The Lakers have been one of the most injury ravaged teams of the last three seasons. Depending on who you ask, this is either the result of snakebitten bad luck or gross incompetence by the organization and their training staff. This is the internet, after all, and the hot takes run wild. The truth however, as it most always does, probably lies in between.
During the lockout of 2011, the Lakers executed a purge of sorts. When Phil Jackson departed at the end of the season and the owners locked the players out via an end to the collective bargaining agreement, the Lakers let go of multiple staffers. Assistant GM Ronnie Lester was one. Marko Yrjovuori and Marco Nunez were two more. And then there was Alex McKechnie.
The latter served as the team’s Athletic Performance Coordinator for 8 seasons. After his contract was not renewed, he joined the Toronto Raptors. McKechnie was credited by Phil Jackson, Shaq, Pau Gasol, and several other key members of some of the Lakers’ most successful teams as a vital part of what they achieved. So, in some ways, you can point to his departure as a line of demarcation for when the team’s injuries started to pile up.
The other side of this, of course, is that the Lakers got old. They’d been playing deep into the playoffs every season with players who absorbed unsustainable minute loads — especially players like Kobe and Pau. To try and regain lost glory, they acquired players like Steve Nash (also old) and Dwight Howard. Nash had long been an injury risk player and Howard was coming off back surgery the summer he was traded for. Both ended up spending many more minutes nursing injuries during their Lakers’ tenures than anyone would have liked.
All of this is the context for what the Lakers have been going through on the injury front. Was the training staff not doing enough? Was the rash of injuries to high mileage players and guys recovering from serious ailments which led to games missed just the natural result of being who these players are/were? Again, there are no easy answers, despite what those who feel passionately about this subject might want you to believe.
Why does this matter today? Well, Baxter Holmes of ESPN has a fantastic article out today on what the Lakers are, and have been, doing on the injury treatment and prevention front. The entire article is informative, insightful, and worth your time. Click the link and read it.
There several intriguing parts worth sharing here, though. For example, Holmes opens with an explanation of a fancy new scanning closet (for lack of a better word on my part) the Lakers have invested in:
Inside, it’s pitch black and spacious enough for most NBA players to test their wingspans in all directions. A mechanical whir, much like one from an office copy machine, starts as four lasers on metal tracks — one located in each corner — rise from the floor into position. A (painless) head-to-toe scan begins as the lasers move steadily down the tracks, shooting out beams of red light to form a single line that moves over every inch of the object in the center, X-ray style. The whole process lasts 12 seconds.
Outside, a teal 3D rendering takes form in real time on a desktop flat-screen. DiFrancesco spins the image with the click of a mouse. “That’s you,” he says. And it’s accurate to within one millimeter.
Information from the scanner helps the Lakers detect any postural distortion patterns — in other words, if a player’s asymmetry of posture is off in any way, a signal that something might be wrong.
The Lakers acquired the scanner earlier this summer from the German company Human Solutions, which specializes in fashion, specifically high-end tailoring. They’re the only NBA team that has it, according to Vitti, and though there are still kinks to be worked out, they believe that it could be a useful tool to not only keep players healthy, but help them perform at their best.
Their ultimate goal: injury prevention, the NBA’s next frontier.
“That’s what I keep hearing,” Lakers coach Byron Scott says.
It’s a hot topic as teams stockpile the latest technology all geared toward that end.
And then there is more wearable technology the team is using:
This offseason the Lakers began using a pulse oximetry device by Masimo that uses infrared light to gauge inflammation levels, hydration levels, the oxygen in their blood and more. Players insert an index finger into the device once in the mornings, and then again during and between interval bouts of work, for about two minutes before a reading appears. Vitti says the technology is typically used by anesthesiologists.
The Lakers also use an online psychomotor vigilance test to measure reaction time.
DiFranceso asks the players a series of questions on a scale — about how their body feels, how they slept and how hard they feel they pushed themselves that day.
