Official 2016 Free Agency Thread

The pitches HAVE to include a vision of the player's role (specifically), tailored to their strengths. I know this sounds asininely simple, but apparently we're blowing that.

Whiteside: You're one of the most effective PnR bigs in the game. We have Russell and Clarkson...we're looking to add a shooter to space the floor more, take advantage of your shot blocking to create fast break opportunities.

We should turn this into a competition on here. You write up a proposal, we mods assess

 

This X 1000

 

Well okay I'm sure Worthy was not 100% serious and I'm also sure that even if he was that wasn't our only pitch to Carmelo Anthony. That's just taking a small part and making it a big part out of context. Of course you're going to appeal to the players' significant other if you can.

Being a salesman though it comes down to one thing: I don't think these guys believed their own pitches. They went in to these meetings accepting defeat before they even made their pitch because they knew "why would Aldridge want to come here?" was a completely valid argument. So instead of making a strong pitch they go for these wild ideas and other things that they think are stronger stances. It's silly.

The idea of NOT blaming Jeanie though is also wrong.

Sure, it's the basketball side's responsibility but SHE is the one in charge of this company. SHE is the one making ultimate decisions. SHE should have a say in who we go after and SHE should be in the room when the pitch goes down. Dr. Buss was beloved by his players and part of that is because he took such a personal role in their lives and well-being. It's great being part of an organization that's a) dedicated to winning and b) dedicated to you. How can you know who is dedicated to you when Jeanie doesn't even show her face? How silly. This division in the FO needs to change ASAP. I don't care if Mitch and Jim don't want her in the room, this is her business and it's her responsibility to take a stronger grip of the day-to-day if things aren't going well.

 

Here is the BIG issue regarding FA pitches:

Jim Buss has a horrible personality for making a pitch.
Mitch has a horrible personality for making a pitch.
Byron has a horrible personality for making a pitch.

In the ancient times we had personalities like Jerry Buss, Jerry West, Chick Hearn, Phil Jackson.

Now, we have NO ONE who can make a pitch to compete with the likes of Jerry West, Pat Riley, Pop, Phil, etc.

So, they throw Magic and Worthy and Time Warner and the SoCal lifestyle at them and expect something to stick. We are Free Agent doomed until there is a serious change in the FO culture.

 

I think Magic could be a great salesman, but he's not welcome with Jim Buss. Jim is a quiet guy. Mitch is a quiet guy. That's not bad, but quiet guys don't sell you stuff. What quiet salesman inspires confidence? I'd love it if Magic were more involved. He's a tremendous businessman and would be able to sell the Laker brand on so many fronts:
- success on the court
- fun off the court
- success off the court while you're playing
- success in life after you retire
- the LA lifestyle
- etc etc etc

He lived all that in about as personal a way as could be imagined. How is Mitch Kupchak going to sell you on the LA lifestyle? On fun? Jim? Jeez... Jeanie might be able to do it. Jeanie might have that personality. So she doesn't know basketball that well, that's okay. She can sell other parts of the team like a cohesive family atmosphere. It's not like Dr. Buss was a basketball expert, but he was a people expert. He could absolutely sell the Lakers and he could sell himself. The problem is we don't have anything anymore like we used to.

It's one thing if we don't have Dr. Buss, but we don't have Jerry West either. The two of them built an Empire because they had tremendous vision and cohesion. Where are we now? Jeanie, Jim, and Mitch certainly don't have cohesion and their visions have been failing for years now.

 

For Durant: we could technically keep most of the young guys we have now and still add three max deals if the Cap goes up enough and if we lose the pick.

If we stretch Nick Young, waive Sacre, Kelly, Huertas, Kobe, Roy, lose the pick, and Bass opts out: we've got 26.5 million or so (after cap holds). Sounds like a lot, but it's not really. The big key would be finding a trade for Lou/Anthony Brown/ which I don't think would be too hard at all. There'll be playoff teams with cap space that'd love to have a 6th Man type like him. Then you pick one of the young guys to trade for a future pick. Or heck you could tell Durant we've got room for one max and 2-3 sub-max deals PLUS yourself.

We're talking about something like 65 million dollars available.
Whiteside: 21 million (43 million cap space).
Deng: 15 million (28 million).
Still a max slot available.

I mean hell we could throw a max deal at Barnes and while we're waiting for him we could still sign someone to a max deal and still have some change left over. There's so much versatility in this summer but it takes a strong vision to accomplish what we need. I'm not sure we have that.

 

Let's say we fire Bryon this summer and get Luke as our coach for next year. What are everyone's thoughts on Luke's recruiting skills?

I think he's smart enough basketball mind wise but personally wise I don't see him being a big asset. I don't view him having a salesman mentality.

I also think big FA will not be totally bought into Luke being a top notch coach. I believe they will discount his head coaching time with GSW because of inheriting a "ready made" team.

 

I think Luke can be a good salesman. He was a tremendous teammate and his laid back personality coupled with his clear understanding of the game could work as a salesman. I think he'd be every bit as good a salesman as other coaches in the league not named Rivers, Popovich, or Carlisle.

The key is who makes the pitch above him? Our GM/owner need to have clear and obtainable goals.

 

Jim shouldn't be allowed in the room.

 

He can be there to stand in the corner and put on a good face. He shouldn't NOT be there because it makes things even more awkward. Just let him go there and stand in the corner to present a united front. He doesn't have to speak or anything but if he's not there, what does he actually do? And if you don't want him there then just fire him now to save time and energy.

 

But he's going to wear a baseball cap. You and I both know he'll have it on. Do we want a man in a baseball cap meeting with Kevin Durant.

 

Sure. We'll give everyone baseball caps so it seems normal.