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Brian Shaw’s Name Surfaces as Potential Assistant Coach for Luke Walton’s Staff

May 4, 2016 by Darius Soriano


As I wrote when Luke Walton was named head coach, who he brings on as his assistant coaches would be very important — maybe more so than other candidates who were being considered — to his success as head man. Walton, after all, does not possess a lot of head coaching experience, so the type of people he surrounds himself with matter a great deal.

Namely, one thing Walton will likely need is experience in his staff and, hopefully, experience who he is both familiar with and who share his sensibilities as a coach. One name which has surfaced, according to The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski, is Brian Shaw:

New head coach Luke Walton is starting to construct his coaching staff, and the most prominent on his short list of candidates is Brian Shaw, league sources said.

Shaw was a longtime assistant under Phil Jackson, and most recently the head coach of the Denver Nuggets. Lakers executive vice president Jim Buss resisted Shaw as a head-coaching candidate before the hiring of Byron Scott, and many in the league doubt his enthusiasm over having another Jackson loyalist rejoining the coaching staff.

There’s much to unpack here, so let’s get to it. First, Walton is very familiar with Shaw. As noted, Shaw coached under Phil Jackson in Los Angeles for many years and his time there as an assistant overlapped with Walton’s as a player. Shaw has experience running the Triangle, which while not the offense Walton will install, involves many principles Walton will make priorities — namely spacing, ball and player movement, and playing together as a team.

The second part of Woj’s report is that Jim Buss wouldn’t be thrilled about Shaw coming back on. He notes this is the sense from many around the league. I would imagine this would be the sense of many around the league. Conventional thought is that Jim passed over Shaw to be the Lakers’ head coach when Phil retired and then passed over Phil himself when Mike Brown was fired. So, it would be fair to reason now that adding Shaw (and his still relevant ties to Jackson) would be frowned upon. Especially with the ongoing rumors Phil could be back in as soon as a season to take Jim’s job should the Lakers not live up to the type of success detailed in Jim’s “timeline”.

I’ve no idea how much stock to put into this. It all makes sense, of course. What also makes sense is that this front office just hired Walton to coach the team for 5 years and will pay him $25 million to do so. One would reason, then, that Walton would have some liberties in choosing his staff — within reason. Shaw’s past history with Jackson doesn’t seem to be reason enough to leave him out of the equation if that’s what Walton wants.

I mean, Byron Scott hired his son to be on his staff (his son, it should be added, had earned a reputation as a hard worker on staffs not led by his father). Mike D’Antoni hired his brother Dan, who had been a long time member of his staffs in other stops of his career. Walton, a 36 year old first time coach, doesn’t have a brother or a son to hire, but he does have a relationship with a coach who has head coaching experience, coached him in championship seasons, and has had other success as an assistant outside of the Lakers.

That last sentence should not be ignored. It’s easy to forget now, but when Brian Shaw did not get the Lakers’ job, he joined Frank Vogel’s staff in Indiana as his assistant/associate head coach. Shaw was known then to have very strong relationships with the players as a straight shooting, tell-it-like-it-is sounding board who helped in the development of Paul George and Lance Stephenson. His work with George was especially valued and it was thought at the time Shaw took the Denver job he would be really missed by that staff.

We will see how this plays out, but Shaw makes a lot of sense as an assistant on Walton’s staff.

Beyond Shaw’s name being reported as an options, however, another was floated this morning by ESPN’s Ethan Strauss. Appearing on Zach Lowe’s podcast, Strauss — who covers the Warriors — was asked about Walton’s coaching prowess and also brought up the importance of Walton’s staff composition. Noting he, as a Warriors’ beat reporter, was interested in who from that staff Walton would bring with him to Los Angeles, Strauss said he assumed assistant coach Chris DeMarco would be someone who left Oakland with Walton.

I don’t know much about DeMarco, but this is from his coaching page at the Warriors’ website:

Chris DeMarco is in his fourth season with the Golden State?Warriors, his first as a player development coach. In this role, he works with the team’s players on individual skill development.

DeMarco, 30, served as the team’s advance scout/video scout during the 2014-15 Championship season, assisting the coaching staff with game preparation and opponent scouting reports. He originally joined the Warriors prior to the 2012-13 campaign as a video intern and was promoted to assistant video coordinator for the 2013-14 season.