And then there’s the SportVU cameras, which capture the movements of the basketball, all 10 players on the court and the three referees 25 frames per second throughout a game. Among other things, SportVU cameras provide data about players’ speed and distance covered.
The Lakers combine all the information they’re being fed from various tools into a formula that helps charts players’ health and performance in green, yellow and red zones, a format that they began testing last season. (Green is good, yellow is caution, red is bad.)
Scott says he began receiving reports on his players and the zones they were in last season.
The entire story is really framed as a feature on Gary Vitti, the Lakers’ long time trainer who will serve his final season in that role this year before transitioning to a consultant role for two additional years. Vitti speaks on many topics, including how hard the last few years have been, the injury which made him consider retiring early (Randle’s broken leg), and how he’s tried to do as much as he can to keep the Lakers ahead of the curve while not necessarily trying always be “first” and groundbreaking by experimenting with technology which may not have a real value add.
The entire story is worth your time, but it’s this balancing act — much like the one the entire debate about why the Lakers have dealt with so many injuries to begin with — which I find interesting.
More interesting, though, is that the Lakers are even pulling back the curtain at all and exposing parts of their operation. Similar to opening up about their formerly secretive analytics department, the organization seems to be clearly taking a more proactive approach to advertise they are not as behind the times as they are perceived to be. Whether that is actually true or not is open to interpretation — I am not an expert on analytics nor medicine/injury treatment/injury prevention — so I can’t speak on whether any of what they’re doing in these areas is making a real difference or not.
But, I can say, it’s good to know they are trying. The hope is that the results will follow. Though, after Jordan Clarkson was injured in Thursday’s preseason finale and may not play in next Wednesday’s season opener, I have a feeling the hot takes will still be more than prevalent. Fair or not.
Todd says
Glad to see the Lakers being proactive and hearing about their ‘recent’ investments. A light bulb must have gone on somewhere in the Lakers FO.
Anonymous says
From ESPN’s series on the Lakers’ rebuild:
“Basically what the Lakers have right now, at the top of the list is D’Angelo Russell, who has not played in the NBA, and Julius Randle, who has not played in the NBA,” one agent said. “Now you’ve got two picks who have not played in the NBA as your most valuable assets. That’s bad.”
Every insider with whom ESPN spoke said Russell, the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s draft, is the Lakers’ clear-cut top asset. Second-best? Either combo guard Jordan Clarkson, a 2014 second-round pick who was an All-Rookie first team selection last season, or forward Randle, a 2014 lottery pick whose rookie season was cut short by a broken right leg after only 14 minutes of playing time. But the majority of those polled were not high on the NBA youngsters.
“Clarkson is a nice player, but he doesn’t make any money, so you’re not going to get anything from him,” one executive said. “Randle is completely unproven, so you’re not getting anything from him. And you’re not going to get better trading those guys.”
After those three, insiders say the Lakers’ coffers are virtually empty.
__________________________________________________________
I wonder how the Lakers might have picked up some talent? If only we had some assets to trade?
From ESPN’s 2015/16 Players Ranking:
• Dwight Howard = #14
• Paul Gasol = #35
A Horse With No Name says
Nothing wrong per MRI with Clarkson. “Lakers will treat it conservatively.”–Mike Bresnahan
Snarky George says
Lakers related questions from Kevin Pelton’s Friday chat:
Steve: Hi Kevin, What do you think the rationale was for the Raptors not re-signing sixth man of the year Lou Williams? Given that he signed with the Lakers for three years/21 million, could it have been just about the money?
Kevin Pelton: I don’t think money was a big factor per se. I mean obviously if they could have gotten Williams at some smaller figure that might have changed things, but I think the decision was more about sacrificing some offensive firepower to get better at the defensive end of the court given how much of a problem that was for the Raptors.
____
Davis: Random hypothetical, if everything were the same and Kobe’s extension would have happened when the TV contracts kicked in, would the Lakers give him the 2 years max?
