Apologies if this was posted elsewhere. I thought it deserved it's own thread. Here is a link you do not need itunes to listen to: https://art19.com/shows/thewojpod/episodes/45df6f44-d71b-4246-93bf-2642fc4e19e2 First of all listening to Mitch talk, for me, is like listening to somebody break really bad news to someone. Though he is a stand-up guy in many ways, I've no idea how he could ever be expected to close a free agent. Some highlights (mostly Laker stuff here only): Plans to work in basketball still will check other teams for positions. Feels Jim's self-declared "timetable" to return the team to prominence was both incorrect in span and probably doomed the both of them. Said he and Jim felt it was clear PJ did not want to coach anymore and that if they could talk him into it, it would've been a 1 year job so they moved on. Sticks up for D'Antonio and his hire. Says he's one of the best coaches and that today's game is because of him. Talks a bit about the Buss kids. Said tampering is not as prevalent among GMs as people are saying. Says agents on the other hand are not as subject to NBA rules and therefore have no problems talking to other signed players. Regarding Stern's claims that Mitch panicked on the CP3 deal and traded Odom before another deal could be struck, he doesn't deny it he just said he decided to very quickly move on. Mitch just says no one involved in the deal said they knew of a possible second deal for CP3. Of course Stern said something different about the chance for a deal not being dead. Woj said some of the other people on other teams (apparently Houston) involved in the deal said it wasn't fair of Stern to come out after and say that and that they thought the deal was dead. Says Odom was "beside himself" by the attempt to trade him and then asked for a trade himself. Says Pau was also hurt but not like Odom.
I think there's a hell of a lot more GMs working behind the scenes than Mitch lets on. He just refused to play the game. It's honorable and makes me proud of him, but we were left behind.
No one got more rear rammed than Mitch in that veto. Feel bad for him. He was never able to recover. Neither have the Lakers.
Of course Kupchak doesnt think tampering is prevalent as most think cause he didnt do it, like a non smoker that doesnt think theres problem with smoking
I listened to the whole thing when it first game out and boy was that painful hearing Mitch talk about the CP3 veto. The ramifications felt by that were incredible heavy and some could argue are still felt even to this day, even if they are small tremors. I'm glad he's in a good space now and he still holds this franchise and his friends in our organization in high regards. But he'll definitely be back in basketball eventually. He has already been around the Mavs practicing and I know he's still itching to be part of the game in some way.
I don't think it really was a line in the sand. Mitch was asked this a few times (in different ways) from Woj about who he was reporting to and what that was like. Jeanie upon Jerry passing wanted to respect her father's wishes and put Jim in charge of the basketball side for those kinds of decisions. Jeanie never said to check with her first or for the final say. Now maybe Mitch should have even if he didn't have to. Mitch also said he would also give Jim the final say, but said there were times when Jim would just say I trust you Mitch and allow Mitch do what he thought was best. Another interesting nugget out of that podcast/interview was hearing that the Pau trade talks between us and Memphis were going on for roughly 1-2 weeks before finally coming to an agreement. Now social media wasn't like it is today but that's incredible that nothing, no leaks or anything came out of those talks because I remember when the news finally broke we were all shocked.
Class act, and I do hope he finds another opportunity in the NBA. Unfortunately with the way things played out, and his last 2 brutal free agent contract signings, that my never happen.
"And when you take it into fact that you are replacing nothing, that makes you something" -Stephen A. Smith Best quote ever.
That video is forever ingrained into my head. When I think of shocked and Pau trade thats what comes up. Never gets old, haha
I thought the video title was a joke. Too much?! If Marc Gasol didn’t end up being good we’d have commited literal theft. Ah ESPN, asking the stupidest questions even a decade ago.
Like the reason you don't have dinosaurs roaming the earth anymore, abysmal failure to adapt and of course bad luck of getting hit with a meteor (veto)
Makes sense with his love of North Carolina basketball and MJ's team. It will be weird though knowing that Mitch works for a small market team and how that will differ from working with a franchise like us for all those years. I'm sure this is something he has thought about. He knows what he wants and what he's getting himself into if this does indeed go down.
