Where the Lakers go from here!!

[Thumper]

Amnesty?

Near as I can tell it dumps salary and helps to avoid the penalty tax. Luxury.

Start with Kobe. (Yeah, I said it) Well, just to understand amnesty. Kobe gets 35 mil $ for one year. You could say it is almost like Peyton Manning. If we want to sing D12 then it's the 118 mil $ and 86 mil $. It might seem nice to get rid of 35 mil $ i.e., Kobe Bryant.

If you thought he was too injured- leg surgery- and old... You waive him and save $35 mil.

But I guess that's out.

Next in salary is Pau at 19 mil $. So you could zap that out. But supposedly you can get some studs or picks for him so I guess you trade him if you can get any value. Which I tend to doubt.

Then MWP- Ron Artest- Obvious amnesty but only save you 7.7 mil $ or so I think. Not much savings if Kobe gets his 35 mil $ and Pau gets 19 mil $ and you re-sign D12 for around 200 mil $ with tax.

 

[DownSetHutch]

Blue's outline is on the money. That would be our best-case scenario, and even at that we are looking at a down year next year. That's okay. I'll take it, because if we don't end up getting Phil back in some capacity and Jeannie doesn't end up running the show.... I can't see the light at the end of that dark tunnel.

And we should definitely keep Blake for now, after the way he stepped up from the beginning of the season and last year. He's not the most talented player in the world, but he has grown and showed that he has heart. As for Howard, I would like to keep him for now and see if we can build a Championship team with him (not around him). He could help attract talent and he can definitely play better than what he did this season, which statistically was pretty good. His offensive game has more holes than donut shop, but with some more effective outside shooting it would help him out tremendously. Maybe he only gets stripped 5 times/game instead of 10. (Gawd, that's frustrating to watch.) But I think we need him for now, shitty passing and all. He will never have the leadership of Kareem, but he could still grow, both offensively and attitude-wise, with the right coaching and talent around him.

 

[Thumper]

btw, Why does anybody assume that Jeannie knows b-ball better than her Bro?

Papa left Son/Bro in charge of b-ball. I thought Papa was a basketball genius. He didn't put Jeannie in charge.

So she's an "expert" because she banged a coach???

What if Junior has the new & approved gay sex with Coach D'?

Then you will respect him as much as Jeannie?

 

[Thumper]

btw, Kupchak is a great GM!

All of this Only Jeannie and Old Man Phil can Save us nonsense is a serious insult to Kupchak!

Stop the Kupchak Hate!

 

[wildturkey]

btw, Why does anybody assume that Jeannie knows b-ball better than her Bro?

Papa left Son/Bro in charge of b-ball. I thought Papa was a basketball genius. He didn't put Jeannie in charge.

So she's an "expert" because she banged a coach???

What if Junior has the new & approved gay sex with Coach D'?

Then you will respect him as much as Jeannie?

The assumption people make is Jeannie would let basketball minds like Kupcheck make those decisions without interference. She knows enough to let guys like West and Kupcheck do their jobs

 

[Thumper]

I see.

Still it seems to me like to much ingrained hate too soon for Son of Buss.

The team wasted a training camp with Mike Brown and couldn't win with The Princeton Offense. So they rush D'Antoni in. If Nash hadn't got hurt for a long time right out of the gate- it could have been smooth sailing from the get go- but Nash broke his leg right off. Kobe wanted D'Antoni and so did Nash! Don't Kobe & Nash know b-ball??? And Son of Buss got him- like Kobe wanted! Is that his big crime? Listening to "idiots" like multiple MVP Kobe Bryant & multiple MVP Steve Nash?

Phil left way back when because he was too old and banged up. Years ago! Get over it! Sounds like Raiders fans... Gruden is always coming back!!!

Yeah, right. Phil Jackson is not coming back.

Son of Buss won't fork over the team to Jeannie & Magic.

 

[bluepigpen]

Well if Jimmie stays as the operations guy, you might as well root for the Clippers at the Staples Center, because at this rate the banners will fade and fray before another one is hoisted to the rafters.

 

[Thumper]

Well if Jimmie stays as the operations guy, you might as well root for the Clippers at the Staples Center, because at this rate the banners will fade and fray before another one is hoisted to the rafters.