Kevin Pelton: I don’t think there’s any indication the Lakers were ever going to draw a hard line with Kobe given everything he’s meant to the organization.
_____
Wayne: With not too many good FAs next summer (other than LBJ and KD), who do you think will be getting crazy contracts? Drummond and Barnes gonna get max offer sheets? Guys like Whiteside or Mozgov might get $15M+?
Kevin Pelton: Drummond is a max player for sure, though I’d imagine he signs with the Pistons before bothering to look elsewhere. Definitely betting on Barnes getting a max offer sheet. I’m also intrigued to see whether someone gives Jordan Clarkson the max possible deal as an Arenas Rule player limited to making the mid-level exception the next two seasons.
_____
Mark: Does Meyers Leonard get an extension or do you think he becomes a restricted free agent next summer? What is a fair price salary for him?
Kevin Pelton: Doesn’t seem like an extension is likely at this point. I’d imagine the Blazers are probably thinking somewhere in the range of John Henson’s extension: 4 years, $44 million or so. And I don’t think Leonard is crazy to think he might be able to exceed that as a restricted free agent next summer if he proves he’s a starting-caliber player this season.
Snarky George says
PS: I’m a big Meyers Leonard fan.
Snarky George says
PSS: I think Leonard would be a perfect fit next to Randle.
don ford says
“The Lakers acquired the scanner earlier this summer from the German company Human Solutions, ====which specializes in fashion, specifically high-end tailoring.=== They’re the only NBA team that has…”
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Well, the Lake Show may remain hobbled, but damit, it will look good !
In seriousness, the new attention is intriguing and promising.
J C says
From previous thread
Hale
Thanks for the Marlo Thomas reference
Definitely hall of fame stuff
Laughed so hard I forgot we lost by a hundred points or so
J C says
Meyers Leonard should play for Mike Dantoni.
How’s he gonna get an offensive rebound hanging out around the three point line?
Baylor Fan says
This is a great article about Vitti and his time with the Lakers. Undoubtedly, there will be more as the season winds down. The part about Riley getting what he wanted was so Riley in his godfather role. It also highlighted how the Lakers used to be far out in front in every way they ran the team. The initial relationship with Vitti worked in part because Riley wanted it to. He wanted his players to be in the best possible physical condition and was willing to bring in a college professor to make it happen. Phil in turn had McKechnie, even though Vitti was still in charge, to help keep his players injury free.
This brings us to today. Kobe gets a pretty common kick in the muscles of his leg and the muscle capsule filled up with blood (aka a contusion). The normal treatment is rest, ice, compression, and elevation to stop the bleeding and help the blood and fluid drain from the leg. Instead Kobe goes out and practices the next day and he certainly is not showing signs of an expedited recovery. My point is that all the fancy gadgets do not help if you do not adjust the workload on the players accordingly. For that to happen, the coach has to buy into the system. Riley and Jackson did to their benefit. The big question is will Byron follow in their footsteps?
Prob says
The worst roster mange meant in the league award goes to the lakers front office. You should have your 15 players that you know are locks before preseason and and add 4 guys that you know will not make the team, but are still willing to give them a chance incase they on your DLeague team. To have the roster go down to 2 option and not be sure right away who will make it and who will be cut to me shows signs of disfunction in the organization and lack of true analytics, which is why other players(FA) don’t want to come to the lakers right now.
If your going tell me that your rebuilding this team with Jabari Brown and Robert Sacre as your pieces moving forward into 2016 free agency, I will tell you to go f**k yourself as free agent max player, and I will sign somewhere else.
Tired of Mitch Kupchak, and sick of Byron Scott ruining this organization with out of date philosophy’s that simply DO NOT work in the NBA TODAY!
Robert says
The Holmes article is well written and informative. So were Baxter Holmes’ other recent Laker articles.
