ESPN ranks David Griffin’s as the NBA’s fifth best GM

According to a survey from ESPN, Cavaliers GM David Griffin is the NBA’s fifth best GM.

Ahead of Griffin on the list are, in order from No. 1 to No. 4, Spurs president/GM combo Gregg Popovich and R.C. Buford, Warriors GM Bob Myers, Celtics president Danny Ainge and Rockets GM Daryl Morey. Rounding out the top-10 are the Raptors’ president/GM duo of Masai Ujiri and Jeff Weltman, Heat president/GM combo Pat Riley and Andy Elisburg, Jazz GM Dennis Lindsey, Thunder GM Sam Presti and Mavericks GM Donnie Nelson.

Griffin’s ranking shouldn’t come as a surprise. In a short time - basically a summer - he signed LeBron James, got Kyrie Irving to sign a five-year extension, acquired Kevin Love from the Timberwolves and laid the foundation for all the smaller, but important, moves the team has made in the last 2.5 years. Interestingly, Griffin’s 8.07 rating feel squarely in the middle of Morey at No. 4 and Toronto’s duo at No. 6. In short: he serves as a buffer of sorts between the elite GMs and those just outside.

Earlier in the week, the ESPN panel ranked Tyronn Lue as the NBA’s seventh best coach and the Cavs sixth overall in management.