Walton himself has a strong history of player development, but more of these types of coaches would be good adds. DeMarco’s history as someone who had background in video work, scouting, and player development sounds like the exact type of coach who would be a nice fit. It’s important to note, again, Strauss is not reporting DeMarco will be added to Walton’s staff, but did speak of it as a strong possibility. Like Shaw, we will see how this plays out.


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Comments

  1. Chris J says

    May 4, 2016 at 8:25 pm

    I’m quite sick of the specter of Phil continually looming over so many aspects of the Lakers realm. He’s become like Magic Johnson — someone whose contributions on the floor earned himself Laker immortality, but who’s since done little more for the organization than serve as a major source of distraction.

    If Luke wants to hire Shaw, so be it. I wish Phil would just focus on the Knicks and Magic would concern himself with the Dodgers. Let’s look ahead, not back to the future.

  2. Fern says

    May 4, 2016 at 9:36 pm

    Well Chris, Magic is going to mentor Russell that can’t be a bad thing. We were talking about Phil coaching tree the other day. Oh boy this is going to be a looong thread. Bringing Shaw as an assistant coach? Im fine with it. Luke needs to have to have the freedom to hire who he feels can help him developing this team and even if Shaw hasn’t been sucesful as an HC he dies have experience on the job and can help with whatever parts of the triangle can be incorporated into whatever Luke’s cooking. My hope is that he finds the right combination of youth and experience in the coaching staff to get this team moving foward.

  3. R says

    May 4, 2016 at 10:00 pm

    I would assume Jimmy knows that PJ is a mentor of Luke’s. I mean, I even know that, because Luke was recently quoted as saying exactly that, before Luke was hired for the Lakers job. It’s not exactly a big deep secret. Also, not at all surprising, given some of Luke’s duties while still a player under Phil.

    So, if Jimmy is bothered by people associated with PJ, wups!

  4. Anonymous says

    May 4, 2016 at 10:27 pm

    Dr. Buss did not want PJ to run the Lakers. Jeanie won’t acknowledge that fact. The Buss kids won’t vote for Phil to come back. It’s sad that Jim wants to hold on to power and Jeanie wants to bring Phil on. Neither solution will really work — but neither want to acknowledge what is the right path: hire the brightest young mind out there and let that person work with Mitch.

    Jim and Jeanie have agendas and that never ends up working out for the best.

    Let Luke hire who he wants. Not what Jim wants or what Phil would want, heaven forbid, should he return.

  5. Clay Bertrand says

    May 4, 2016 at 11:36 pm

    I would like to see a more inspired hire at some point in the Ron Adams/Darren Erman role as defensive guru but Shaw could be a good hire if Luke feels he would.

    He was a really good assistant and he took his lumps as a first time HC so he knows what Luke will be up against. He might be one of those guys who is a good assistant but doesn’t translate at the HC level i e. a “FRUIT OF THE PHIL JACKSON COACHING TREE” .

    I believe that the root of what is being mentioned in league circles about Jim not wanting Shaw back is actually the dismissive, disrespectful and unceremonious way that Shaw was not even considered for the coaching job and was let go from the staff when he was a Laker coach before. Shaw had some pretty harsh words for the FO as I recall in the aftermath of all of that. Harsh enough to be considered borderline personal. Harsh enough to make a reunion potentially at least a little prickly for some at first. I don’t think Jim’s uneasiness would be just because he’s a “Phil Guy” when Luke is such a “Phil Guy” in so many ways. I think its how Shaw was let go. I could be wrong. This bridge can be mended as well IMO.

    Further, the FO is not known for meddling in the HC staff construction. Mike Brown had a diverse army of current head coaches. As Darius stated, Mike D and Byron had their own personal choices too. We’ve seen staffs large and small accomplished and related. The FO won’t meddle in these matters. They are within the HC’s domain.

    PS: SNARK Alert: BShaw could help with DAR’s PG development having played the position if there’s any time leftover from all the mentoring Magic is going to be doing with him Lol!!!!!!!!!!!

  6. J C says

    May 5, 2016 at 12:02 am

    You heard it here first….
    Wait for it…..

    THE LOS ANGELES LUKERS !!!!