Of course some of you have declared ESPN and Holmes unreadable garbage, so I guess you won’t read this piece.
Or perhaps everyone could read all 4 recent pieces and then draw an overall conclusion of both the writer and our situation.
J C says
Robert,
I don’t even need to read the articles.
I know they were worthwhile because you say so!
Haha
Slow Friday here.
Robert says
J C: Nice ! : ) We can all be wrong, but I think some are a bit dismissive to say that all the articles written on ESPN and by Holmes are hit pieces to generate clicks. If that were the case he could have easily trashed us in the injury management department and he did not.
Snarky George says
Meyers Leonard is out rebounding Randle by 1.5 boards per game this pre season (7 to 5.5).
Anonymous says
Most Lakers fans are in denial about the team’s talent level and the aptitude of the FO.
I’m a long time Laker fan (from the 70’s) and I don’t think we turn the corner till Jim is just an owner. You’re not great at something unless you put the time in. I talk to folks who know — Jim enjoys being an owner not the hard work associated with being the President of Player Operations.
I know Jim wants an extra year. Lakers fans should pray that she holds her foot down on the agreed upon timeline. If Jim stays on I fear the balance if the decade is lost.
Clay Bertrand says
DeNile is a River in Egypt!!!!
For all the talk of Jim Buss’ LEADERSHIP/INFLUENCE in the FO, it seems that we all forget that Mitch Kupchak is the GM just like Jerry West before him. When Jerry West was GM, I don’t even know if WE HAD a President/Director of Player Personnel or VP of Player Operations or a Sultan of Players, or if any of the above even existed on most teams. IF we did, (Perhaps Bill Sharman held a role of this kind) they certainly weren’t the focal point and driving force of roster formation. Jerry West, the General Manager was. Sure Dr. Buss may have signed off or vetoed the occasional move but the GM was the GM.
Each team has created these team titles like Hollywood throws out “PRODUCER” credits to stars of movies as an extra bone thrown to them. In most cases (if not ALL) though, the General Manager is the guy who builds the roster for an NBA team.
Clearly Jim relishes the public persona of being in control of player ops but I have to believe Mitch, as GM, is still the real brains behind the direction of the team.
What are they going to do?? Have Jim “step down” and maintain the title/position of Owner then go out and get Rod Thorn or Ernie Grunfeld or Danny Ferry or Bobby Marks to become the PRESIDENT OF BASKETBALL OPERATIONS and all of a sudden the whole FO is going to change/improve somehow??
I still trust Mitch and he would get hired in a nanosecond if we let him go. Jim’s influence is overblown (albeit oftentimes by the man himself!!) while Mitch’s is understated and perhaps even underappreciated.
Jim’s leaving will naturally coincide with the young players improving, an FA or two finally signing on to the improving team, and HOPEFULLY the hiring of someone other than BS to coach (not Mark Jackson pleeeeeaaaaassee!!!!!!!). Then everyone will say, ‘SEE, Now that JIM is gone, we are finally contending!!’
dxmanners says
I know he’s young, I know we shouldn’t judge yet, but D’Angelo was highly overrated coming out of college. Yikes, he’s got a loooong way to go.
R says
I second the urgent request that Mark Jackson never even be considered for the Lakers head coach position. Or usher, for that matter.
Ryan P says
Crosses fingers that Luke Walton will want to coach next season after b Scott.