Explain. It's doom and gloom, because Doctor Buss, having plenty of other options, put his son in charge?

So know YOU GUYS know more than Doctor Buss?

And his Son who learned at his right hand for his whole life?

And how do you know this?

How do you know he is so terrible?

Because he helped to get Dwight, like Kobe wanted?

Because he got Nash, like Kobe wanted?

Because he got D'Antoni, like Kobe wanted?

Because in rainbow unicorn fantasyland with Queen Jeannie and King Phil (the genius guy who banged the Boss' daughter & Bro's Sister) in charge; they pull all the right strings and say SCREW YOU KOBE! Every time he asks for something???

 

[jayviabay]

Explain. It's doom and gloom, because Doctor Buss, having plenty of other options, put his son in charge?

So know YOU GUYS know more than Doctor Buss?

And his Son who learned at his right hand for his whole life?

And how do you know this?

How do you know he is so terrible?

Because he helped to get Dwight, like Kobe wanted?

Because he got Nash, like Kobe wanted?

Because he got D'Antoni, like Kobe wanted?

Because in rainbow unicorn fantasyland with Queen Jeannie and King Phil (the genius guy who banged the Boss' daughter & Bro's Sister) in charge; they pull all the right strings and say SCREW YOU KOBE! Every time he asks for something???

So, you have insight on who to give the credit to for bringing in free agents? Did Jim "help" bring them in or did he ok Mitch to make these moves? there is a big difference in the two but im very confident that you know this.

Most of us dont Hate Dantoni but we are aware of what it takes for his brand of basketball to work and the personnel the lakers employ will not work. something has to give. Have you ever tried to put a square peg in a round hole?

 

[Thumper]

Maybe they will get rid of D'Antoni. You don't know they won't. Dwight could demand it. If you want to slow it down and play half-court and pound it down low every time. No more Showtime. Yeah, then I guess D'Antoni is not the guy.

I'd rather see uptempo and get he players he wants. Ultimately the team has to be getting younger and faster. I still think The Steves can QB it when both get healthy.

Or I could just join in to the chorus. "We are doomed. Only Queen Jeannie can save us! She boinked Great King Phil. Prince Jimmy Buss did not boink him. Praise the Queen!"

 

[jayviabay]

I agree, they need to get younger and faster but they also need guys who can play defense. The steves can QB this system but they are a liability when it comes to guarding the parkers, westbrooks, the list goes on..., in this league. They cant stop penetration with a steel chastity belt.

Jeannie might not be the answer but Jim appears to be one thus far, that throws things up on the ceiling and waits to see what sticks...

 

[Retroram52]

Thumper. Good grief dude. Don't you read anything? All of these statements about getting over Phil and other things you are posting here make little sense and have the appearance of some sort of rant. Duh? Dr. Buss is dead and is not making any decisions. The franchise has a FO problem and that has been well documented.

Phil is not coming back as coach per se. He has already stated such even though some may want that. However, he may change his mind if the right situation arises. He has already stated that. Phil wants the GM spot and some part of ownership as Jeanie and he are engaged.

The present situation is this: Dr. Buss's Will left the Lakers franchise in the charge of his 6 children as a collective. Presently, Jeanie is the governor of that collective meaning she has the ultimate final say on the business of the franchise. She is also the Executive VP in charge of that side of the franchise and Jim was left to run the basketball side of the operation mainly personnel decisions. He works with Mitch mostly. He has been doing this for just 6 years. Jeanie has been running several frnachises formerly owned by Dr. Buss when he was still alive for nearly 30 years including being involved in both the business and basketball side of the Lakers franchise dating back to the Jerry West (GM)/Pat Riley (head coach) era working with her father directly. She has way more experience than Jim and has a better business and basketball acumen that equals her father's transactional history.

Presently, Jim and Jeanie are not speaking to one another and Jim hates Phil Jackson and vice versa. Jim has removed nearly all of the scouting department and much of the physical representation of the three championships that Phil helped bring to the Lakers during his tenure as head coach. Past players and some present players do not like or trust Jim Buss because he has a tendency to be reclusive and indecisive. He meddles alot in Mitch's business and often second-guesses Mitch's decisions and Jim absolutely requires Mitch to discuss every minute detail with him before he can do anything. Mitch had to convince Jim to bring Dwight to the Lakers by letting Bynum go and the six children were also in the loop.

