I am convinced Kobe had something to do with this. Think about it, Magic sends out the bat-signal last week, Kobe help, give me a day, whatever you got. You know Kobe at least called him right away, if for nothing else as a friend to say "sorry Magic, swamped with my new life" or whatever. So the phone call happens, and in it, of course they discuss Mitch and Jim. Then we find out today Pelinka is already contacting his clients, it's a done deal. My point is that this thing was set in motion a while ago, not in the last couple of days. I'm thinking Kobe brought Ron in a week ago or whenever he and Magic first talked. I think that conversation very quickly became a conference call with Rob. EDIT: Ok I just now saw the Sam Amick tweet. lol well at least I figured it out on my own. So technically I guess I meant I like Kobe's first move? lol. Being a basketball exec is doing exactly what Magic just did, using your contacts. He said he would contact Kobe and as it turns out it paid out big-time. I can't imaging this is a pay raise for Rob, most GMs make 1-3 mil and even at the high end of that I think he easily made as a top agent. Wow. Jim gave Kobe his last big contract even when injured and Kobe gave Jim his replacement. It's a cold world.
I'm cautiously optimistic about Pelinka, but not sure how we can call it that rousing of a success. He's not RC Buford. He's an unknown commodity in this capacity. Sharp as the guy is, he has no front office experience. That's worth noting.
Fair enough. I'm just trying to think of "the next." I don't want players (or front office people) past their prime. I want the guys who haven't reached their potential yet. Let's grow together. Pelinka, West jr, Luke, all our young players. Pelinka has proven to be a great agent by being able to manage players (egos and desires) and being able to work with GMs -- that's what he'll be doing again. Only difference is now he'll be working with other agents now. I doubt that'll be an issue.
I think more than anything today, I'm pleased with how the Lakers are being viewed in the media. It's too early today for me to say that we have drastically improved, Magic is a first timer, Pelinka is a first timer, only time will tell, but the Lakers' reputation took a step forward today, and that's a start. People have been laughing at us for far too long and saying Jim needed to go, well now he's gone and we at least in the short term have some very positive buzz.
Spoiler: Warning: NSFW - How Jeanie feels right now toward Jimbo Come on man, you know you have to spoiler tag that- Barnstable
This has been one of my points: Magic was raised in LA by Doctor Buss. Hire people with a vision, hire people who are qualified, and support them in their work. I think Magic saying "I have final say" is scaring people off when really it's a rubber stamp while he lets people do their job. NOW... is Rob the right guy for the job? I don't know, but he's certainly very, very interesting.
Sorry to see John Black as a casualty of this move, but it's not uncommon in a regime change. Your voice of the franchise/PR man has to be 100% on board. I can only imagine how tough that man's job has been for years under Buss. Just the coaches hired Alone lol This is like a mercy killing, but if I'm a long time Laker employee, I'm dusting off my resume.
Nothing I said is untrue though. PS: I've never read Ding article aside from a paragraph or two on this site.
Came here (after a long time on the road) for sirron memes after the news broke. Was not disappointed. I'm sad to see Mitch go though... Mitch was great with finding low key draft picks that turned out great and of course trades. I was expecting Ryan West to take over. Seems he was being groomed that way. Then I log in today, check more news today and see Pelinka might take over? I suppose Jeannie wants people that can attract real talent back to the P&G. A respected HoF-er for a prez and a well-known agent? That makes sense.
Kobe may have said a lot of good things in Pelinka's favor but I don't believe for a second that Kobe is going to be in a full time position with the Lakers. Enjoys what he is doing now, running his business and assisting the Lakers family when called upon with workouts or opinion. Nothing more. I'm not worried about Kobe in the FO.
Still concerned about Ryan West. With Pelinka coming in as GM that means West won't be any time soon or ever. What do they give him for increase in responsibility / input / title / whatever it is, plus monetary incentive ..... to stay when teams come calling maybe this summer asking for permission to talk to him about a head GM position or whenever it ultimately happens? All these years it was assumed he was being groomed to take Mitch's place when he was done. Not saying Rob doesn't sound like an inspired choice. Thank you Kobe!
I would believe Ryan West will be working closely side by side with Pelinka who is more in touch with the modern NBA. I would think he would learn more from him than he could ever from Kupchak.
Mitch started out as an assistant to West while he was still an active player (injured reserve). He helped us win a title in 85 and I don't remember him playing for us after that. So from 86ish to 01 he was an assistant. They'll give West room to carve his niche, but yeah, Pelinka will be making the final decisions, despite what Magic says.
I don't know if they want Kobe to have a position here, but yeah if they do I don't see that anytime soon. What I do see is him being more open to working with us and helping out in any way he can with Jim gone. He's been saying he's here for Jeannie for a while now, but didn't say Jim as far as I remember. I think above all Pelinka sounds like he has a shot at being a good GM, it's a nice move to try something entirely new, but like I've heard a lot of Laker media people say today, if it creates a bridge to Kobe that's an added bonus.
I hope room to carve his niche is enough and challenging and rewarding enough is all I'm saying if a team comes calling wanting to interview him for a head GM position.
