Mr. Management: R.C. Buford

The Man Behind the San Antonio Spurs' Success

If the San Antonio Spurs win the 2005 NBA Championship, they can thank one man: R.C. Buford. Who? Buford is the Spurs’ General Manager, a man in the shadow of more well-known GM’s like Jerry West, Joe Dumars, Isaiah Thomas and Larry Bird, hidden behind the twin towers of David Robinson and Tim Duncan during the Spurs recent run of success. General Managers, like some coaches, are apt to put their name out in public and crave the limelight, proving their worth through the opinions of random columnists and television talking heads. Buford, however, is almost never mentioned and never given credit for the Spurs’ success. Sure, he had nothing to do with David Robinson’s injury that put the Spurs into the lottery where they lucked into Tim Duncan. That was luck. However, every move henceforth has been genius. Buford snatched Tony Parker (2001) and Beno Udrih (2004) at the bottom of the first round; there likely is not a better point guard tandem in the league. Buford drafted Manu Ginobili with the 57th pick in the 1998 NBA Draft, after players like Leon Smith (29), John Celestand (30), Rico Hill (31), Michael Ruffin (31), Chris Herren (33), Evan Eschmeyer (34), Obinna Ekezie (37), Laron Profit (38), and AJ Bramlett (39). During last off-season, Buford allowed Hedo Turkoglu to go to Orlando and quickly signed Brent Barry as the ideal replacement. In the previous off-season, Buford signed the ideal complement to Duncan in the post in Robert Horry, an athletic four who can block shots, move and make the three-pointer. At the trade deadline in February, Buford made one of the least heralded, but most important trades. While the focus centered on Chris Webber and Antoine Walker, the two biggest trades in terms of impact were Houston acquiring Mike James to play point guard and be the important third option offensively, and the Spurs acquiring Nazr Mohammed. Mohammed is a role player, but adds the toughness around the basket the Spurs lacked. He improved an already stingy defense and provided Duncan some insurance around the hoop. And, incredibly, he provides salary cap relief too, as his contract is shorter and less expensive than that of Malik Rose. It is this type of trade and vision which sets Buford apart from his peers. Beyond Mohammed, the trade opened a spot next season for Luis Scola, an Argentine power forward drafted by the Spurs and currently playing in Europe. Buford builds his team without the luxury of a huge payroll, like in New York or even Detroit. The Spurs are among the most efficient teams in the league, winning the 2003 NBA Championship with the 17th highest payroll in the league. His ability to strengthen his team for this season’s championship run, while creating more salary cap flexibility for the future illustrates why RC Buford is simply the best in the business.