  7. Anonymous says

    May 5, 2016 at 12:43 am

    Great post! For some reason people hate to admit that Dr. Buss was done with Phil ego and didn’t want him back. The other Buss kids know this as well as Jim. Now that doesn’t mean Jeanie doesn’t go rouge and bring him back against their wishes. She has taken the high road in the past and it’s becoming pretty clear she wants to get Phil back. And probably Kurt Rambis the husband of her best friend to boot! This is hard for ma because I want Jim out as the head of basketball operations but I don’t want none traveling, mail it in, have to run the triangle Phil.

  8. BigCitySid says

    May 5, 2016 at 4:07 am

    – Hire Brian Shaw? An experienced NBA head coach. A former Laker player w/ 3 rings. Someone who has some idea of what it takes to become a champ. Someone who knows what it takes to successfully play a role on a team with the HUGE egos of Shaq and Kobe? Hire a guy like that as an ass’t to Walton? Absolutely! It’s such a logical choice.

    – As for Jim (Bust) being a bit cool on the deal, just makes me believe in this hire that much more.

    – Luke with Shaw. This would make the Lakers two for two in my book.

  9. Shaun says

    May 5, 2016 at 7:21 am

    i’m liking it – apparently shaw was a hard ass in denver – would could be a good compliment to luke who might be too cool and collected

    Now if Luke could get a Defensive guy from the Van Gundy tree it would be great … not sure who would be left though since adams, thibs and clifford are all hired

  10. Josh says

    May 5, 2016 at 7:31 am

    I agree BCS. Imagine if we can get Vogel and/or Shaw along with DeMarco. We’re lucky Luke has one of those personalities that people gravitate towards. I think he’s going to build a staff with guys who share his basketball principles. Like it or not those are Phil guys lol. The irony is fantastic.

  11. The Dane says

    May 5, 2016 at 8:01 am

    Shaw’s connection to Paul George could also be part of a ploy to trade for Paul George (which is being rumoured by Simmons) if the Lakers keep the top 3 pick.

  12. T. Rogers says

    May 5, 2016 at 8:35 am

    I would guess that Luke has some leeway at putting his staff together. I like the idea of Shaw on this staff. As player he was one of the few who could get through to the young raging bull known as Kobe Bryant during the Three Peat years. Kobe respected Shaw’s no nonsense approach. Every coaching staff needs a guy like that around.

    And if Buss and Shaw can reunite after the way things went then that’s another positive step for the team.

  13. matt says

    May 5, 2016 at 8:35 am

    Are u serious indi is considering trading paul george, gotta be nonsense

  14. LT Mitchell says

    May 5, 2016 at 8:41 am

    I have yet to see any evidence, aside from Jimbo’s statements, to suggest that Dr Jerry Buss was sick of Phil and the Triangle. Unless there is a reporter who actuallly interviewed Dr Buss to confirm, I will always believe that Jimbo made those statements to try to quiet the huge backlash from hiring MDA over Phil.

    That being said, Jimbo almost has no choice but to accept Shaw, despite his pride. I don’t think Jimbo wants to go through another public backlash (albeit on a much smaller level) for choosing his pride over what’s best for the team, especially after Woj bringing up this issue in the national spotlight. If Shaw is not on the sidelines when the season starts, the reason will be obvious….. but I think he will be.

  15. matt says

    May 5, 2016 at 8:50 am

    Mid wilshire, thanks for jim buss interview, it’s kinda hard to tell exactly what he said and what is just the opinions of the writer, jim buss said he like Huertas who i guess is a restricted free agent, and he also said he like tarik black. And named 5 building blocks, clarkson, randle, russell, nance, and lou williams. (No mention of nick young). Thats 7 players. If the lakers keep the top 3 pick, they gotta trade either it or the 2nd rounder you can’t add 2 more rookies to this squad. The only way you trade a top 3 pick is if you get something great as a return.

  16. LKK says

    May 5, 2016 at 9:01 am

    It would seem logical that Luke and management discussed the parameters of hiring a staff during the interview process. I doubt very much that Luke would agree to being hired with a specific list of who he can and can’t have on his staff. Brian Shaw may have an axe to grind with the FO, but a job is a job. Burning bridges usually only leaves one with one less road to travel. Also, I can’t see Jim undermining his newly appointed coach at the beginning of said coach’s tenure. I think Shaw would be an asset to Coach Walton and if Luke truly wants him, Jim won’t object. The decision will likely rest with Walton and Shaw.

