Pete Babcock is a former basketball executive who had a successful career in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He began his career as a scout for the Denver Nuggets in the 1970s before moving on to become the assistant general manager for the Atlanta Hawks in the 1980s. Babcock was promoted to general manager in 1990 and held the position until 2003.
During his tenure as general manager, Babcock was responsible for building the Hawks into a competitive team in the Eastern Conference. He made several key acquisitions, including drafting All-Star center Dikembe Mutombo in 1991 and trading for All-Star forward Steve Smith in 1994. Babcock also signed free agents such as Mookie Blaylock and Christian Laettner, who helped the Hawks reach the playoffs in seven consecutive seasons from 1994 to 2000.
Babcock's most notable move as general manager came in 1996 when he traded Dominique Wilkins, the franchise's all-time leading scorer, to the Los Angeles Clippers for Danny Manning. The move was controversial at the time, but it ultimately helped the Hawks reach the second round of the playoffs that season.
Despite his success in building the Hawks into a playoff contender, Babcock's tenure was not without its controversies. He was criticized for his handling of the team's coaching situation, as he fired popular coach Lenny Wilkens in 2000 and replaced him with Lon Kruger, who lasted just one season. Babcock also made several questionable draft picks, including selecting Lorenzen Wright over Kobe Bryant in the 1996 NBA Draft.
Babcock's time as general manager came to an end in 2003 when he was fired by the Hawks after the team missed the playoffs for the first time in eight seasons. He later worked as a scout for the New York Knicks and the Charlotte Bobcats before retiring from basketball in 2010.
Overall, Pete Babcock had a successful career as a basketball executive, helping to build the Atlanta Hawks into a playoff contender during the 1990s. While his tenure was not without its controversies, Babcock's contributions to the Hawks' success cannot be overlooked.
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