center Travis Knight.
October 21 2003
Waived guard Tommy Adams.
October 9 2003
Signed center Dikembe Mutombo and waived Ronald Blackshear.
September 29 2003
Signed guards Matt Carroll, Tommy Adams and Ronald Blackshear.
August 13 2003
Signed forward Maciej Lampe.
July 23 2003
Traded guard Latrell Sprewell to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Keith Van Horn from the Philadelphia 76ers and signed center Slavko Vranes.
July 7 2003
Signed forward Mike Sweetney.
Draft 2003
Selected forwards Mike Sweetney (9th overall pick) and Maciej Lampe (30th overall pick) and center Slavko Vranes (39th overall pick).
June 20 2003
Named Lon Kruger assistant coach.
May 30 2003
Named Brendan Malone assistant coach and Michael Malone assistant coach and advance scout.

SEASON 2002-03

April 15 2003
Signed head coach Don Chaney to a multi-year contract extension.
October 30 2002
Signed forward Lee Nailon.
October 29 2002
Signed coach Don Chaney to a contract extension; waived guard Toby Bailey.
October 24 2002
Waived guard Danny Johnson.
October 23 2002
Waived guard Jemeil Rich.
October 21 2002
Waived center Todd Lindeman.
September 30 2002
Signed guards Toby Bailey, Danny Johnson and Jemeil Rich, forwards Tim James and Mark Pope and center Todd Lindeman.
August 7 2002
Signed center Michael Doleac.
July 8 2002
Signed guard Frank Williams to a three-year contract.
Draft 2002
Selected forward Nenê (7th overall pick) and guard Milos Vujanic (36th overall pick.)
Traded center Marcus Camby, guard Mark Jackson and the draft rights to forward Nenê to the Denver Nuggets for forward Antonio McDyess, the draft rights to guard Frank Williams and a 2003 second-round draft pick.

SEASON 2001-02

March 5 2002
Extended the contract of coach Don Chaney.
December 30 2001
Named Herb Williams assistant coach.
December 10 2001
Named Don Chaney coach for the remainder of the 2001-02 season.
December 8 2001
Announced the resignation of coach Jeff Van Gundy.
October 25 2001
Waived forward Michael Wright.
October 12 2001
Waived guard Ed Cota and guard-forward Michael Hicks.
October 10 2001
Waived forward Larry Johnson, who announced his retirement.
October 1 2001
Re-signed guard Lavor Postell; signed forward Michael Wright, guard Ed Cota and guard-forwards Michael Hicks and Larry Robinson.
September 28 2001
Re-signed center Felton Spencer.
September 25 2001
Waived center Luc Longley.
August 10 2001
Traded forward Glen Rice to the Houston Rockets and guard Muggsy Bogues to the Dallas Mavericks for guard Howard Eisley from the Dallas Mavericks and forward Shandon Anderson from the Houston Rockets.
July 23 2001
Re-signed free agent guard Allan Houston to a multi-year contract.
Draft 2001
Selected forward Michael Wright (39th overall pick) and center Eric Chenowith (43rd overall pick).

SEASON 2000-01

February 22 2001
Traded guard Chris Childs and a 2001 first-round pick to the Toronto Raptors for guards Mark Jackson and Muggsy Bogues.
Jan 30 2001
Traded guard Erick Strickland and 2001 first- and second-round draft picks to the Vancouver Grizzlies for forward Othella Harrington.
January 5 2001
Waived forward Pete Mickeal.
October 26 2000
Waived guard Corey Beck and forward Lazaro Borrell.
October 20 2000
Waived center Vladimir Stepania.
October 7 2000
Waived guard John Celestand and forward Stephen Howard.
October 5 2000
Waived guard Vernon Maxwell.
October 3 2000
Signed guards Lavor Postell and John Celestand, forwards Pete Mickeal and Jonathan Kerner and centers Felton Spencer and Stephen Howard.
September 20 2000
Traded Patrick Ewing to the Seattle SuperSonics and Chris Dudley to the Phoenix Suns for forward Glen Rice, Vernon Maxwell and Lazaro Borrell, centers Luc Longley, Travis Knight and Vladimir Stepania, two 2001 first-round draft picks and two 2001 second-round draft picks.
September 1 2000
Named Kevin O'Neill assistant coach.
August 1 2000
Re-signed free agent forward Kurt Thomas.
Draft 2000
Selected forward Donnell Harvey (22nd overall pick) and guard Lavor Postell (39th overall pick).
Traded forward John Wallace and the draft rights to forward Donnell Harvey to the Dallas Mavericks for guard Erick Strickland and the rights to forward Pete Mickeal.

SEASON 1999-00

April 8 2000
Signed guard Brandon Williams to a 10-day contract.
March 1 2000
Signed forward Etdrick Bohannon to a second 10-day contract.
February 20 2000
Signed forward Etdrick Bohannon to a 10-day contract.
February 9 2000
Waived forward Mirsad Turkcan.
December 29 1999
Waived forward DeMarco Johnson.
November 11 1999
Signed guard Latrell Sprewell to a five-year contract extension.
November 1 1999
Waived forward Jimmy Oliver.
October 26 1999
Waived forward-center Ivano Newbill and forward Antonio Smith.
October 14 1999
Signed free agent guard Jimmy Oliver.
October 1 1999
Signed free agent forwards Ivano Newbill and Antonio Smith.
September 28 1999
Waived center Herb Williams; signed free-agent center Andrew Lang, who had been with the Chicago Bulls.
September 21 1999
Re-signed guard Rick Brunson.
September 10 1999
Signed forward DeMarco Johnson.
September 1 1999
Re-signed guard-forward David Wingate

When your owner won't let you rebuild, you trade for veterans and hope you can put together a .500 team. You have a myopic view IMO.

arkrud wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:

Nalod wrote:
How bout this and make it easy:

Dolan hired Layden. So who sucks?

with all the HOF talent we have bought in to coach an GM (Donnie will be a HOF exec one day) its amazing how we seem to negate the talent?

Why is that? Media?

Also, Stern pushed Dolan into hiring Walsh or someone with Walsh's pedigree. I think Walsh was chosen because he would take the high road with Isiah. Also, Walsh's tenure was successful because he brought back respectability to the franchise. His trades, drafts, hirings and signings were mediocre to poor in my opinion.

With the garbage cast he get and Dolan with Isiah on his back he did fantastic job... He made zomby club relevant and wathcable again.
It took Jimmy no time to destroy the hope for the chip, but we get very good players with assets Walsh assembled.
Walsh is forever bbal man, Dolan and Isiah forever losers and clowns of NBA.