If you?re looking for some interesting weekend reading material, ESPN has a series of pieces about general managers on its site.

Jeffrey Denberg starts it off with a review of the different types of GM?s.  For starters, there?s the president/GM who runs the franchise like a little Napoleon.    This includes people like Geoff Petrie and Jerry West.

Then there are the bottom line GM?s like Elgin Baylor and Bob Bass.  They run the team, but can?t spend much money.  Coach/GM?s like Don Nelson get to choose the players they coach, and a right-hand man GM like Billy King helps keep coach Brown in check.

There are several other items.  ESPN?s team of NBA experts ranks the GM?s.  While they may rave about MJ?s management capabilities, the Wiz? titular head, Wes Unseld, ranks last.

Frank Hughes does a piece on Jerry West, his pick for the top GM.  He describes how West targeted the Sonics to snag either Jerome James or Earl Watson, coming up with Watson.

Peter May gives a review of five of his top picks for GM.  He includes Kiki Vandeweghe in his top-five.  This pick might make a few heads turn, but he has good reasons for it.

There are also pieces on Rod Thorn and Geoff Petrie.