Ask Mr. Rambis

AEG built the damn house and owns 20% of the team. They have a right to talk whether or not we think they’re justified.

 

Hi all,

Sorry I was too busy to update for most of today. But I did have a chance to get a detailed play by play of the Lakers-AEG meeting and wanted to share. Keep in mind this is the AEG perspective, but I feel as though it is quite neutral.

Several senior AEG execs, including C-suite level folks, met with Jeanie Buss, Tim Harris, and a few other business and basketball operations folks today. AEG raised several concerns, most notably about their handling of the Kawhi Leonard situation. I will say before I begin, this is the most concern I've seen AEG place in basketball affairs in a number of years.

AEG said that the Lakers management cost them Kawhi Leonard. They cited that they viewed the situation as having two discrete factors, business, and basketball, saying how that because the business side was a clear winner against both the Clippers and the Raptors, they failings must have come from the basketball side. They also stated how they spent tons of money on hiring financial analysts for the revenue projections, legal to work out deal points, and extra marketing help for cross-channel promotions. This was all in addition to the time sink with New Balance and others. Their total bill was enormous, as some people were charging upwards of $800/hr. And AEG said they invested all these resources as per the Laker's direction. Additionally, they stated they may have to cease any future partnerships with New Balance, now that Kawhi Leonard has joined the Clippers, as that will be directly counterproductive to their investment in the Lakers, ultimately costing them even more money down the line. They asked to be compensated financially, with an astronomical figure I won't quote, or suggested the Buss family trust transfer half a percent of shares to AEG for a price of $22.5MM, which would be roughly 75 cents on the dollar at current valuations. Jeanie balked at both of these requests, claiming that as a minority owner any investments AEG makes in the Lakers are to their own benefit as well. And if they had an issue with management that was a different story, but they should use their voting rights (which of course being a minority owner makes it essentially worthless) to make the changes they see fit. However she stressed they would not receive any compensation for their Kawhi Leonard efforts.

At this point, AEG asked why the Lakers response to losing Kawhi was to sign multiple 2 year contracts. They pressured Jeanie about what her long term plan was to bring more stars to the Lakers. Apparently, Jeanie at this point acted as though she had a master plan. She said that management expected LeBron to opt out in 2 years, giving her just the long term contract of Anthony Davis and Kyle Kuzma's hold on the books. At that point, she said she planned to go after another big fish and form a twin tower duo: Giannis Antetokounmpo. She stated that Kobe had been working out with him last summer and would see him again this summer, so she knew he was intrigued. AEG asked if Kobe had been recruiting him specifically, and she said she asked but he refused, unless Giannis asked him about being a Laker directly. At this point, some of the AEG guys started getting visibly upset, their voices raising a bit. They said that they already knew the Lakers were interested in him, but that it was a pipe dream, and he's shown no indication of being unhappy on a Bucks team that's doing quite well. They said it's foolish and the Lakers risked becoming a mediocre team with only Kyle Kuzma and Anthony Davis running the show. They asked Jeanie if she had any backup plans and she said no, and that it wasn't her job to know those types of details. Basketball ops folks were too scared to chime in, apparently.

Once the topic of conversation shifted to members of management, AEG asked why a guy who had asked to work for the Lakers not too long back and was turned away, is now quietly orchestrating deals that just cost the Lakers and AEG big time - Jerry West. Jeanie mentioned that after Jim/Mitch she wanted to focus on a Lakers-only circle that she could trust. She said that she went to her two closest advisors, Linda Rambis and Phil Jackson, who confirmed her beliefs. They suggested sticking to people from the "Laker family" including Rob Pelinka, Magic Johnson, and later Kurt Rambis. AEG pressed as to why not Jerry West, who's also a former Laker player and employee. Jeanie said that Phil Jackson thought he was too short tempered for a rebuilding job, and past his best days. At this point, one AEG exec started to almost yell, saying that "Jerry West is about to singlehandedly [expletive] the Lakers. How the [expletive] could you not hire him!" Jeanie responded by saying that the experience of Kurt combined with the savvy of Rob Pelinka is a better combination than Jerry West, who probably would have not wanted to work there. She really emphasized how the addition Kurt Rambis has been a blessing for the franchise. After she said that, one very prominent AEG exec screamed some horrible, borderline sexist things at her I won't repeat.

