Or for those of you that like to listen to it (I wish there was video instead) here is the link : http://www.nba.com/lakers/video/teams/lakers/2015/07/09/150709callkupchakmov-3640674
Some good fires put out by Mitch here. I don't particularly buy some of it (pitch deficiencies for one), but he said all the right things as usual. And I appreciate that he acknowledged a lot of our concerns which makes me feel like at least he's more in touch with logic than it appeared at times this summer. At least he understands that these guys want a roster to play with... It only took him and Jim a couple years.
Good stuff, I enjoyed his response about what we gave up for Hibbert. Laughed at the reporter and said nice try, then findished with the "then that's all we're comfortable releasing at this time". Also interesting that we still have the room exception. Wonder what's up with that, the roster is pretty much full, why save it and why say that was such a great question? We shouldn't have re-signed Sacre, he's reached his ceiling, so ready to give some other guy with potential a shot there. Upshaw, or whoever else that may be.
And then he went to Jeanie and said "get these TWC people out of my motherfluffing meetings so we can talk basketball." Glad to hear he knows the pitches need adjusting too.
Mitch is one of very few in front office that knows what he's doing the rest don't and aren't basketball people.
Well that's not true. There's a lot of people that know a great deal of basketball. There's a few in charge that don't though, that's the problem.
Rock solid answers from Mitch. Count me as one of the frustrated ones here when we got blasted for our pitch to LMA, but man, did Mitch come back strong after he Spur-ned us (pun intended). Pulling off Lou, Hibbert and Brass in one weekend was pretty mind-blowing. Bam, bam, bam! I feel like for the most part he did balance the roster although it seems like there is still a bit of a hole at SF (unless Kobe is starting there), and we could use a vet PG instead of Kelly/Sacre.
I meant like Jim Buss and Jeanie Buss not coaches, trainers, Lakers staff. I think Lakers need more experienced people in charge that know how the NBA works focus more on basketball side than the brand the Lakers get better on analytics improve on those areas.
To some degree I agree with you, but there's some things that need to be taken into consideration. Jim Buss has been around a long time, so he's not a dunce about basketball. He's fairly knowledgeable. Jeanie has been around business a long time, so she knows how to run an organization... Where I completely agree is that neither of them know how to approach FAs and Mitch isn't the liveliest guy on the planet. They need a better salesman (call Magic). I agree analytics need to be more a part of what they do from top to bottom. No you don't need to rely on them, but they're useful tools and they impress FAs. Catch up with the times. Dr. Buss was a terrific owner because he empowered his employees to make decisions. The Buss children should do the same, maybe even more so. I've heard Mitch has a strong control of the FO, but the Buss children feel the need to inject themselves into places they shouldn't because Dr. Buss put them in positions of authority. I'd much prefer to have them step back into armchair roles and hire other people to handle things more to their liking. Jesse Buss, Ryan West, and a handful of others I don't remember the names of. Those are the guys I'd like to be empowered. Also bring on more staff to handle more technical aspects as well including analytics. I know they keep saying they've got an analytics team, but they're also running those through Madsen who is like the... analytics liaison? Seems too complicated.
Finally got to listen to this. I think it confirms a lot of what we suspected. There are just too many cooks in the kitchen in these meetings. The business side if too much of an emphasis and they really do need to get out of the way and let Mitch do his thing. If we need a salesman, absolutely bring in Magic or even Worthy.
He said a 19-20 mil jump in the cap next year? Wow, that's great in some ways and in others it seems to be leveling the playing field even more in terms of big markets vs small markets.
Regarding our FO and the rebuild, if you compare to other teams and their situations (signed players, cap situation and future draft picks), which situation would you take as GM or you like better as ours? Philly, Boston, Orlando, Minny, Utah I would only prefer Minny, beceause of 2 potential superstars and a good young core. Maybe Orlando would also be in consideration, but Utah and Boston are somehow in no mans land and for Philly, i have no clue what they are doing (probably building a time machine to draft Kobe again and trade him for 3 future 1 rounders).
Actually Utah has a pretty strong team. Not great, but very good. They'll be in the mix for the playoffs this year with us.