Anonymous says
From Sports Illustrated’s NBA preview:
Los Angeles Lakers
“They’re still going to be really, really bad. I don’t see Roy Hibbert, Brandon Bass and Lou Williams as game-changers. The Lakers are in an identity crisis… Their focus should be on their young guys. That means D’Angelo Russell, Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson are the priorities. I’m worried that Byron Scott will ride the veterans instead and it goes down as a lost year. Scott has a lot of loyalty to Kobe Bryant and the organization… Kobe’s presence and knack for scoring and the attention he draws still make him a plus player, even if his stats have fallen off a bit. Nobody else on that roster strikes fear in your heart… My main question with Russell is whether he can make decisions at this level. There’s a big difference between being a good highlight passer and really running an entire offense. You need to know the playbook and understand when to involve your big guys, when to step forward yourself… Williams only makes their picture cloudier. He’s good enough to take minutes from Clarkson, and that harms the long term while not adding a ton in the short term… Randle is the biggest question. People saw a lefty who has a knack for scoring on the block, and they wanted to call him Zach Randolph. But Randle hasn’t done anything yet to say he’s headed in that direction. There’s some real bust potential. He needs to become a good scorer in isolation because he can’t shoot three-pointers or make plays for others, and he’s not a defensive lockdown guy… I don’t see a single plus defender on the roster besides Hibbert.”
Snarky George says
I guess the board will ban reading Sports Illustrated too.
rr says
I read those at SI yesterday. It was the “Scout’s Take” where they anonymously quote scouts giving some eye-check impressions of each team.
bluehill says
As a Laker’s fan it sucks to see them lose like that, but as a basketball fan I would have been surprised if they won. Imagine our recent championship teams, we would have been upset if a team with Kobe and Pau in their primes didn’t beat one of the worst teams in the league (probably the Warriors at the time). Yes, we have some promising young talent, but it’s going to be a long slog as others have noted.
Progress to me would be a better second half record vs first half record with the margin of losses being smaller and us having a chance to win going into the fourth quarter. I know – what kind of aspirations are those? They are appropriate ones for a team almost in complete rebuild mode except it is still carrying one aging superstar with a $25 million salary.
Oltimer says
Byron will be OK and I think if Lakers make it to the playoffs, that is an achievement for this season. Go over the record of the other 8 teams and that will be a fantastic season. It not a matter of playing the veterans or playing the rookies and developing them through strings of losses, but playing the Lakers game in combination with the old and new. There is no exact measurement in winning by analytics but history says that a hard worker could turn the tide. To all players selected, got to be proud to wear purple and gold uniform as true representative of Southern California. Hibbert is in the company of the legends Mikan, Chamberlain, Jabbar and Shaq while Russell is being groomed as the little magic. That would be enough motivation for them to do their best under any kind of circumstances under the radar of bleak opinions from the pundits. You can’t win basketball by writing an article on SI.
Clay Bertrand says
The Lakers don’t have an “Identity Crisis”. They have a KOBE IS STILL AROUND CRISIS. The end of Legendary players doesn’t always go smoothly for the player or the organization. The Lakers case is even more complex with them trying to serve 3 masters:
1.) Showing Kobe the respect he has rightfully earned (along with showing him the $$$ he has earned).
2.) Trying to usher in a new era by developing the young players they’ve drafted.
3.) Appease the TWC people who gave them the huge money deal and the season ticket holders who pay the highest prices in the league for their seats.
The “Crisis” is that they can’t turn the page with Kobe still here and theyve still got to appear to be TRYING to be competitive.
Their Identity won’t begin to come into focus until Kobe, great as he has been for 20 years, retires. Right now they have 3 SPLIT PERSONALITIES!!
KenOak says
So, Randle can’t make plays for others according to that SI article. Really? I know it’s only preseason, but I seem to remember him making plays for other people. And, as to his defense…he’s not a defensive negative in my opinion. Why does he need to be a “lockdown” defender to not be a bust? How many “lockdown” defenders are there at the 4?
I claim that what you have right now is a bunch of media outlets all playing follow the leader. Do I believe that all writers and so-called experts who criticize the Lakers or Kobe are hacks? No. But, there are a certain few that have been criticizing the Lakers, and Kobe, even when they were winning championships. It’s what they do. It’s who they are.
I’m calling it right now. If everyone stays healthy this year (a big if!) then this team wins 40 games. That’s my prediction KO. I’d like a case of wine if it comes true!