  17. matt says

    May 5, 2016 at 9:11 am

    IMO, isn’t luke coaching the warriors right now, how can he be searching for assistant coach at the same time, this report is likely just speculation.

  18. BigCitySid says

    May 5, 2016 at 9:54 am

    -@ Matt, lol I’m actually thinking the same thing. I guess GS is his day job and LA his night job…or is it the other way around? Young man burning the candle at both ends.

  19. Anon#1 says

    May 5, 2016 at 10:04 am

    No to a Paul George trade. No to a Westbrook trade.

    Your best players are 20 and 21 with two 24 year olds that are rotation pieces. Why would give up a 19 or 20 year old potential superstar for a 26 or 27 year old star (I don’t think George or Westbrook are superstars).

    Does the FO expect the team to make that big of a leap these next few years. Will one really good player make up for the learning curve of Randle, Russell or Clarkson? And what if you had to include Randle or Russell in the deal for George or Westbrook? How does that help you move forward.

    If the Lakers were on the verge of really competing and our core was all in their later 20’s then flipping a top pick for an established star would make sense. That’s not where the Lakers are.

    Jump start this thing via free agency — not by trading valuable assets. If our FO does not have the gravitas to close free agents that is on the FO. Its not a problem that you solve by trading picks or kids.

    I’m sure these rumors are real — Jim doesn’t know how to build a team without a mega star on it. Having a superstar makes all the other decisions really meaningless — you just fill in your roster based on whatever vets are available.

    If you don’t have a superstar then every decision is important. I worry that these rumors are a sign that the FO is lost and their knee jerk reaction is to get a big star to hide behind.

  20. Gary says

    May 5, 2016 at 10:25 am

    Re Buss interview. Yes, he listed 5 young players but let’s be honest only Randle, Clarkson and Russell really matter. Nance and Black are nice rotation pieces and should not preclude the addition of another very talented young player should the Lakers keep their pick.

    I would not be bummed if the Lakers keep their pick and strike out in free agency. We’ll still make progress next year and actually have a better idea of what we need when the 2017 free agency feast arrives.

    This idea that we’ve been awful for three years but we can make it all back in one off-season is ridiculous and is reflective of impatience that the FO has.

    Last I heard it takes 2 – 3 superstars plus a deep roster to really compete for championships. The Lakers don’t even know what they have yet and they are willing to trade their pick and either Randle or Russell? That’s just crazy!

    You mean to tell me a core of George, Randle, Clarkson and Nash is better than Simmons, Randle Russell, Clarkson and Nance?

    Adding a star now puts the team on the clock and creates a window. Why would you want to do that? Does the FO think that the West is ripe for the taking? No, its better to get another young stud and create a team that has a higher ceiling and a longer window.

    Why doesn’t the FO understand this?

  21. KO says

    May 5, 2016 at 10:30 am

    Gary by far better.

    Paul is a top 7 NBA player.at 26

    Simmons is a 19 year old collage player with no outside jumper, limited to his right who may nit be a top 100 player.

    Not even close.

  22. Clay Bertrand says

    May 5, 2016 at 10:38 am

    When you are a newly hired head coach in the NBA, every coach you have every known or worked with, and every coach HE has ever known or worked with is BLOWING YOU UP just to be considered for your staff. The NBA understandably is the Holy Grail of coaching opportunities.

    From what I saw early on, they say Luke’s former Arizona teammate and the coach he worked under in Memphis during the Lockout Josh Pastner was contacted by 150 plus coaching hopefuls within hours of Luke’s hiring trying to get their name thrown into the mix as potential coaches for Luke’s staff. I can only imagine Luke himself was contacted by a large number of guys as well. Brian Shaw is hardly a guy Luke has to do much work to contact and recruit.

    With the way communications are these days, Luke can easily start to fill out his staff without taking away from his duties preparing the Warriors. There may be some assistance from the FO from the administrative side regarding contract numbers and payment structure etc.