Many would like to see Jeanie takeover full control of the Lakers because of her successful history at running the LA blades, the Great Western Forum, etc., and many personnel decisions she help make over the years with her dad and the Lakers. She has been named female executive of the year on several occasions. She is just a better fit and many around the organization trust her basketball and business prowess over Jim's. Thus the suggestion by many on this board to replace Jim with Jeanie and Mitch with Phil.

Because there is a rift with the two, that does not bode well for winning and proceeding forward in an organized fashion. Since their scouting department has been gutted, Mitch's hands have been tied and he is behind other clubs who have that data to make more effective personnel decisions. For example, Jeanie did not want to sign Nash because she stated he was two old and she did not like giving up two #1's for him. But Jim did. There is also a whole confusing history on the hiring of Mike Brown and D'Antoni as well. Jeanie wanted B. Shaw as the coach. Jim Buss brought in Mike Brown and then was the major motivation for hiring D'Antoni even though it was reported Dr. Buss (when he was still alive) supposedly signed off on it.

So, now do you get some of what is being dscussed or are you still confused? If so, do some reading before all of this whatever it is you are posting.

 

[Big Red Slugs]

Just came across this thread. Great posts, fellas.

I never thought that bringing Phil into a coach/personnel role would discharge Mitch or even Jim. For years the Lakers were managed by a three-fold approach of Mitch, Dr. B, and Jimmy. Now there's a void left by Dr. B, why not fill it with Phil?

 

[Big Red Slugs]

The assumption people make is Jeannie would let basketball minds like Kupcheck make those decisions without interference. She knows enough to let guys like West and Kupcheck do their jobs

 

[Retroram52]

BRS: That is an absolute valid point the the Lakers were often a three-headed monster. Before that it was Dr. Buss, Jerry West, and Jeanie. The only problems with having the three-heads of Jim, Mitch, and Phil is that Jim hates Phil and vice versa and they both refuse to work together. Thus, the desire of many to replace Jim with Jeanine and have Mitch and Phil work together in some capacity. What that would be is anybody's guess because Phil has aspirations for ownership which Jim has already blocked on several occasions. So we now have a family feud which has filtered down to the players and is exeplified by D12's recent rant about the lack of chemistry.

 

[Big Red Slugs]

And I'm not sure we have to use the amnesty provision on Metta.

Next season is his option. He's been saying for a while, and increasingly lately, that he's always wanted to finish his career in New York. I would imagine there's enough open communication between Metta and the Lakers that they would all agree for Metta to just not pick up his option for next season instead of "embarrassing" him with an amnesty, much less wasting it.

 

[trojanfan12]

The assumption people make is Jeannie would let basketball minds like Kupcheck make those decisions without interference. She knows enough to let guys like West and Kupcheck do their jobs

Exactly!! A big part of what made the Lakers so successful was that Dr. Buss hired the best basketball people that he could and then let them do their jobs.

Jim seems to think that he is one of those best basketball minds. According to everything that's been said, Jeannie would run the franchise more like her Dad. Plus, having a direct line to Phil can't hurt!!

 

[LAKERSUSCBAM]

My $ is on PJ being on some teams' front office, not coaching. After his bout with cancer, seriously doubt he'd want to go through the rigors of what it's involved being a head coach. He's smarter than that plus he's surpassed Red for all-time so what does he have left to prove.....

BShaw would be awesome as coach if Jeanie might take over from her bro. A lot of if's in Laker-land but we wouldn't have it any other way as history has shown.

 

[Thumper]

Frankly, I would be much more interested in real talk about whether or not to re-sign Dwight and whom to amnesty. And what about Pau.

But if you want to keep talking about Jeannie Buss and Phil Jackson- go ahead and carry on.

 

[Thumper]

And I'm not sure we have to use the amnesty provision on Metta.

Next season is his option. He's been saying for a while, and increasingly lately, that he's always wanted to finish his career in New York. I would imagine there's enough open communication between Metta and the Lakers that they would all agree for Metta to just not pick up his option for next season instead of "embarrassing" him with an amnesty, much less wasting it.

Good point, BRS. MWP has to go. so he can not re-new the option and be spared the amnesty. But then whom do they use it on?