An Nba Detective Story: Who In The Lakers Organization Knows They’re Tanking?

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/a...the-lakers-organization-knows-theyre-tanking/

Haha. I thought the comparison of Kobe as Tom Cruise in the movie, The Last Samurai, holding off five samurai with the flagpole was really funny and on point.

Also if you haven't already. Follow this guy on twitter, he is just awesome when it comes to funny things he picks up on or creates out of thing air regarding the NBA and life in general (@netw4rk)

 

I was wondering how long it would take before a Tank thread was created. I like your style. Your thread is actually a "Shadow" tanking thread since you are not openly rooting for a tank. Is that you Mitch?

 

Some good points and I think it's what is actually happening at this point. EXCEPT...

Kobe is definitely in on it. It's like we've been saying all along: it's not a real tank. A real tank is trading everybody away to suck. This kind of tanking is different. It's "we'll put these guys out there and see what happens" not "put the team in a bag, toss some bricks in the bag, and throw the bag in the river!" like Philadelphia is doing.

I'm sure what they told Kobe was," This summer we swing for the fences and try to get your buddy. If we don't get your buddy we'll be in a rough situation until next summer. We won't TRY to lose... but it could be a tough year. Get yourself ready mentally. Next summer we'll find you a running mate and things will be a little different."

 

I think real's right. Is Kobe already in F-it mode? It's a rough year, for sure, but there are far bluer skies ahead.

 

Yeah I keep hearing the argument that it'd be better if we just took those cheaper young assets and flipped them as necessary, but I think the Lakers didn't want to do that.

They're trying hard to fashion themselves into the "player's" team. The team that takes players in, treats them right, pays them well, etc. How would that look if we signed Isaiah Thomas only to have a shot at signing Rondo the next summer so we jettison Thomas to clear cap space? That doesn't scream well-intentioned "player's" team to me.

So instead you swing for the fences knowing you'll likely miss, put together the best pieces you can off the scrap heap, and then get ready for next year.

 

You might be on to something there. Dr. Buss had his own special style as an owner. Now the new owners have to find their own style. Since Jeannie is the new face of ownership it would fit to brand themselves as players first team. Her going to bat for Kobe in the media fits that profile.

 

That's more or less what I have in mind. I'm thinking of writing up an editorial for the site with that concept centering around why we're so bad right now and why things should get better.

 

Believe me! I am an Optimistic person at the heart & soul and posted this mainly because it was funny and creative. Even if some of the evidence may or may not be there

 

I didn't mean you specifically. If I was meaning anyone specific it'd probably be the radio guys.

I'm with you on the young train. There was a few of us over on the other site that thought the same way. I'm with you on my skepticism. I was big on trying to get Monroe and trying to get Stephenson. I thought having two young guys that are borderline All-Star types would really make for an attractive landing spot. Especially with Randle in the fold things would have looked up almost immediately. No we wouldn't be great and we'd probably still miss the playoffs, but we'd be young and exciting which is better than what we are now. I thought that was a better way to go than Carmelo.

As things went along I saw the need and desire for Carmelo, I understood it. I thought with two superstars you're not only an attractive team, but one with a chance to win any given night because you have two of the three best scorers in the NBA. I get that I really do.

I'm skeptical about attracting a huge star without another star here too. I think an aging Kobe and a bunch of underachievers isn't going to get it done. Randle hurting himself was really bad for our attractiveness too. I think if Randle had come out with a ROY of the year type of effort, we'd see more traction in free agency. All that being said, over the next two seasons we have enough cash for three max contracts. One this summer, and two next summer when Kobe expires and the cap explodes. This summer is going to be incredibly interesting. We won't be the only team with cap space. Heck we won't be the only big market team with cap space since New York will have plenty too. I'd assume we'll be fighting with them over the same exact players. It'll be very, very interesting to see if the FO is right in their estimation that stars are still drawn here.

In a way I think the negative press is working in our favor. I think there'll be some sympathy towards the Lakers and their pitch now that ESPN is dragging our name through the mud. I think there's a good chance we'll grab someone good this summer, but it'll definitely be interesting. If we lose out on our big target this summer (Rondo or Monroe or whomever) to New York, I think things will get really frosty up in that FO.

 

If it's top 5, we pick. If it's not, they get the pick. Am I missing something?