  23. T. Rogers says

    May 5, 2016 at 10:44 am

    Gary,

    I have to agree with KO. I’d take a Paul George led line up over a Simmons one in a heartbeat. He’s a two player who fits the modern NBA game perfectly. He’s 6’8″ and can play and defend four positions. And of course, Indy would want a king’s ransom for him which is why the Lakers won’t get their hands on him. At least not this summer.

    We don’t know what Simmons will become or how long he will take to get there.

  24. matt says

    May 5, 2016 at 11:22 am

    I would believe jim buss cares about the future of the team, him being an owner, and he does not seem to be in his position for fame, so him stepping down would be for the best interest of the team only.

  25. Gary says

    May 5, 2016 at 11:36 am

    T Rodgers and KO:

    You realize that Indiana would want the pick plus Russell or Randle. If its straight up that’s one thing — but the Lakers can’t afford to do 2 for 1 right now. George would be 30 or 31 before we got passed the 2nd round of the playoffs.

    I think a deal now sets a lower ceiling and a shorter window for the team that keeping the pick and the youngster.

  26. A Horse With No Name says

    May 5, 2016 at 11:50 am

    Paul George not a superstar? Please. He’s a top five player. Immensely talented two-way wing.
    You want wings? Here’s my quick rating of the top 3s:

    1. Lebron
    2. Durant
    3. P. George
    4.K. Leonard
    5.G. Hayward

    As T. Rodgers notes, there is no reason to think the Lakers have a shot at getting PG. If the Lakers can turn a top three pick into a star player in his mid-twenties through trade, with the bonus of making the Lakers a more attractive destination for FAs, then they do it in a heartbeat. Guys like George or Jimmy Butler are not old, they are entering their prime and are exactly what you need to build a successful team peppered with very young players. That’s understanding how to build a roster for the present and future. We aren’t going to attract FAs with a nursery school roster.

  27. Darius Soriano says

    May 5, 2016 at 11:59 am

    Either guys are going to stop arguing about fake trades or I’m just going to delete comments. The choice is yours.

  28. Anonymous says

    May 5, 2016 at 12:16 pm

    Either guys are going to stop arguing about fake trades or I’m just going to delete comments. The choice is yours.
    __

    Darius: The rumors are out there — should we just ignore them?

  29. Vasheed says

    May 5, 2016 at 12:40 pm

    I think Luke should have a pretty freehand to choose whomever he wants to help him. Shaw sounds like a perfectly reasonable option to me.

  30. A Horse With No Name says

    May 5, 2016 at 12:41 pm

    http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/15468298/frank-vogel-just-latest-coach-grow-stale-larry-bird-world

    “Bird’s record is mixed, just as it is for any front-office chief.”

    Good read on a seemingly head scratching coach firing. As Lowe points out, no front office bats 400. . . . Let’s see if the FO can get some new talent on base this off-season.

  31. matt says

    May 5, 2016 at 12:46 pm

    Yall right the rumor is out there, i don’t know where these things come from, (guy pulls it outta a hat) but it’s a hot topic on the net.

  32. Darius Soriano says

    May 5, 2016 at 1:25 pm

    Yes, the rumor is out there. And, as of now, it’s a rumor. It’s not being reported as the teams having conversations or there are active discussions. So, if you want to discuss that, do it somewhere else. No one is telling you to ignore it.

    And as a reminder, this is from our commenting guidelines:

    Discussion of trades is allowed only once discussions of said trade between organizations can be confirmed. Posts of fan fiction speculation on how the Lakers can land LeBron (or whomever) are not. (There is no shortage of other Lakers sites that welcome that kind of speculation.)

    That’s how it works here. I only ask commenters respect that.

  33. Clay Bertrand says

    May 5, 2016 at 3:09 pm

    Not Piling on here but………..

    That Paul George BS from BILL SIMMONS (intials are BS for a REASON) is total crap! He’s always pulling these moronic deals outta thin air and then he asks, “Who says no?” His comments are such horse shat they don’t even amount to reasonable speculation. This isn’t a rumor. This is a-hole Simmons picking on OUR team instead of sticking to his crappy Celtics and Patriots.

    Bill Simmons is a world class little turd. His comments and those of COWDUNG COWERD are pure talk show fodder. Like COWERD going into all this detail about the Lakers trading their pick before the draft when, if he knew the FACTS, he’d know its impossible because of the league rules. They’d have to trade the player taken and therefore could only do so AFTER the draft.