Anonymous says
In the la times article on Clarkson’s injury, Vitti tells Scott he had to pop the shoulder back in. How can this injury not be serious?
R says
Clay lots of CAPs there but pretty entertaining posts I must say. And I wholeheartedly agree that the real serious business of rebuilding starts once Kobe hangs ’em up. Actually that would be a best case scenario. He could retire and the team continues to flounder, like, forever …
But yes, Kobe needs to ride into the sunset, then we shall see what happens.
Robert says
Clay: You are giving others a hard time for blasting the FO and Jim Buss, yet you are doing the same to Byron and Kobe. You state that changing out Jim will not matter but somehow changing out Byron and Kobe will be the elixir to a championship. You are certainly not the only one doing this. I will also simply remind you that Jim is the main reason that Byron and Kobe are here at this point, so lambasting the two creations without lambasting the creator is well – let’s just say – logic I can’t follow.
All: I could have replied by stating that I am sick and tired hearing the Kobe bashing and the Byron bashing. I could have even thrown in some banned words. I could have written Darius an e-mail listing off all the posters who have done it. I will not, because it would not be true. Even though I disagree with much of the KB and Byron bashing I do not want to silence it. I do not want to silence Sports Illustrated, ESPN, or Baxter Holmes either. We are what we are and I want to hear what others think we are.
Clay Bertrand says
Robert: First off brother, I like Byron as a studio analyst and love him as a former Showtimer. Just not as coach for us. “Jim is the main reason that Byron and Kobe are here at this point…”?? That’s semantics. Kobe will be here as long as Kobe wants to be here. Had the FO not resigned Kobe when they did they’d have been crucified in the media and by every Kobe worshiper and most Laker fans, not to mention the TWC fallout that would have occurred. Jim or Mitch or anyone else didn’t have a say in Kobe being here or not. SO I don’t buy that Jim Buss is to “blame” for Kobe being here. Jim (along with the rest of the FO) basically HAD to keep him for a number of reasons.
In fact, I am not BLAMING ANYONE for Kobe for being here at all. I am simply stating what everyone knows: That we cannot truly rebuild the team until Kobe retires. I believe a number of people share that sentiment. It’s not bashing Kobe.
I don’t recall mentioning anything about Championships or elixirs or quick fixes to help win them, much less that “changing out Byron and Kobe will be the elixir…”. However, I would say that both Kobe and Byron leaving are necessary precursors to building toward a contending team. I believe a number of people share this sentiment as well. If you believe Byron is a good coach and beyond reproach, you are certainly entitled to feel that way. Like I said, I don’t hate the guy. My opinion is that just he’s not a fit for the modern game and that we should not have hired him. Even Darius agrees with this. I tend to think they hired him because he was a SAFE hire under the circumstances not because he’s a particularly good coach.
SO I guess I certainly do technically have to blame Jim for Byron being here. Which is why I think Byron needs to be gone and Mitch needs to pick the next coach!!!!!
Problem solved!!!! : )
I don’t mean to come off negative or anything before we’ve even played a game. Lol! I’m really so stoked the days we have Laker games!!! But What I think we are as a team is we still have one foot in the end of the last era and one foot in what could be the beginning of the next. We have an old guy who has played for as long as our young guy has been alive!! We’ll continue to be sorta stuck that way as long as Kobe is here (unless we somehow get Durant which would change the world and which also isn’t happenin). It also takes time (multiple years) to accumulate talent so we will need a lot more of both!!
Only a few days left!!!!!!!!!!! Can’t wait!!!!!!!!!!
rr says
Clay,
You have put up yet another defense of the Jim Buss FO that involves disempowering it, portraying the FO as impotent and therefore faultless in the face of Kobe, the media, TWC, and the fanbase. It is weak and actually makes Jim and Co look worse than straight critiques do. The problem wasn’t so much bringing Kobe back—it was bringing him back as the highest-paid player in the NBA for two years when he was coming off a catastrophic injury and was entering his age-36 season.
