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Jeanie open to trading Kobe
It's a long read, but here are some interesting answers.
Ramona Shelburne: How often do you two talk?
Jeanie: As necessary. I don't think it has to be every day.
Jim: Jeanie's got multiple departments to cover: TV, the sponsors, just to name two. I have one department to cover. We can talk five times a day for three straight days. And then maybe a week or two will go by before we need to talk. If there's something that's big in basketball operations, then I contact Jeanie. A trade, a situation off the court, those kinds of things.
How do you make decisions among the six kids?
Jeanie: From my point of view, it's building consensus with all the siblings. Ultimately, I'm responsible for making the decision. But when it's a big decision or time to move in a certain direction, I like to inform everybody.
Jim, you've taken a lot of criticism for some of the decisions the Lakers have made over the years. How have you learned to deal with that?
Jim: We knew we were going to have to deal with the economics of the new collective bargaining agreement. By correcting our situation, it was going to be painful. Unfortunately, on top of correcting we had some severe injuries that knocked top players out for a year at a time. So I accept the responsibility for the criticism. I don't think it's correct, but I accept it. I understand the pain of Lakers fans. I feel the pain of losing too. But I have to focus on how we get out of this. And when I look at the flexibility and the position that we're in, we can't be in a better position to move forward.
The contract -- two years, $48.5 million -- you gave Kobe Bryant in 2013 has been referred to as a going-away present, similar to the contract your father gave Magic Johnson at the end of his career. Was there a message being sent with that contract?
Jim: I think it does send a message. We've been sending that message for 30 years. We take care of our players. For me, I believed in Kobe's ability to play at a high level. He deserves it.
Jeanie: I think there are a handful of guys in the league who are worth as much as he is. He's worth every penny.
There's been a lot of talk that this season is going so badly that you should trade Kobe. Set him free, so to speak. Is there any chance that happens?
Jim: No. I love Kobe Bryant. I think L.A. loves Kobe Bryant. I don't envision him going anywhere. I don't see it.
Jeanie: I don't want to see Kobe Bryant leave. But we understand the realities of the sports world. Take Shaq, for example. He was traded and played for several other teams. But once he retired, he asked us to retire his jersey. He wanted to be remembered as a Laker. So while I get attached, I know what the realities are in this business. It's never going to change what we've accomplished together. But I don't look forward to the day that Kobe Bryant's not in purple and gold.
Your 2015 first-round pick is owed to Phoenix as part of the Steve Nash trade unless it's in the top five. There is already talk that you should tank to try to keep that pick. How do you respond to that?
Jim: It will never happen here, period. The question is insulting. Our fans understand there's a process. They believe in the process -- the coach, Kobe, the draft pick [Julius Randle] and the flexibility we have going forward.
Jeanie: The teams that use tanking as a strategy are doing damage. If you're in tanking mode, that means you've got young players who you're teaching bad habits to. I think that's unforgivable. If you're tanking and you have young players or you keep a short roster, you're playing guys out of their position or too many minutes, you're risking injury. It's irresponsible and I don't think it belongs in any league.
It sounds as if Jeanie has a difference of opinion on who should have been hired as coach.
Jim: I've been on record as saying [hiring D'Antoni] was my dad's decision. I know that makes Jeanie uncomfortable, but I'd sit down with him for hours going over Laker decisions. In my opinion, he was sharp.
Jeanie: [Interrupts] Dad was in the hospital. I would always run things by Dad too. But he was in the hospital, not feeling well, and that is why he counted on us to make the decisions. So I agree that he would have input, but he needed my suggestion or Jimmy's suggestion or [GM Mitch Kupchak's] suggestion because he was confined and did not have access to all the information that we did
Jeanie wrote that it felt like she was being stabbed in the back by the way the situation with Phil Jackson was handled. Jim, how did that make you feel?
Jeanie: [Pressing her hands on the table] Can we not talk about feelings? I'm biased because I think Phil is wonderful. That's why I'm marrying him. You probably think your husband is great too. It's OK for me to be biased. It's OK for me to be disappointed. If it was a source of conflict between me and my brother, it's gone now.
Jim: It hurts me every day how this all went. I've apologized to Jeanie
Where are the Lakers in five years?
Jim: On top.
Jeanie: [Gestures toward Jim] I'm looking to him to make it happen, so I'd like to hear about that.
Jim, you were quoted in the L.A. Times last year as saying that if you can't turn the Lakers around in three years, you'd step down. Why did you say that?
Jim: That's been the plan all the way through. If I don't get to that point, then I've derailed it somewhere. I'll stick to that, and I have no problem sticking to that because everything is on track for us to be back on top.
Jeanie, what did you think when you read that?
Jeanie: There's no reason to worry because he feels confident that he'll be successful. So really, there's no reason to announce a timeline. But I think that, just like any business, if you're not meeting your expectations in an organization, you should expect a change.
http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/12...g-unforgivable
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Jeanie open to trading Kobe
^They'd have to get his permish.
^ he'll ask for one
I like how they threw their dad under the bus and are unashamed by it
I like how they threw their dad under the bus and are unashamed by itthat was Jim... then Jeanie goes for the "but he was in the hospital" lifesaver...
Jeanie sweetie, let me talk about your brother for a moment.
Until then, they'll have to get his permish.
Here, I'll do it:::without her brother we're light 2 NBA les. That's one more than you're light to the end of times.
Jeanie sweetie, let me talk about your brother for a moment.
Jimmy B: "I talked with dad's barely breathing, near-corpse for hours about D'Antoni. I don't want to sound corny here, but it was like Breakfast With... what was that guy's name? It doesn't matter: I never read it, but for the first time in my life- my dad agreed with everything I said! It was beautiful! Seriously, we cried. He nodded and groaned and a little drool fell to the floor and I swear: it was in the shape of a mustache. So yes: it was my pops who hired MDA. Suck it."
^I never saw a championship fanbase so angry.
He had no shame about blaming his own dead pop
I love you too, saggy-lumps.
Yooooooo....
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