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Meh, theyll be contenders again in 3-4 years when they get another star or two.
In the months leading up to the lockout, the Lakers got rid of assistant general manager Ronnie Lester and most of his scouts. Rudy Garciduenas, the equipment manager for nearly 30 years, was let go. Alex McKechie, a renowned sports science expert, was told to pack up and was quickly scooped up by the Raptors. International scout Adam Fillippi wound up with the Bobcats.
The list goes on. Longtime associates of former coach Phil Jackson were let go as the Lakers tried to "wash off anything that had touched" the decorated coach, a person with ties to the front office said. Brian Shaw, Bryant's preference to succeed Jackson, was interviewed for the job but came away with the clear impression that any efforts to associate himself with Jackson would "hurt him, not help him," a coaching industry source said.
None of these people, who formed what a longtime NBA executive called one of the best front office staffs in the league, was given the courtesy of knowing whether they would be brought back after the lockout ended. Some are still waiting for that phone call.
Joey Buss, another son of the owner who runs the team's D-League franchise, has moved into Jackson's old office. Jesse Buss, 23, who was arrested for alcohol intoxication in Lexington, Ky., on a "scouting" trip in December, has moved into Lester's former office.
Not that anyone supposedly doing scouting or other basketball work is seen much around the team's facilities these days. Jim Buss, who supposedly is the team's director of player personnel, is virtually unreachable -- including by me. He didn't respond to my request for comment through the team's media relations department, and his direct number is not listed in the Lakers directory that is distributed to teams. Even people who work in the basketball operations department have "no clue who's on the staff," said a person with direct knowledge of the organization's structure.
"It would be interesting to find out who's doing the scouting," the person said.
Kupchak tried to fight to keep his staff, and his efforts were appreciated by some and viewed as not enough by others. The GM is "on an island by himself," said another person familiar with the situation.
"He doesn't know who to trust anymore," said another.
The advance pro scout, Clay Moser, was brought on board by coach Mike Brown. Of the three college scouts listed in the Lakers' media guide, Ryan West -- Jerry's son -- is the only one with a résumé and a workload. The others are Jesse Buss, who's currently unable to travel due to an injured leg, and a guy known throughout the organization simply as "Chaz." His name in the media guide is Charles Osborne, and supposedly he's a nice guy.
"A good guy," said a person who has dealt with the Lakers' front-office dysfunction in various management roles with other teams. "Great bartender."
That's right, the book on Chaz is that he's a former bartender who also happens to be longtime friends with Jim Buss from their days in the horseracing business. But if you're looking in bars and racetracks, you're much more likely to find a sports writer to chronicle this circus than a viable trade option for Gasol...
...The Lakers are a mess, have been decaying for a few years now. Once one of the finest and classiest organizations in sports, it is no longer a fun place to work, to put it mildly. From the Odom salary dump to nearly the entire scouting staff being thrown overboard, pennies are being pinched at a time when the Lakers have entered a 20-year regional cable deal worth a reported $3 billion.
"For such a storied franchise, supposedly first class and all that, it's not what you think behind the bars there," said the person who has dealt with the Lakers as a longtime executive with other teams. "It's overrated."
And in trouble. And if Bryant was trying to wake people up -- "embarrass" them, as he told the New York Post in December when describing the motivation behind his infamous 2007 trade demand -- it was a good try. Kupchak is just trying to hold what's left of the organization together, putting out statements and putting out fires. But no one else is around to listen, and so this one might blaze for a while.
"The other GMs know what's going on," said one of the people familiar with the Lakers' chaos. "Jim has no relationships with other GMs, and they also know they're going to be able to swoop in there and do things [in trades]. This is a real critical time. The chances of Dwight Howard coming in there are slim and none at this point."
Meh, theyll be contenders again in 3-4 years when they get another star or two.
I read this thought about posting, especially after the Grantland piece on the spurs ...
Not sure what to say. I will know more after march 15th and the June draft ...
Jesse Buss, 23, the new head scout?
non-issue?
how many ing kids does Jerry Buss have?
Jesse Buss, 23, the new head scout?
not as many as this guy:
"For such a storied franchise, supposedly first class and all that, it's not what you think behind the bars there," said the person who has dealt with the Lakers as a longtime executive with other teams. "It's overrated."
What fool actually believed that? Storied franchise built on questionable trades. Oh I'm sooo impressed
So the Rapist will become a assistant coach?
No Bulls les in the '80s.
What fool actually believed that? Storied franchise built on questionable trades. Oh I'm sooo impressed
Come on now, if Blazers draft MJ and/or if dumbass Sonics dont trade ya Scottie for Olden Polynice (on draft day) yall es are ringless right now ...
What fool actually believed that? Storied franchise built on questionable trades. Oh I'm sooo impressed
Those situations are numerous throughout NBA history making them moot. Pretty lame retort tbh
this was not a retort to be funny or garner
KEG was saying that Lakers were built by shady trades and was unimpressed. I pointed out the bulls were built by two of the dumbest draft day decisions in NBA history. There is a big difference. Plenty of teams have those man we should of taken X with those pick moments. But the Bulls dynasty was built on the infamous Bowie over Mj blunder and the draft day fleecing trade of Olden and Scottie. Until recently, the Bulls have been pretty irrelevant outside of their 90's dynasty ... and even though they hit the jackpot with rose and Noah ... signing Boozer has not been wise.
My point, the Lakers have consistently built and rebuilt le contenders while the Bulls have only one ...and were aided by in the inep ude of the Blazers/Sonics drafting ... You dont like it or understand the point your "lameass" can kick rocks ...
I hope Jerry puts Jeanie in command before he goes to that VIP box in the sky.
^Just pray it doesn't end like Debbie & Eddie DeBartolo in SF, or, Spelling's children up the street.
If he puts his son in command LAL will go to , Curly
He couldn't live forever. We're fortunate it as we got 30+ years.
- "Doesn't it go by in a blink?"
- Anthony Hopkins - "Meeting Joe Black"
lol Lakers
lol mediocre
What is remains a mystery to me is why Playboy Jerry is sitting back and allowing all of this to occur?
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