This had nothing to do management though. Would you say AEG was mistaken in thinking this? I mean shouldn't it be clear to AEG that getting Lebron meant not getting Kawhi and PG? Which is why management had to adjust and get AD. Shouldn't AEG be ecstatic that the Lakers have AD here? Shouldn't AEG want a lakers team that has AD/Lebron/DMC/ Kuzma on it? Should AEG be wondering since Kawhi's injury can never healed it can only be managed and that missing 30 to 40 games a season may not be very marketable for a player who has the charisma of a carrot? Shouldn't AEG not chastise Lakers management for doing a bad job until the season starts and we all get to see how well AD/Bron/DMC/Kuz work together? and finally Shouldn't AEG see the basic simple fact that if OKC would've not traded PG to the Clips then we would've prolly had Kawhi? Maybe AEG should call OKC management and tell then to grow some balls and say NO to a player that is under contract for 3 more seasons.
@therealdeal I'll give the Lakers the benefit of the doubt for now, because as Jeanie said in the meeting, she wasn't focusing on long term plans for several years out. I think those questions would be better served to someone like Rob Pelinka. I'm sure there is more of a plan than Giannis, but he sure wouldn't be a bad option if available!
@nluna75 You bring up a lot of valid concerns. Personally, I feel this meeting was dominated by a lot of temporarily flared tempers, which will undoubtedly cool down with time. Also, at the end we saw the real reasons for AEG's upset feelings, their fear of the Clippers rise to dominance in LA and potential new arena to accompany it.
@ElginTheGreat I think from the end of the meeting we can conclude a lot of AEG's concern came from their perceived threat of the Clippers. Especially the new arena.
The problem is not having a Giannis plan, heck, it would be a problem if you didn't try and get him, the problem is that seems to be the only plan at the moment. Also, training with kobe and love Magic does not equate to interest in signing with the lakers IMO. Giannis has made it clear on several occasions that he intends to stay with the bucks. Of course people change their minds (lets hope he does) but i wouldn't bet on Giannis coming to LA.
Since it’s independent, then on this front, AEG has no grounds for seeking reimbursement of a lost business opportunity.
Clips rise to dominance? This is my issue with what AEG is looking at here. This Clips team has sacrificed their future for now and that now has 2 superstar players who have perpetually injured these last few years and in their late 20s have to miss a multitude of games just to play in the playoffs? How can AEG think with all their analysts that the Clips plan has any longevity? Remember this is a franchise who had 6 years of the Lakers absolutely sucking and they had the cool nickname and the "cool" players and all that got them was round 2 exits and no division titles. Does AEG honestly think that the Clips can take the Lakers now? Especially since we have Bron/Kuz/AD/DMC? We have the more marketable players in the most marketable city and AEG is scared of 2 players who combined have the charisma of a can of peas. in 2 years AD will still be in his 20s and will be more marketable then any player in the NBA and he will be looking to recruit. Who's going to say NO to a prime AD in his 20s still? You think any of those FA's will look at the Clips the same way especially if both of those players are missing 30 games a year?
Asking a 73 yr old if it’s ok to hire an octogenarian? Letting the Rambii run amok with laker operations? Someone needs to place her under house arrest before she orchestrates a borderline apocalypse. Lol.
I dont disagree but the secondary plan for now is likely just maintaining flexibility which theyve done. The whole plan for three years has played out. They probably will take some time this summer to start mapping out the next few years. It'll also be important to see how this team does. If they're not as competitive as we think they should be, I bet the plan changes dramatically.
I see your point, but I think This move from Kawhi and PG is the second step in changing the narrative of Clippers being the step child of LA. New owner and redone front office and coaching staff was step one, Super stars choosing to play there and next is winning games then new arena. Clips will NEVER take over LA fanbase. However, AEG is worried about Business/Money being shifted toward the Clippers more than it ever has before. I think the attitude of "We're the Lakers, we rule all" is an old way of thinking and could come back to bite us in the end if we don't clean up our mess. See the Knicks/Nets for and example.
GREAT post, pretty much sums stuff up. I dont see the Clipps ever supplanting LAL as the marquee franchise in town amongst fans, but no question that money follows success. If the Clipps start winning, the corporate $ will follow, while die hard LAL fans will busy themselves talking about 16 titles vs 1.
reading about AEG grill Jeanie was very depressing...i can hear her stuttering answers...and trying to quell them with a Giannis pipedream...good lord winning cures everything...we better do a lot of it because it seems our FO has some health issues
Yeah it really is fluid at the moment. Hard to have plans set in stone before you even see the product on the floor.
Wait hold on, Ballmer/GM/Vp/Coach/ Staff are not new. They have all been there the last 5 years and all of them were part of the marketing wizardry of lob city. There's nothing new or special about any of them. Doc is still the same coach who had a supposed great team and never won 1 damn division or even made it to the 2nd round. They had 6 years of a terrible Lakers team to make LA their city and not only that but not be the ugly step child of LA and they didn't do that. They had comp from the Lakers and they couldn't change their image. Now you're saying they can change their image with a Laker team that actually has a new Front Office/coach and staff along with AD/Bron/DMC/Kuz. The only way they can change their image is if they move out of the city and into their own arena and change their city name. Then and only then will they not be seen as the step child.
You think the owner of the Lakers is gonna be stuttering to some chumps in some suits? You think Jeannie is scared of AEG after giving Lebron his best team since the 13 Heat? C'mon let's not over exaggerate the situation.
This is a fallacy cause the Clips were already winning with Lob City and they still got nothing out of it except alot of hurt feelings from former players. This is the same org with the same owner from 5 years ago. There's nothing new to them except have 2 superstars who will each miss 30 reg season games a piece. 16 vs 0 isn't just the past either, it's the present as well. Next season that could also 17 vs 0.
