There's some crazy stuff going on. We don't know the story at all I think. Magic's lines about not being fun, etc. just sound ridiculous. I'm not buying any of that.
Haha... If getting off MozDeng, bringing in Klutch, having a shot at AD and having a max slot in free agency this summer (all while keeping Luke and non Mintz personnel) is toxic, then someone's been hitting that Jim & tonic hard. Bruh, what's toxic are the leaks and the unnecessary hate that LakerLegend got. And for what exactly? Jules, DLo and Zu, who haven't really done much anything in their Laker careers and all for a coach that barely played them. Anyways, y'all continue to revise your dictionaries and continue on with y'all bizarre petty crusades. I'm not about any past contention... instead I'm about the Lakers getting back to contention ...and if that's wrong, I don't want to be right.
It's sad and infuriating how much of a joke our franchise is becoming. I think we have been the most impressive franchise in NBA history (and while I'm a bit ignorant about other sports, I'm sure we're one of the most impressive franchises in sports history too) with 15 titles, over 30 Finals and pretty much being relevant in every decade since the NBA exists.... except this current one. I knew Jerry Buss was really important for the Lakers, but not even in my wildest dreams I would've imagines how things would fall apart since pretty much the day his health made him delegate on his children, and even more after his death. It's pathetic. I've always been proud this franchise for all its done and the way it always worked some magic to bring some of the biggest names out there and give at least some kind of fight pretty much every year Counting from George Mikan's Lakers up to Kobe's Lakers (at least pre-Achilles), we just missed the Playoffs 5 times in 60+ years. And here we are now, missing the Playoffs for a 6th consecutive year, having the worst cumulative record in those years, and with very little to save from those years (since, you know, we lost some of the important pieces we tanked for). Even among those horrible years, this LeBron year might be one of the most frustrating among those years, and every decision our front office takes feels like a bad decision. It's felt this way for many of us from the moment these decisions have been made, and it has usually, and sadly, been corroborated some time after. I still haven't really seen anything that makes think this might change soon. And now as the cherry on top our GM who happens to be one of the biggest legends in Laker history steps away at a time the team will have to make some big decisions (we know only have Pelinka), and it seems one of the reasons is because he wants to tweet more? This should probably be a whine, moan, complain post. But dammit, I was not a fan of the job done by Magic, but just leaving at such a time and without previous notice feels pretty bad. I'm not how to do it, who will do it or when will it happen, but I sure hope the Lakers improve as a franchise and becomes a serious franchise soon. We have great tools, but tools are useless without someone who knows how to use them.
To everyone here pulling the fire alarm.. Just wanted to remind you that we won a championship in 2010, our 16th. There are at least 12 other NBA teams without one single championship. There is only one team with more championships than we have and the difference is one. Relax.
You guys know as I'm skeptical as anyone, but Jerry West is the Real Deal. Here's just part of his resume as an executive: -Creates the 1980s Showtime dynasty which brought 5 championships. -Signs the biggest FA in Lakers history (yes, a 24 year old Shaq is more valuable than a 34 year old LeBron) -Trades Vlade Divac for Kobe Bryant, arguably the greatest player we've seen since Jordan, and the man who since ran the offense since Phil gave him the keys in '99. -Brings in Phil Jackson to jumpstart a Lakers squad that won 3 championships in a row and had arguably the greatest playoff run in NBA history. -Joins a Grizzlies team on the brink of being sold and not long removed from being an expansion team. Helps the franchise reach the playoffs for the first time and have a 50 win season. Wins executive of the year. -Becomes an exec for the Warriors. Oversees them drafting Thompson, Green, and trading for Iggy. -Prevents the Warriors from trading Thompson for Love by threatening his resignation if the trade were to go through. -Convinces Kevin Durant to seal the deal on signing with the Warriors with one late-night phone call. -Laid the foundation for the greatest Western Conference team since, well, the 3 peat Lakers and Showtime Lakers, which he was also directly responsible for. Possibly the greatest dynasty in NBA history. -Becomes an exec for the Clippers. Reorganizes the team so they reach the playoffs without their best player. And puts them in the conversation to sign multiple max level FAs this summer when their more attractive rival (aka us) is not rumored to be the first choice for any of them. So basically, since 1980, he's been directly or partially responsible for THIRTEEN championships. Directly recruited SEVEN Finals MVPs. Responsible for the last 3 greatest Western Conference teams in NBA history. You can pick some of these a part by attributing responsibility to others, but the sheer volume of his accomplishments as an executive is incredible. Everything that man touches turns to gold. We want him near the Lakers, that's for sure.
https://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/la-sp-magic-johnson-lakers-stepping-down-20190409-story.html @fabfourlakers damn you were on the money.