    Who cares about the truth though??!?!?!? The inconvenient facts make his version of events less entertaining. Can’t let the facts ruin a good talk show!!! Its incorrect information but he builds a whole show around it and people start calling in and talking about it then its on LakerNation and all kinds of other cheese ball TAKE IT AND RUN WITH IT news sites. Its the most ridiculous game of TELEPHONE ever! SMH.

  34. Fern says

    May 5, 2016 at 3:14 pm

    “Russell Westbrook is not a superstar” riiighhhttt ok. Paul George is not a superstar because he plays in Indiana. I seen so called “superstars” with worse stats than those two.Im not totally on board with trading the pick because it’s dumb to trade a potential 19 y/o superstar for an 26 y/o established superstar because at 26 he is past his prime and washed up.What are they thinking? End of sarcasm Im on the fence on this but it does makes sense, i can see it happening. And about the pick, Ingram should be our guy if we keep the pick. Ben Simmons is OVERRATED, there i said it. Ko nail it on his description of Simmons. I got my comment deleted yesterday for speculation Darius will pull the trigger guys. Personally i dont mind, his site his rules. Let’s wait and see what happens…

  35. R says

    May 5, 2016 at 3:16 pm

    Sorta semi related, I’ve read the six Buss children have equal votes on certain matters, would that include removing Jimmy or Jeanie (I can hope) from their positions? If so, does PJ have the tie breaker in the event of a 3-3 deadlock? (Sorry, couldn’t resist that last part). The rest of the inquiry is serious though.

  36. matt says

    May 5, 2016 at 3:18 pm

    Leave the rumors to bill simmons, he’s trying to get his job back

  37. Clay Bertrand says

    May 5, 2016 at 3:45 pm

    R, the Lakers are owned in Trust with the 6 Buss children each having a vote. Phil is not the tie breaker in the case of a 3-3 deadlock. The Tie Breaker clearly is Puppi………

    http://articles.latimes.com/1987-07-09/local/me-2940_1_jerry-buss

  38. R says

    May 5, 2016 at 3:50 pm

    Clay, honestly it wouldn’t surprise me. BTW, an adult going by the name “puppi” speaks to the type of arrested development that seems all too typical of the Buss circus.

  39. Robert says

    May 5, 2016 at 4:22 pm

    We do not know exactly how the Buss Trust works, however I know a fair amount about how trusts work in general. My “guess” would be that matters concerning selling or partially selling the team, or changing the basic way profits are divided amongst beneficiaries, would require a vote of the 6 Trustees. Operational matters would not. Clearly, Byron’s firing did not, and I do not think Jim’s firing would either. We are not talking about removing Jim as an owner or a trustee (that would require a vote). Operational matters like who we draft and who we hire/fire – No. That works like any other company and Jeanie “should be” the top executive on those matters.

  40. Keith says

    May 5, 2016 at 4:56 pm

    I think the Lakers should keep the pick and take Simmons. They should use him as a permanent small ball center. He’s just a kid and he’s 6’10” 240. Its not a reach to think he ends up at 6’11” 250.

    His ball handling would be an advantage against every other center other than the Warrior’s Green. Plus his lack of range will be less of an issue as a 5 because the only center in the league that shoots Threes with confidence is again, the Warrior’s Green.

    KD is going to resign for two years (with a 2nd year opt out) in OKC. He’ll want to give it another go with Westbrook. Whiteside is going to be in demand by a lot of teams closer to winning than the Lakers. DeRozan might come but he’s a FG without a drop dead shot — adding him to the lineup with Randle and Simmons might be pushing it. Horford is 30 and averages 17 and 7 — his stats are starting to noticeably fall. Ezeli is a classic low post center — didn’t we just try that with Hibbert?

    No, I go hard after Barnes and then I play out next season with the followingL

    SF: Barnes
    PF: Randle
    C: Simmons
    SG: Clarkson
    PG: Russell

    I think Lakers fan’s would go nuts for a young team like that. People don’t remember that the Dodgers were incredibly popular because they kept on introducing young talented players and the fans connected with the ‘home grown’ core.

