http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/12541459/nba-front-office-rankings-2015 Wish there was more explanation for the ranking, but they did mention this: Ford:But those bad teams -- the Lakers, Nets and Knicks -- have so many resources and believe so strongly that their big markets will lure top talent that they've lost their ability to innovate. They tried to spend their way to a championship while the other teams above them (with the exception of the Heat) have used innovation to get there... Thorpe: In L.A., it's hard to know who to blame, since ownership could be far more involved than we know, but there is no doubt the team currently lacks a plan. Brutal, especially with the C Bags being ranked 7th overall.
Oh ESPN ranked the Lakers low at something? Surprise! They must have put a ton of effort and research into their opinions! The team currently lacks a plan? Boy do you know Mitch Kupchak well! Imbeciles.
The fact that our team probably walked away from the 2014 draft with 3 of the top 20 players and 2 of the top 10 players in that draft should have put us in the top 15 front offices by itself. We also picked up a pick in this year's draft for simply taking on a 25 year old expiring Jeremy Lin. I mean, imagine if we keep our pick and draft Okafor or Towns and then grab George Lucas. I mean 28th? In just over a year we could have a starting front court of Towns and Randle with Tarik Black backing them up and arguably the best point guard out of 2014's draft (Clarkson) and a young talented prospect behind him (Lucas)...oh yeah, and 65 million in cap space to come join the Lakers.
If they're ranking this season alone I don't really agree. We didn't land any big names, but we also didn't waste money on them, like Melo. We drafted extremely well, not the FO's fault Randle got hurt, and Kobe went down, and so did half the team. After we struck out the FO picked up some solid players. Boozer for cheap, Lin and a first rounder, Davis, Ellington, then Tarik Black later on. I definitely see a plan, as much as I whine, we know Mitch wants that top 5 pick, and we know he will take one of the best available at 26 or whatever it is. We lose Nash's salary, we lose Hill's, and everyone else on 1 year deals, and we are ready to try for a big offseason again. If we strike out on names at least we have Randle, Clarkson, and hopefully a top 5 pick to go with the 26th to start developing. The C-Bags do look smart in one area right now though, Brad Stevens. That hire is looking genius right about now.
Yeah. I'm not sure how any team can be ranked 28th that could very well have young core of Randle, Clarkson, Black and hopefully a top 4-5 pick this season and enough cap space to potentially sign 3 max free agents over the course of the next two seasons. Are we San Antonio or Miami? No. But 28th? We land Okafor or Towns and make something out of that Houston pick...maybe even steal Middleton? I mean, going into next season we could have Towns, Randle, Middleton and Clarkson all potentially starting, all under the age of 25 and like 55-60 million in cap space to spend. That sounds like a plan. Have fun dealing with that team in like 3 years.
Yeah, it's way too early to say something like that. 28th seems ridiculous considering us drafting Randle and Clarkson and getting another first round pick this year from Houston for Lin. Mitch has done a pretty righteous job of picking up cheap gamers that could be resigned too in Sir Duke, Davis, Black and he got a good deal picking up Boozer. It's just grist for the mill - dumping on the Lakers is what BSPN does.
Geez, the list sucks. What is it even ranking? How the front office has been for this past season? Because then the list sucks even more.
28th, really? Oh, please. I'll take our FO over any other FO in the league, and I mean that. GS, OKC, I like the Cleveland GM, Portland's GM is good, and I'll put ours right there...
The same FO that won 5 rings the last decade. Yeah they must suck much more than all those FO's that have never won a single ring. I won't even mention these factors: Sterned + Bynum's knees.
Thorpe is right in the sense that we lack a longterm plan. Picking up a bunch of 1 year rentals isn't a plan. Does that make us worse than the 76ers? No. Because we have a reason for picking up 1 year rentals. We lost our picks in the Nash & D12 trades. You can't plan longterm without draft picks. This upcoming offseason will be different.
haven't even seen the article, but I'm sure that they have Houston in the top despite mediocre returns on some crazy good fortune. imagine if any or all of these things happen: the paul deal goes through kobe doesn't tear an Achilles melo accepts their FA offer how smart does ol' tubby look then? lots of luck in this. I think mitch is one of the best in the biz. I used to doubt him, but he's proven me wrong many times. this is part of why I haven't gone full tirade about the punting of FA last year--I trust that mitch had a plan (or series of plans) and executed it. espn just likes to pile on the knicks, nets, and lakers because that kind of populist crap gets hits.
http://www.nba.com/2015/news/featur...3/25/2014-15-rookie-ladder-week-21/index.html As I posted earlier... 2 of the top ten rookies are Lakers, and our highest pick hasn't played a full game yet. So our GM may have 3 of the top 10 rookies in a single draft class..and he's 26th.
The only things that Mitch does wrong IMO are.... 1.) Careless with draft picks in trades - He either gives them away or gives into horrible draft protection. 2.) Gives players too long of deals and for too much money - Steve Blake and MWP come to mind But even with that, the 26th ranked GM doesn't make moves that puts the league in a rage to veto the trade and make a CBA that ends moves that put Mitch on the map. He literally made moves so great an owner wrote a letter to petition for a veto. Edit - Didn't see it was for only 2015. But I bet the media still holds the same opinion. Haters can keep effing hating on that one.
This summer will tell if the FO are a big joke or geniuses. Losing the draft pick and not being able to bring players who contribute, will crown the Lakers FO the dumbest in the league (yeah more than the 76ers). The team is in a place of horror for the last 3 years. there is no place for high risks. and Rondo is a high risk - you don't know what he will bring. Right now the steps to bring back the Lakers to the playoffs are really obvious. I hope the FO would not screw this up.