History-wise, we're still the best franchise in the NBA. It would take years of us sucking (and Boston being great) for that to change in my opinion. But that's one thing, and this is another. Sure, we won a championship in 2010. But that's way in the past now. We won a championship with a coach that will never coach again, an owner that very sadly passed away and a team that has all of its members retired from the NBA except for Pau Gasol who's barely playing nowadays (and I mean this literally. Pau is the only member of the 2010 championship team that still plays in the NBA). We have a fantastic history we should always be proud of. Those banners and jerseys hanging in Staples Center are something impressive and something earned through years and years of greatness. All those things there are what make the Lakers the great team we know it's been through the years. Maybe some people here are fans of the teams because they're from LA. But I think most fans of this team came because of those banners and jerseys hanging out there. That's a lot of history. A fantastic history. We're freaking fantastic in that regard. But that doesn't take away that a great past doesn't mean a great present or future. The current Lakers have very little in common with the 2010 Lakers. Very little. This Magic Johnson episode is actually a small detail that just shows how things are not going well right now. At least in my case, alarms are not being pulled because of one thing, or even one year. It's because things haven't gone well for years. Pretty much every team out there would love to have the CV of the Lakers, but that doesn't take away we're going through what's easily the worst moment in our franchise history. So yeah, I can't say things are okay right now. We'll be back. At some point I'm sure we'll be back at the top. But I have no idea when. Maybe we do get an Anthony Davis, Kawhi Leonard and some fantastic cheap role players and suddenly we're at the top next year. There's nothing I'd like more than something like this to happen. I think the Lakers name still has weight, so I can't even discard this. But at least the team has done nothing to make me trust them. I just hope we're back in the picture soon. We Lakers fans are spoiled since we've been pretty much always relevant... and I'd rather keep myself spoiled.
I think Jeanie is an *** too. The way the Lakers operate right now...they are destined to fail. Jeanie is still trying to run this like a family business but thats not how the NBA works. You need professional guys that bring tremendous references, accomplishments and bring in the daily effort for this particular job. Magic was about to leave for a month to enjoy the coast of italy with his buddies. Probably during the most important months in recent history. I'm tired of always seeing Lakers hiring buddies and ex players just because they are part of your history and you want to be grateful. You need to bring in people who are good at this job and who can be held accountable and who fight for their jobs every day. It seems to me the Lakers have become a place for bored ex players to hang out and have a beer together at Staples and be in the spot light again. The way Magic goes out is pretty fitting to his tenure. He leaves with a lot of head scratching moves, he left a dumpster fire and a half baked team to the wolves and still has the audacity to step in front of TVs and say we are in a good place...no we are not. We are a mess. the only thing I give him credit for (I really do), is that unlike many other ex champions and players, he quickly realized he blows at this and went away. Most people hang into their jobs for years having no ******* idea what they are doing. He realized this rather quickly and moved on and that deserves credit. He did this because he does have other business and job opportunities. If he didn't, he would probably hang around for the paycheck. Now its time to get rid of Pelinka. Heaven giveth, heaven taketh away...Get rid of this spiritual guru...he should write books for Kobe. We don't need no story telling...we need basketball competence.
LOL, d*** move Ervin. I had very little faith in him but he should have finished what he started. He set us back... Laker for life
Rumor is going around from a "supposed insider" that the Lakers want BOB MYERS to be the new President, in an effort to convince KD to come this summer.
KD needs his own identity. He's going nuts in GS. Unless the Lakers trade Lebron, Durant should never go to the Lakers.
BTW he is now saying he wanted to bring in shooters in the summer but they were offered 3 year deals while he could offer only one? Then why insult our intelligence with stupid "tough playmakers" and how all shooting teams sucked in the playoffs etc.? Also they couldn't do better than Beasley and Stephenson? I'm sorry, thats just absolute nonsense or they are even worse than terrible. Is there a stronger word? It sounds like a desperate move to justify some of the brain dead moves. But as I have said...nobody cares about circumstances, everyone cares about results. If the result is garbage, you didn't get it done. Next.
Where'd you read the 3 years thing? Seems like Magic is a loose cannon now with all these leaks about the season LOL
Because very few people can just be honest. Always try to make themselves more intelligent than they really are. Major human flaw for the majority of the masses. Magic also has a hard time shutting the eff up.
http://www.espn.co.uk/nba/story/_/id/26483708/best-bites-magic-stunning-resignation He is quoted on the following question as follows: You had to give up a very talented player in D'Angelo Russell and congratulations to him making the All-Star team. I couldn't even say that but now I can say it. Also, we saw D'Angelo mature. He wasn't matured like he is now. He always had the talent to score, but he was immature. Now he's grown up and that is why he is an All-Star. But with the cap space, we were able to get LeBron. We only had money for one-year deals. Shooters were getting three-year offers so they weren't going to take our one-year deal when they can get a three-year deal. We understood that.