The anger on AEG's side allowed their true grievances to come out. They mentioned how for the last several years, the Clippers had been a better basketball team than the Lakers, and that while revenues on the Lakers side had not declined, some of their analysts attributed a lot of decrease in projected growth due to the Clippers prominence. They noted this trend became more obvious after Ballmer bought the team, as he had a net worth that far eclipsed the entire Buss family combined. While the Lakers are the better global brand, AEG made it clear that things can change, and that we cannot rely entirely on history. The Warriors, who were unknown before, are now known worldwide thanks to Curry. They said that if the Clippers continue to be relevant and if the Lakers decline again in just two years, the narrative could shift significantly. They said that its pretty clear the Clippers have the ability in both trade and free agency to attract star talent, having stolen two big players - Chris Paul and Kawhi Leonard - from the Lakers hands. One example they brought up was Ballmer's control of the media, and how he was able to get them talking leading up to free agency and then shut them up once the Kawhi deal gained traction. They said that getting the media, especially the LA media, to keep quiet, is a huge feat, and is a testament to the resources he has.

One other area of concern that arose after this was the arena. AEG currently owns Staples Center, but noted how the Clippers want their own arena. They said a successful Clippers team that consistently has stars on the roster, in a new arena, could significantly devalue AEG's investment in Staples Center and Lakers. They were worried Staples Center would become an afterthought at that point. Jeanie thought these concerns were silly and unfounded, and said LA would always be a Lakers town, no matter what happens.

At that point tempers cooled a bit and the meeting ended with no resolution. AEG folks are still upset but don't have much recourse. Let's wait and see what happens next...

 

Her time is about to be up ... Hopefully !

 

I can understand Aegis frustration, as losing Kawhi, especially to the Clippers, is a big blow to US. However, I still think there is a big difference between losing him in a fair fight, or losing him because we were being played all along. Did AGE get the feeling that Kawhi was being totally upfront in his dealings with them? If so, why was he meeting with Paul George at the same time? Was he just that smooth as a negotiator that they never had any inkling of his true motives? Because I never felt for once that we were behind the Clippers in anything basketball related. Sure there was that management turmoil with Magic, but any company will always have inner conflict, because there are always egos involved. It's just that the Lakers are so newsworthy that every small detail gets reported, while no one really gives a crap about the Clippers.

As I see it, there will always be finger pointing whenever something doesn't go according to plan. However, the season hasn't even started yet. Let's wait and see if the Clippers are as good as they claim to be. Because truth be told, a lot of teams have risen and disappeared from public consciousness (Heat,Cavs,Pistons, even the Bulls) but the Laker brand has remained strong worldwide, even through this six years of hell. I'd put my trust in that more than any clipper come lately team.

 

*AEG's Damn autocorrect.

 

1) Lakers Basketball Operations have no tangible plan 2 years from now. Giannis, what a bloddy pipe dream.

2) Jeanie has no idea what she’s doing regarding hiring someone competent enough to be president of basketball ops. What the hell does Phil Jackson know? He failed as Knicks President, and the Rambii don’t know their heads from their posteriors. Kurt is a failed coach in retirement, and Linda? What is she, a gossip gal pal of Jeanie’s? The Logo, Jerry West, is a part of the Laker family, yet Jeanie is thinking emotionally and not logically. Jerry is rolling in his grave.

3) Jeanie does not realize what would happen if the Clippers were to be successful enough to build their own arena. AEG, the Lakers, and Staples Center, would be left holding the bag once a paying tenant bails on them. If not for James Dolan and MSG strong arming Ballmer in Inglewood over being able to build an arena-concert venue nearby the new Rams Stadium, the Clippers would be much closer to the day the Lakers valuation plumets. This is what happen when you’re born on 3rd base thinking you hit a triple, as in the case of the Buss Siblings. They, unlike the Steinbrenner kids have no idea what they’re doing. The cat is already out of the bag with the Clippers leaving, the only face saving measure that can exist is for the Lakers to improve the on court product and win a title within the next two years-they had better do it after going all in on AD.

