ESPN just released a survey of 20 coaches, executives, and scouts from across the NBA. These surveys typically have the standard top-tier answers, but there are also always hilarious answers and quotes from the bottom end of these surveys. Here are the questions, their top answers, and then the best answer in my opinion.
Who is the Best Player in the NBA?
Answer: Kawhi Leonard (12), Giannis Antetokounmpo (6)
Best Answer: James Harden (2)
Someone from the Rockets is definitely in this survey, as shown by later answers. But, the other person who seriously tells themselves them Harden is the best in the league needs to reconsider the way they evaluate the game. This one isn’t that egregious.
What move from the summer did you like most?
Answer: Clippers getting Kawhi and PG (10)
Best Answer: Dallas re-signing Dorian Finney-Smith (1)
This is my favorite. What’s adding two All-NBA players like the Clippers or Nets did compared to getting DFS back? Nothing. Horford to Philly? Zion and pieces to NO? Amateur hour. Locking up Dorian Finney-Smith on a three-year $12 million deal? Genius. Where else can you get 7.5 and 5 on 43/31/70?
What was the worst move form the summer?
Answer: Knicks offseason (6), Rubio to PHX (6)
Best Answer: Wizards giving up Tomas Satoransky (1)
I barely batted an eye watching the Knicks get about as many power forwards as LeBron promised rings in Miami. However, the Wizards letting point god Tomas Satoransky walk for nothing? I was (and still am) livid. You can’t let a guy like Satoransky walk for nothing. It’s inexcusable, and I think it’s unequivocally the worst Wizards front office move in history. Nothing is close to this.
What was the most surprising move of the summer?
Answer: Horford to Philly (6)
Best Answer: Niko Miritic to Barcelona (1)
This isn’t a joke, it’s true. I still can’t believe this happened.
Why are teams moving first-round picks more than ever before?
Answer: Prioritizing winning now (9)
Best answer: The draft is random (1)
This is also a great answer. The draft is hard. You never know where your pick is going to be, so why do it? Just trade your picks. It’s easier.
Who will be the conference champion?
East: Milwaukee (12), Philly (8)
This is accurate.
West Answer: LAC (16)
West Best Answer: Denver (2), Utah (1), Houston (1)
I love how blatant this is. Denver at least has someone else on board, but Utah and Houston with the broad daylight vote for themselves move. I love it.
Who will win the title?
Answer: LAC (13)
Best Answer: Denver (1), Utah (1), Houston (1)
This is even better. Commit to the NBA Survey bit! This is like a high school superlative sheet where someone just voted for themselves even for the bizarre ones that barely apply. Houston putting itself down for the title is that person putting themselves down for most likely to travel the world when they’ve never left the state.
Best Quotes from the NBA Survey
“His scoring is just special,” an executive (Daryl Morey) said when asked to explain why Harden was his choice. “His ability to elevate a team with his offense as a passer and scorer is as good as it gets. To rely on him to carry an offense every night and stay healthy, he’d be my No. 1 guy.”
On the Knicks: “Some people were like they did a good job keeping their powder dry, but I don’t even like [Julius] Randle, so I don’t get what they did,” an Eastern Conference executive said.
On Ricky Rubio: “They paid him a lot of money, and he isn’t very good,” an Eastern Conference scout said.
And, finally:
On JJ Redick: “For a guy who could’ve picked anywhere to play and who had been looking to be contending teams, then he goes to New Orleans?” a Western Conference assistant coach asked.