As to Scott, Robert has made it known that he does not think Scott is a great coach and would show him the door if that would help FA recruitment. And no one forced the FO to bring Scott in; taking a shot with a lesser known guy at a lower salary would not have caused the fanbase to mutiny. But a couple of more 55-60 loss seasons might.
Clay Bertrand says
RR, I stand by everything I said about the front office. But I am NOT putting up “yet another defense of the Jim Buss FO”. I am simply calling out the elephant in the room that is the Kobe Bryant situation. Had they NOT brought Kobe back, they would have been killed for it. THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A FAN MUTINY with the media lighting the torches. Period. Any FO that didn’t bring back Kobe would have caused a mutiny including Dr. Buss himself RIP.
While I never claimed the hiring of another coach would have in itself caused a fan mutiny, I do certainly recall the way Kobe publicly signed on with, and then checked out on Mike Brown and Mike D’Antoni. Right or wrong for him to do, its obvious that hiring a new young coach that Kobe MAY NOT JIBE with could create another situation where Kobe doesn’t buy in. And for a young team coming off of two coaching firings of guys that he didn’t mesh with, they went for a safe hire in Kobe’s mentor, Byron Scott as I see it. I do feel that Kobe is the tail wagging the dog somewhat.
I think Kobe was brought back largely out of loyalty, for ratings, to avoid fan mutiny and also to a decent degree, for his basketball talent declining as it is. I think Byron Scott was brought in for Kobe. Simple as that. As I have said REPEATEDLY, I was against this hiring. I am not defending the FO for the hiring. I fault them 100% for it. I am just explaining the circumstances that I believe influenced the hiring. Other team executives have commented in numerous articles on the complexity the Lakers FO faces dealing with a Legend like Kobe at this stage of his career. Its truly dicey.
If you don’t believe TWC wields any power or sway with the front office, why do you think that TWC executives are a component of every FA pitch? They are very invested in the success of this team. While I don’t believe that they actualy pull any strings, I do believe that they weighed in on whether to retain Kobe.
I totally agree that Kobe’s price tag was ridiculous. It was the FO trying to treat him like Dr. Buss treated Magic with his last contract when he wasn’t even playing anymore and the injuries that hit Kobe made it look like an even crazier decision. But even at a lower price tag, what’s the difference?? Money has not been the issue in recruiting FAs. The team talent is weak at this time. They are at a low point. It happens. No one to blame per se.
I am not a Jim Buss or an FO apologist. I am neither a Kobe worshiper nor a hater. I think that the Lakers rode the Kobe horse as long as they could and perhaps foolishly tried to run one more big race for the Championship with him and they mortgaged a lot of assets to do that. It didn’t work out. Now they have to rebuild their “farm system” and grow from seeds (drafted players) instead of the cuttings (established star FAs) they have always been used to getting. Its going to take a few years to get this house in order.
My biggest criticism of the FO and Jim Buss (aside from constantly not really valuing the draft over the last 15 years) is that he talks too much. His Dad gave one….ONE interview per year. Jim gives a couple. But in them, he gives unrealistic time frames for success. Had he never publicly put a 3 year time frame on the rebuild, no one would be holding him to such a standard. Three years is NOT enough time to reset this team with all of the draft picks gone. Jerry West couldn’t do it in 3 years!!! If he had never said that, people would not have had the expectations either and he would not have the pressure of meeting them. Mitch is stuck with this time frame too!!!
I’d be curious to hear who any of you all feel would be upgrades that are available to hire for the Front Office. I still think Mitch is a good GM. I don’t feel Jim Buss is qualified to be the basketball brains and I don’t think Mitch needs his assistance.
If Robert wants Scott to be gone because he’s not a good coach and because his not being here would result in a better FA haul, then Robert and I are in complete agreement.
Clay Bertrand says
I apologize to all for the brevity of my last post. : )