I'll copy my understanding of the Magic situation below. Russell was into drugs and alcohol like most young Laker's players. But to the degree that it was a major problem, I'm not sure. There were a number of reasons he was traded out of here. To be honest, unless it was Lamar Odom bad, I don't think it would have played a major role. Re Magic: Regarding Magic, lots to unpack here. I can give a brief summary and provide more details as needed. But he was a shady man. He was trying to use the Lakers position to increase his brand value and make more money from other deals. This is why you heard the reports about him rarely being around the office. He would come in, yell at a few people, and then leave for weeks to work on other ventures. This is why the lack of Twitter bothered him as well. He is used to everything going his way, and wanted to shake up the whole org structure by firing everyone, including Nunez, Pelinka, and Walton. Jeanie let him do Walton and Nunez but protected Pelinka due to his relationship with Kobe. He was also irresponsible for letting his direct reports leak a lot to the media. After signing LeBron, Magic had a god complex and thought he was a much better exec than he was. This is why the Davis deal talks went so poorly. Ultimately the icing on the cake was an article about Magic's harassment of employees. ESPN was working on it but Jeanie begged the guys I work with over at AEG to shut it down. They thought it was too big of a media risk given the current climate about these things and pushed him out, threatening to leak the article if he didn't leave. They were fed up with him for other reasons but this pushed them over the edge. Magic couldn't have that and angrily resigned, and to stick it to the Lakers he did it in the amateur like fashion you saw - right before a game and without telling the players.
Was just texted this: "Just heard from Paul. Ryan had a Zoom with Dennis and Mitch this afternoon. Thinks there's a > 50% chance he signs a 4 year.." Take it for what it's worth.
Oh sorry, sure thing. Paul is my colleague, an SVP at AEG. He is in charge of the New Balance partnership with AEG. That's not his actual name. I changed it. Zoom is a web conferencing software. Like Cisco's Webex. Dennis is Kawhi's Uncle. The famous "Uncle Dennis" the media talks about a lot Ryan is Ryan West. Assistant GM, reports to Pelinka directly. Mitch is Mitch Frankel - Kawhi's agent.
How is this not tampering in the highest order? Like...how brazen are they?!?! Ryan West was on the call? If that's true, we're idiots.
This is promising news, but I'll wait to hear more before getting my hopes up. Keep you posted. I will say this, Ryan does handle a lot of endorsement connections between the player side and business side of the Lakers. Him saying this has a good amount of weight. Generally his head is in the right place when it comes to these things.
This happens all the time. Silver is aware. But if you overstep your bounds then the NBA will get involved. Kawhi is an impending free agent so its not a big deal. LeBron was in touch with all the Lakers and Hollywood guys since Irving was traded. Rich Kleiman is also constantly talking with the Lakers, Knicks, and big entertainment groups in LA and NY. It's when the player is under contract for another year (Paul George, Anthony Davis) that the teams get upset. They look at it as the player trying to take too much control. If they complain enough, Silver will investigate. It's how they found Pelinka's forwarded texts on Brian Shaw's phone for the Paul George deal.
How did you stumble across our humble little site? Are you posting this info on other Laker boards as well? EDIT: Also, are you RDAmbition on the Lakers Reddit? He is apparently right a lot and the mods "verified" his contacts. He said Kawhi is very likely to sign with the Lakers.
let me get this straight rambis is interviewing coaches and wants them to hire him as their assistant coach? WTF is going here?
I like my sauces hot and authentic. Till then, I'm good. Plus y'all mfers already killed me this year. I'd prefer Milesandra to bring me back, but Thoros drunk a** did instead. My luck.... nothing working out for me this year.