  41. Gary says

    May 5, 2016 at 5:05 pm

    I think the Lakers should keep the pick and take Simmons. They should use him as a permanent small ball center. He’s just a kid and he’s 6’10” 240. Its not a reach to think he ends up at 6’11” 250.
    __

    If the Lakers are fortunate enough to keep the pick, I agree they should take Simmons, if he’s available.

    I thought I was the only one who felt that Simmons could play the 5. I didn’t comment on it because I thought folks would think I was nuts. Of course, those posts will likely soon follow.

  42. Chearn says

    May 5, 2016 at 5:16 pm

    Posted 8Dec2015

    Just maybe the Lakers have an archetype for the ‘next’ team model with five players that handle the ball and creates shots for themselves and others, rebounds both offensively and defensively, and can run and fill the lane. Visualize this lineup: Pg – Russell; Sg – Clarkson; Fwd – Randle; Fwd – Anthony Brown; and Fwd – Simmons. Since the center position is obsolete, there is no center. And even if the opposing team has a center this NBA model will run him off the floor, with ShowTime Part Deux.

  43. Keith says

    May 5, 2016 at 5:18 pm

    Chearn: Nice reference. Although, I like Barnes over Brown at SF.

    Great minds think alike!

  44. Tra says

    May 5, 2016 at 5:23 pm

    B. Shaw would be an excellent addition to Luke’s staff. He isn’t too far removed from his playing days, has that championship pedigree as both player and (assistant) coach and he would be able to relate to our young core and vice versa. As with Luke, Shaw will be able to speak their language and I can’t emphasize enough how much this means to today’s generation of players. If these rumors are true, I would hope that Jim Buss doesn’t do anything to stop this from coming to fruition.

  45. Gary says

    May 5, 2016 at 5:27 pm

    Glad to know that I am not completely nuts!

  46. matt says

    May 5, 2016 at 6:10 pm

    I don’t jeanie should be in charge, she seems more interested in bringing in phil, which is more of a self interest thing than a basketball decision, also she seems to relish the spotlight that comes with being a owner, which could also cause decisions to be more self fullfilling, but dont take what I’m saying as fact it’s just judgement. I don’t know these people I’ve just seen them on tv.

  47. Tra says

    May 5, 2016 at 6:37 pm

    Hoping and Praying that, not only do we keep the pick, but that we end up with the #1 selection. Of course for the overall betterment of the team, but to also witness the debates within our FB&G Community – once Darius drops that inevitable thread – about who should be chosen first, Ingram or Simmons??

  48. matt says

    May 5, 2016 at 6:38 pm

    You gotta have a low center of gravity to play center, a fat wallet, (big butt), or else you gonna get pushed off the block.

    a small ball center like draymond green is this, ideal small ball center is Charles Barkley in his prime.
    Simmons is not shaped like them.

  49. Anonymous says

    May 5, 2016 at 6:48 pm

    You gotta have a low center of gravity to play center, a fat wallet, (big butt), or else you gonna get pushed off the block.

    —

    Play Randle at the 5 and Simmons at the 4.

  50. Anonymous says

    May 5, 2016 at 6:52 pm

    Matt —

    That’s old school. If your creating the next phase of the NBA it’s all about leveraging advantages over doing things as they have always been. What Simmons gives up without having a big butt he makes up in athleticism and play making that few front court men could match. Advantage Lakers.

  51. DJ says

    May 5, 2016 at 7:25 pm

    The triangle offense did not turn a bad team into playoff team, we are about to find out the Golden st offense can win without Curry in LA. Luke is a brave man because he trusts this Lakers FO, I don’t.

  52. Anonymous says

    May 5, 2016 at 7:44 pm

    Robert- you are confusing beneficiaries with trustees. The Buss trust has 3 trustees (who are also benis: Jim, Jeannie and Johnie. The rest of the bus kids are just benificiaries.

    Whether or not Jeannie can fire Jim will also depend largely on how the Lakers are organized as a company/LLC etc, and who has the voting rights and authority to appoint or fire officers. It’s complicated, but rest assured that if Jeannie had the power to make the decision all by herself, Phil would have been running the show a long time ago. I for one am thankful this is not the case as its a huge conflict of interest on her part.

