Enterprise Pain Points

Isiah forgot what most project managers and corporate executives learn the hard way. 
 

By any objective measure Isiah is indeed the “Greatest” - named to the list of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA history. Barely six feet, he was in his day the grittiest performer to play guard. A feisty competitor with ball skills. He led the Detroit Pistons to back-to-back NBA championships. Undoubtably, Isiah has a great basketball mind.

In December 2003 after a Knick 15-24 start, Thomas was made president of basketball operations. Almost immediately, Isiah replaced Don Cheney with Lenny Wilkens, who later resigned and was followed by Larry Brown and a 5 year $50 million contract. Larry who had a history of turning around under-performing teams (Nets, Clippers) had a specific task to do.

 Wikipedia continues the saga -  ”In 2005 the Knicks’ payroll was the highest in the league at over $130 million, but the team was among the worst in the NBA, having finished the 2005-06 season with a dismal 23-59 record and capped off with the firing and $18.5 million buy-out of coach Larry Brown. Thomas’ trades have been highly critiqued, bringing in expensive players, such as Stephon Marbury, Jamal Crawford, Jerome James (signed as free agent), Malik Rose, Jalen Rose, and Steve Francis. Moreover, Thomas has also accepted many bad contracts to make these trades, such as those of Penny Hardaway, Jerome Williams, or Maurice Taylor, and given up draft picks. To Thomas’s credit his draft picks of David Lee, Channing Frye (later traded by Thomas), Trevor Ariza (later traded by Thomas) and Nate Robinson are considered wise, as was his signing free agent center Jackie Butler who later signed with the Spurs, Conversly, many considered his 2006 first-round draft pick of Renaldo Balkman very foolish, although Balkman’s better-than-expected play in his rookie season led many to initially reverse this early sentiment before his play regressed in his second season.”

The major mistake Isiah made, and the one he shares with several managers in corporate america - he failed to objectively assess progress in a rolling 3-6 month window, instead preferring to flirt with Anucha Browne Sanders (cost: $11.6 million),  the Thomas tax (cost: $137 million), and his legacy. 

Turn-araounds in the NBA are visible over a matter of months, not years, they are observable in 3-6 month periodic, directional review cycles. This is perhaps most important in the age of free agency, than when Isiah wore short pants. In the 5 years of Thomas’ reckoning the Knicks have lost attendance, concession, merchandise and ticket sales.For all of you budding managers and project managers.

Make sure  your project’s trend data is positive-directionally, and you have a plan to manage risks( things that could potentially go wrong). If you already do this consistently, where were you when Isiah needed you?