Just out of curiosity, who are the GMs that nail every draft pick, including ones in the 20s?
I don't think DL's earned criticism is defined to other GM's nailing every pick comparison. There's obviously his stupid trades to consider, as well as his lack of doing anything or nothing at all when it comes down to the off-season, including trading players instead of losing them without recouping any assets. Ok, DL came in 2012 as GM so let's get 2013 out of the way, because I know your about to talk about acquiring Gobert. He did a great job there, but that same year he failed drafting Trey Burke instead of CJ McCollum, Steven Adams or Giannis Antetokounmpo. (Maybe you have heard of him)
2014
5th pick, Dante Exum, can't blame him for this one as Exum was hyped up as a top 3 guy.
23rd pick, Rodney Hood. Not a bad pick, but we lost him to Cleveland for Jae Crowder, who we all like but is only with us for the upcoming season at $7.8 million. You could argue that hood, with his youth and his talent would be better to build on.
2015
12th Pick, Jazz draft Trey Lyles.
2016
12th Pick, Jazz draft Taureen Prince. (Who is traded for George Hill in a 3 way trade between Pacers and Hawk. Pacers send Hill to the Jazz, Jazz send Prince to the Hawks, and Hawks send Jeff Teague to the Pacers.) Prince went on to excel with the Hawks, and Hill was eventually lost for nothing in free agency. So much for that.
2017
This was the highlight of DL's career and what got him his promotion. (Although there are many mistakes made before and after this one miraculous trade)
Jazz acquire Donovan Mitchell from the Denver Nuggets for Trey Lyles, the 24th pick, 30th and 42nd pick acquiring Tony Bradley.
2018
21st pick, Grayson Allen (Nobody cares)
Now that draft picks are out of the way, here's why he really sucks.
-Trading Enes Kanter for pennies.
Jazz receive Grant Jarrett (who?), Kendrick Perkins (he sucked and was immediately waived) as well as draft rights to Pleiss.
-Not trading Hayward when common sense told us he was not staying with the Jazz.
Not only were there rumors and past coaching ties to him and Boston, but his wife posted their baby wearing a shamrock onesy and commented on their soon to be departure. (2 months before the trade deadline). Why would DL not want to recoup talent?
-Trading Alec Burks, and two 2nd round picks for a 37 year old Kyle Korver. Alec may have not been working out, but you can' negotiate any better than that? He doesn't value 2nd round pics at all.
Long response to your question. I don't know the GM's that are nailing every draft, or every decision. But I can tell you that non of them are being promoted when they post a season with more failure's than their team did the year before, while holding a higher national expectation of success. I don't know of an organization that promotes GM's for being ok with their lack of ability to not build a title contending team. This is why Utah needs a championship. Even our own fans are accepting the fact that Ekpe Udoh, or Tony Bradley, or Kyle O'Quinn are acceptable improvements to our Roster.
The reason other organizations don't talk smack about DL and his GM responsibilities is because he makes other teams better, instead of his own. They know they just have to smile and waive and eventually, he will give them their chance. He may not be our GM anymore, but I don't like the fact that he was promoted. That's unacceptable to me.