Was just coming here to post this. Terrific read, absolutely terrific. It's weird, but the last couple times he has spoken to the media, Jim has made a lot of sense. He's got his flaws, but he made a lot of great points in this piece.
The best part was hearing that West wrote Buss to keep his chin up. And that man is assisting our division rivals to boot. Class, compassion and the Laker bloodline that still runs deep. There is still a palpable rift between Buss and Johnson but with better times ahead...it could be healed.
hmmm...i'm not sure anything there sells me too hard on jimmy (not that i've been a big detractor). what did stand out to me was the frank admission that they had nothing to offer FAs the past couple of summers. i agree, and it's why i wasn't at all surprised that melo and aldridge didn't sign. i think he might be overselling the value of russell/randle/clarkson to FAs, as the modern era doesn't have guys joining young outfits, but rather joining other established stars. so, it could be two to three years before those guys have the cache he's suggesting.
I think it's too early to determine whether or not Russell has that draw. I'd say honestly that Huertas has done more to show me that draw than Russell has. I think it'll be about 10 games until we see that Randle has the potential to draw FA interest. Clarkson is already a decent start. I think the draw of LA next season won't be just reliant on those kids, but also the sheer dollar amounts we'll be seeing as well. There's going to be sugar plums of cash dancing on a lot of FA eyes next summer looking at LA.
His biggest blunders are what no one lets him forget, the PJ situation, and Howard/ Nash.His attitude is good, mistakes were made so let's move on.He's right, they are in a Dynamite situation going forward. Young core, tons of cap space, and being in L.A.It's a great read, a reminder of what some have forgotten regarding his involvement in team decisions over the past 20 years.... I don't think Steven A Smith agrees though...LOL
As someone who used to just love to pile onto Jim Buss and blame him for every Laker problem, this s*** needs to stop. Whoever's calling the shots - Jim, Mitch, Ryan West, Jesse Buss - they've done extremely well going from a veteran team with a $100M+ payroll to starting to establish a future core. A core that's promising. Not to mention while still nursing the Kobe Bryant era and his salary. So let's stop s******* on him.....Magic included. Even if Jim did nothing to acquire Russel, Clarkson, Randle, Hibbert, Bass, Black and Lou - can we at least give him credit for staying out of it and letting people with the b-ball knowledge make decisions? If you want to hate on him and say he did nothing for the future of the team - at least give him credit for staying out of it.
The key to drawing free agents is the number of wins you have; a talented free agent can see himself taking a 40-win team to a 50-win team...not so much so if you're coming off 20-30 wins. That just doesn't happen.
While I always thought the pile-on on Jim was too much and I want him to do well, he doesn't help himself when he talks (like in this interview) because he is just constantly defending himself personally and it comes across a little immature to me. John Black or someone needs to grab a hold of that boy and give him some pr lessons. All you do is draw attention to problems that may not even exist in some people's minds by defending yourself. Basically he comes out and says "hey, I do stuff too" without further qualifying that remark. He needs to back off the media, do like his dad did, address them once at the start of the year and just talk about players and basketball, not himself. This is not the way either Jerry would handle it.
Jim Buss: Lakers’ progress, Luke Walton’s approval would make firing me a ‘big mistake’ http://nba.nbcsports.com/2016/12/25...istake/?ocid=Yahoo&partner=ya5nbcs&yptr=yahoo
The team is doing well enough that he shouldn't be fired. We're not where he said we would be, but we're headed in the right direction. Certainly I wouldn't fire him in order to try to force Phil back into the picture. If there's a plan to replace him with a more capable executive, that's a different story.
There's a time to cut and a time to stick it out. We passed the time to cut. Should've been done with Byron's exodus if it were going to be done. You need some continuity to turn it around.
this team is on the right track with the development of the young guys, obviously everything won't fall into place overnight i've been a big critic of jim over the years but the last thing this organization needs right now is big change. keep everything as it is and work with what you've got don't know about you guys but i am so over phil. it's as if he's haunted this team ever since he stepped down over 5 years ago with the constant rumours season after season about how he might find his way back to LA. this organization needs to finally learn how to win without phil
I see a young core of front office talented and personable individuals moving into positions of power in near future promoted instead from within to fit nicely with young star coach Luke. Hopefully. Ryan West certainly after growing up in the organization and being educated and groomed from his legendary dad and by Mitch all these years. Jesse Buss? Phil is in his 70s. Don't you dare Jeanie. Stick with your happy Lakers gear for pets and toddlers Twitter job.
I feel that Jim Buss has earned more time. Believe me, I was as down on Jim as anyone, and I'm still not completely convinced he's the right guy. But I am thrilled with the coaching hire of Luke and at long last I'm feeling like we are back on track. The Lakers feel like the Lakers again even if we have to be patient in developing a contender. If the Lakers can add a guy like Paul George in a year or two we could be right there.
Injuries have put a damper on the current on-going development of the current personnel but I agree with the other posts that the culture is changing with fresh faces and ideas. We'll be better. Jim Buss probably felt the need to vindicate himself instead of letting his "work" speak for itself.