4) The take away from all this is that Jeanie is out of touch with reality.

Thank you once again for the insight @Mr. Rambis

 

At least AEG is standing up to Jeanie's incompetence. Probably won't do either party any good, considering she's just an overgrown sorority girl by the sound of things, but at least they're doing their part.

 

I don’t think Lebron turns down 38 million but let’s say he does and let’s look at who is really available.....

- Giannis - Stated in 2018 he would not join the Lakers
- Beal - Most likely traded before this time and committed to other team
- Paul George - Yea no and he will be 32
- Holiday - Not worth Max, waste of max money, already tried with AD and failed
- Gobert - Not giving max, likely to re-up with Utah anyway
- Drummond - Not giving max, not worth max
- Others - CP3, Hayward, Griffin, Conley, Derozan, LMA, none worth max

Only two REALISTIC max guys that fit to go after, who both could need change of scenery by 2021

Victor Oladipo - 29 years old, if keeps improving fits with AD/Kuz
CJ McCollum - 29 years old, absolutely fits with AD/Kuz

Otherwise you could make a case for some of the guys above (Gobert, Drummond, Holiday) to take less than max and take big enough pay cut so we can add an additional role player piece.

I would not get caught up in the Giannis hype personally. He’s given ZERO indication thus far he wants anything to do with LA. That could change but right now it’s not someone to put all your eggs in one basket for (Jeanie do better).

2022 may be better with guys wanting to change scenery but that is WAYY too far ahead to predict
- Harden, Westbrook, Curry, Kyrie

Long story short - Do not start another 20xx plan. Let’s get these rings now in a 3-4 year window we have now with Lebron and everything after will sort itself out.

 

Well this has been our pb for 6-7 free agencies in a row . Superstars or bust .

You can't build a great team if you're not willing to bet on 2nd/3rd tier player .

It's time for the people who have the power to unify and start the ' get her out" process

 

AEG asked for a half percent? Wouldn't the family trust have to be dissolved to do something like that? More importantly, AEG would know this, why would they even ask?

 

Yeah the Giannis suggestion by Jeanie is a sort of bad look and I understand why AEG was livid at that. Even as a fan it seemed a bit New York Knicksian to string along hope with that. Also discouraged that the basketball people like Rob and Rambii were not present/did not represent.

Other than that the meeting confirms what I feared about Jeanie not trusting anyone outside of the Laker family. Fan confidence/arrogance is one thing, franchise operations is another. It's not the way to go about hiring in the NBA in 2019.

 

My thinking is this. We are worrying so much about what's down the road that we are forgetting the here and now. Guys, we finally have a great team. Was it the ideal plan? No. But are you gonna reject the hot girl waiting in your room just because the main course in your dinner date was burned? Hell no. Besides we don't know what will happen. Giannis might have a Derrick Rose type of injury. Bradley Beal could suddenly blow his Achilles. Or someone not on our radar suddenly blows up to be next Kawhi or Oladipo. We never know. So instead of looking forward two - three years down the road, appreciate what we have now, be thankful that the FO was able to salvage the situation (things could have been much much worse) and enjoy the upcoming season.

 

Lakers better not get into that star chasing crap again. Keeps biting them in the a**. Win the title the next two seasons, then worry about 2021 free agent class.

 

so its because of her boyfriend(phil J) that she didnt hire jerry west, thats stupid, the problem is jackson always disliked jerry west, one time asked him to leave the locker room:
https://bleacherreport.com/articles...with-lakers-phil-jackson-was-far-from-perfect


jerry built golden state and now is doing the same for the clippers, how did phil do at NY? he failed

 

Does AEG not know how the Buss trust works? Doesn’t it need to be dissolved before any shares can be sold? Why even bother asking for equity compensation?

 

Apart from drafting Porzingis, Phil was a flop in NYK. His transactions in summer 2016 were an utter joke.

 

If I was AEG I too would be fuming over having to cancel business deal with New Balance. But one has to ask, did they only enter into that relationship in anticipation of the Lakers landing Kawhi, or did they engage independently of that possibility?

 

Hi everyone. Hopefully you guys are not getting duped by my husband.

Does Sirron sound familiar?

 

:Joshharthearthands: