Theory: Cousins trade talks were last ditch effort by last regime

ShowtimeDynasty_24/7 · Star Player Joined: 04 Mar 2005 Posts: 8361

I am beginning to think that Mitch and company definitely saw the writing on the wall, and realized a move was needed to save their jobs. Is it possible that Mitch was seriously considering mortgaging the team's future for Cousins in an attempt to save his job?

We may never know what happened behind the scenes, but it sure does sound like that a trade offer was on the table for the Kings as recently as Friday, that was no longer available on Sunday... And now it sounds like Magic is actually SUPPORTIVE of the youth movement in Los Angeles, meaning that he does not want to trade Russell and Ingram.

A lot of people believe that not getting Cousins was the final straw for Jeanie Buss, but I think in fact it was an 11th hour desperate move in attempts to savage what may have been the quickest and most savage transition of power we've ever seen in sports.

yinoma2001 · Retired Number Joined: 19 Jun 2010 Posts: 119487

This will remain a great mystery.

Was the final straw that Jim/Mitch wanted Boogie or that they didn't get him?

I've read somewhere that Jim wanted Boogie but Mitch didn't want to give up Ingram.

Interesting.
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Username · Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2017 1:17 pm Post subject:

This is an interesting "theory" you stumbled upon considering Sam Amick tweeted this out like two hours ago.

dao · Star Player Joined: 02 Jan 2013 Posts: 5572

even without Ingram, we should have been able to beat the Pelicans offer. Randle/Clarkson/Zubac is better than what the Kings got for cousins.

greenfrog · Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2017 1:18 pm Post subject:

They were probably fired either way. A good deal might have been bad for the optics of this, though.

RestEasyBlackMamba · Star Player Joined: 24 May 2015 Posts: 3061

Would Magic have done the Ingram for boogie deal

venturalakersfan · Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2017 1:18 pm Post subject:

Only Mitch didn't want to trade for Cousins.
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bonkers · Star Player Joined: 25 Apr 2013 Posts: 6071

What I got from Amick's tweet was that they were very much interested in Cousins and that dealing for him probably would have saved their jobs, but Mitch was steadfast in his belief in Ingram and would not deal him

yinoma2001 · Retired Number Joined: 19 Jun 2010 Posts: 119487

ShowtimeDynasty_24/7 · Star Player Joined: 04 Mar 2005 Posts: 8361

panamaniac · Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2017 1:20 pm Post subject:

Trading for Cousins would have been very much a Jim Buss move. Glad he didn't prevail. Sayonara.

jonnybravo · Retired Number Joined: 21 Sep 2007 Posts: 30677

greenfrog · Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2017 1:27 pm Post subject:

FWIW, Magic said he heard Mitch and Jim were hard at work all All-Star Weekend on the Cousins deal.

audioaxes · Franchise Player Joined: 26 Apr 2004 Posts: 12573

Rek · Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2017 1:51 pm Post subject:

dcarter4kobe · Franchise Player Joined: 30 Jul 2005 Posts: 17668

tox · Franchise Player Joined: 16 Nov 2015 Posts: 17876

Nnamdi21 · Star Player Joined: 06 Mar 2009 Posts: 3715

I can picture Jim Buss hitting the panic button and including all. while Mitch just remained calm with his game face on, not budging an ounce. While Jeanie and Magic were shouting outside the door, ready to knock it down.

Gotta love and will always miss Mitch's poker face. Great years and championships

RJBaca · Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2017 3:13 pm Post subject:

LakerMindLA · Star Player Joined: 26 Dec 2008 Posts: 5344

Probably the best move Jim and Mitch did was not trading for Cousin's - but it likely cost them their jobs.

I suspect Jeanie wants Cousin's at all costs and in the end, we would just be a worse version of the Kings.

Boybees · Star Player Joined: 13 May 2001 Posts: 1161

Cousins does not have the mental make-up to be part of a winning franchise. Similar to Dwight. We dodged a bullet.
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SuperboyReformed · Star Player Joined: 07 Oct 2012 Posts: 4083

we dont know the full story yet and anyone who is acting like they do is full of ish.

But we can assume that the Cousins trade was devastating for the Lakers. That was the final straw. Lakers have two days to make a big move, and even if we get a PG13 or something, it's still not really enough. The Lakers have no more room for mistakes now if they want to win any time before 2020. On the other hand, the Pelicans are VERY flexible. They have many many ways to build a championship team very soon, they have a lot of room for mistakes, a lot of potential for attracting other stars. And the Lakers will have to compete with them, the Warriors who are set long term, and even the Spurs who are not as powerful as those two, but still set long term.

saetarubia · Star Player Joined: 06 Jul 2014 Posts: 6208

I doubt it'd have made any difference. Writing was on the wall when Jeannie appointed Magic as an adviser and he went on a media tour.
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Bballguru5000 · Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2017 4:35 pm Post subject:

HumanVictoryCigar · Star Player Joined: 28 Apr 2014 Posts: 7601

it's possible Jim was about to push ahead with a Cousins deal and that's when Jeanie jumped in and pulled the plug. Jeanie already said she talked to Adam Silver during the allstar break about putting in Magic so the wheels were in motion and Jim could have been in panic mode. Vlade Divac said he had an offer for Cuz that got pulled over the weekend. Add in Magic's flowing comments about Ingram and it's possible Magic found out about the impending deal, told Jeanie and that's when Jeanie went to the rest of the family and made the move, instead of waiting for the end of the season.