  53. matt says

    May 5, 2016 at 7:55 pm

    I guarantee you draymond green started playing center because they found out at practice that he could hold his ground against bogut

  54. matt says

    May 5, 2016 at 8:13 pm

    The whole point of playing small ball center is to spread the floor on offense (so he has to be able to shoot), and on defense he has to be srong enough to hold down the paint, also quick enough to guards multiple positions.

    But big centers are not old school, towns, and cousins both are big and have an outside shot.
    The thing Cleveland is trying with channing frye at center doesn’t work

  55. matt says

    May 5, 2016 at 8:20 pm

    Ok i guarantee you simmons will never play center in the nba

  56. A Horse with no name says

    May 5, 2016 at 8:42 pm

    Matt: your take on Simmons is spot on. You need a lower center of gravity and body mass to play small ball center. That’s why Brandon Bass was surprisingly effective there. Simmons lacks the ballast to anchor the middle .

  57. matt says

    May 5, 2016 at 9:27 pm

    Horse,
    you read my mind, maybe they resign brandon bass, (but he’s older and slower than the ideal), but coached by luke walton, could work out

  58. A Horse With No Name says

    May 6, 2016 at 11:26 am

    Anonymous May 5, 2016 at 7:44 pm
    Robert- you are confusing beneficiaries with trustees. The Buss trust has 3 trustees (who are also benis: Jim, Jeannie and Johnie. The rest of the bus kids are just benificiaries.

    “Whether or not Jeannie can fire Jim will also depend largely on how the Lakers are organized as a company/LLC etc, and who has the voting rights and authority to appoint or fire officers. It’s complicated, but rest assured that if Jeannie had the power to make the decision all by herself, Phil would have been running the show a long time ago. I for one am thankful this is not the case as its a huge conflict of interest on her part.”

    Thus far this is the definitive, most cogent post on the limits of Jeanie’s power per the legal requirements of trusts. As I’ve said all along, Jeanie does not have unilateral power, and as Anonymous notes, if she did, Phil would be back with the organization. From this one might also infer that Jim didn’t advise Jeanie of Byron’s firing, because he didn’t have to. And why would he, when her agenda is to remove Jim?

  59. rr says

    May 6, 2016 at 11:50 am

    Thus far this is the definitive, most cogent post on the limits of Jeanie’s power per the legal requirements of trusts

    —

    Naw. It just feeds your preferred narrative, and this is easy to demonstrate: the presumption is that Phil would be in charge already if Jeanie could fire Jim, when, of course, neither you nor Anon can prove that. It may be that Jeanie is honoring her Old Man’s wishes, even though she would prefer Phil. Additionally, Anon concedes that he actually doesn’t know how the trust is set up. If you do, please explain it and cite verifying evidence. If you don’t, admit it.

    That said, it may well be true that Jeanie can’t fire Jim and already would have if she could. But based on evidence presented so far, you actually don’t know, and neither does Anon.

  60. A Horse With No Name says

    May 6, 2016 at 1:45 pm

    You are correct rr! Neither Anon nor I can prove anything. What I bring to bear on this is many years of experience acting as a trustee. I have a pretty good idea of the observed principles involved in trusts written by legal specialists. Absolute power is never given when there are beneficiaries, as there are legal rights given to beneficiaries that include the removal of trustees by vote. Without question, Jerry Buss would have availed himself of the best legal counsel to ensure that a carefully constructed trust was in place following his passing. A trust that protects the rights of all beneficiaries and prevents abuses of power –that’s pro forma. Do you honestly think that Jerry Buss would give Jeanie the absolute power to fire Jim when he did not trust Jackson at all ?

    Now my cigar/wineshop rumour cred: My cousin (now retired) was a senior VP for Verizon. He knows a lot of people in LA, including laker organization members. The information that he has had for years now, is that Jerry Buss considered Jackson a predator, and wanted him out of the organization. What fueled his desire to keep Jackson out was the way Jackson (very stupidly) alienated Jim Buss by disrespecting him. I know who my cousin’s principal source is, and my cousin has no interest in making crap up. Make of it what you will . . .

  61. R says

    May 6, 2016 at 2:59 pm

    Gee rr is EVERYTHING posted here to be backed up by “verifying evidence” (whatever that means) ?
    That’s a pretty high standard, and one I don’t recall being in the commenting guidelines.
    It’s actually a higher standard than we are able to hold US presidential candidates to let alone sitting presidents.

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