The Toronto Raptors have concluded interviews for their vacant GM position and according to Yahoo! Sports, San Antonio Spurs’ Dennis Lindsey is the top choice for Toronto:
There’s no clear frontrunner, but several sources have reason to believe Lindsey could hold an edge over the other three candidates.
The three other candidates are former Spurs scout Kevin Pritchard, Philadelphia’s Ed Stefanski, and former New Orleans GM Jeff Bower.
However, it could be that landing Lindsey will be tough for the Raptors.
Among the four executives, Lindsey is also the candidate most likely to turn down an offer. He has a top executive’s job under Spurs GM R.C. Buford in one of the NBA’s preeminent and respected front offices. He’d have to be willing to leave that for Toronto, where Colangelo and coach Dwane Casey are on two-year contracts with an ownership mandate to get things turned around sooner than later.
Even if Colangelo cedes the GM title to get Lindsey – something he’ll almost assuredly have to do – it’s hard to imagine that Colangelo, an NBA two-time executive of the year, won’t still wield significant clout on every basketball decision.
If the Raptors do want a tear a page out of the Spurs’ blueprint, then Lindsey is the smart choice. But, as the report states, Colangelo would have to give up control to make it happen. Right now Lindsey has freedom to do his job, which is conducive to making a successful franchise as the Spurs. Perhaps that should be the first lesson the Raptors should pick up from San Antonio.
Also, do not forget Lindsey is also in demand with the Blazers GM position as well.
