Ownership is core of the problem

[SGV-Laker fan]

you can p/m on LeBron, AD, Russ, Pelinka and Vogel all you want, but the core issue here is the Buss family ownership. They're not among the richest owners and that's well documented, and yet, they want to relive the past Laker glory, a complete rebuild is out of question for this ownership. therefore, they want big names, so they settles for aging stars with big names. Jeanie Buss and her brass has no business running a team in the modern NBA, they're still living in the Fabulous Forum days:

big men are Laker tradition

no need for three point shooting when we have stud pg and big man running the break

why spend top $$$ on head coaches and training staff when we can save those $$$ for big name players.

They have lost touch with the modern game, that's the core problem here. and they're too cheap and/or stubborn to adapt.

[lakez34]

While I think Laker ownership (the Buss family in particular) plays a factor in our roster construction (see having to let Caruso go because we didn't want to pay more money in lux tax as a recent example), they are well aware winning championships is what fans want, and what raises the value of their team/company and ultimately their own net worth. I definitely don't think they are the core of the problem. Core of the problem (imo) is everybody's want to "win now" especially now that Lebron is here, and I think it's hard to say the want of "win now" is a problem at all because ultimately that is truly what we all want. That's how older teams, and those around stars, get constructed, plain and simple. We're just in the tail end of a star team, and while we have Lebron here, we're going to contniue to want to "win now" and maximize our opportunity of using him to our advantage.

I don't see that as a problem. I see the problem as we've done a poor job of pushing back on him/his agent's wishes to roster construct, because Pelinka isn't Riley and can't just say F off, we're doing it our way. So we're stuck with a player/GM in Lebron/Klutch and Pelinka having to get their greenlight for moves. But, that's also brought us a championship, a star in AD, and the possibility for a deep run this year if we can actually get the roster healthy and connected again.

[Aeneas Hunter]

1. I wish Dr. Buss had sold the team instead of leaving it to his mediocre kids, but that's water under the bridge.

2. I have a hard time with calling the Buss family cheap for not wanting to spend additional tens of millions in luxury tax. The Lakers are a high revenue team, but the Buss family isn't obligated to spend it all on luxury tax. I will cut them slack on that one.

3. The real problem is the mediocre kids. Unlike Dr. Buss, they are dependent on the advice of other people who are more qualified or at least more willing to make decisions. This leads us to the Rambii. To Magic. To Pelinka. To Lebron. To Rich Paul. If Dr. Buss was still alive and running the show, who knows what he would have done? But we can be sure of one thing: He would be the decisionmaker and would not have other people doing the thinking for him.
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Internet Argument Resolved

[anth2000]

Can't disagree with the points here....
As much as I love Dr. Buss, his kids are all pretty lame....Jeanie included.

I am thinking now that the Pelinka/Rambis/Buss dynamic and decision making team is totally flawed....

They listen to Lebron/AD too much - Case in point, bringing in a $44 million dollar Westbrook.

I don't think any Laker fan was excited for Westbrook. His fan base here is small, very small....

Last night, I saw a crappy team again. We have banked on Lebron/Davis/Westbrook to bring another title to LA, when, if you take all that salary, you could have gotten younger solid role players instead of a bunch of one year and done guys.

I am frustrated because this is not what I was hoping for.....

And, Lebron is not going to save the day.....

[LakerSD]

[activeverb]

[JUST-MING]

Kent Bazemore is the problem

[defense]

I'll always root for Jeannie. I don't like rich kids who inherit the farm BUT, Jeannie is a woman surrounded by old elitist, douchy men who are mostly mediocre themselves wanting to see her fail. Nothing would make me happier than seeing the Lakers get another championship in the next few years just to see her dance in their salty tears.



What can I say... I love an underdog.

[mad55557777]

[pjiddy]

[Vancouver Fan]

Agree. It's been a slow death. I did enjoy the brief lottery period when we were stacking up real nice young assets. It's a real shame.
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Music is my medicine

[BEazy]

It's not a organization problem. I honestly think it's a Klutch and LeBron problem. Look at Miami and Cleveland. They've sucked for years when LeBron left. Now they're actually somewhat legit teams by building through the draft. I also think the only reason we got AD is because of Klutch and LeBron. So it's a double edge sword when working with that group of people. Rob knows it, Jeanie knows it, the Rambi knows it, and whoever else up top knows it.

[Halflife]

ownership is excellent.

[SGV-Laker fan]

[BEazy]

[jonnybravo]

[activeverb]

[RG73]

[easybreeze]

Its rare that children from wealthy families surpass their parents achievements.

If I hear that radio promo , "mission 18" one more time.

[activeverb]

[wolfpaclaker]

As I've said all through summer 2019(before they won a title) they are not this savvy amazing group you can be amazed by. But neither was Dr. Buss. He had great vision for business, but he made a ton of roster moves on his watch that led to the same resentment from fans. The Buss' family doesn't have a lot of outside income, and the Lakers are managed like a business as well.

Dr Buss also, let a lot of talent go that was not a superstar. People forget the Eddie Jones move was in large part to avoid giving him that massive contract at the time Eddie was going to get, so they got a shorter contract in Rice. Then when Rice's contract came up, he was sent away for another 1 year contract in Ho Grant. So Rice wasn't kept either. Phil Jackson even asked where's Eddie, alluding to his desire for that wing defender and solid 2-way guy who would have fit in the Triangle. Then there was not picking up Horry's option in 2003 after signing Malone. A huge move at the time as Malone end up getting hurt in 2004 playoffs and we had no backup, Slava Medvedenko logged important minutes in the NBA Finals (and had no business doing so) and Horry was a core player in the 3 peat. A paltry 1 year 5M for Horry was passed on without an appropriate replacement. Countless others I recall over the years. Not giving Shaq an extension? Some say that's about Kobe, but Shaq said he also knew that he wouldn't get the extension he actually wanted money wise. If we go back to 2004-2005, what it was like here (I was here on the board). The amount of hate towards Dr Buss for trading Shaq. Crazy. He's cheap, he's lousy. Sell the team. Etc.

I mean we just live in a different time right now, where every move is under the microscope and social media allows it to be exaggerated. This is not the best FO in the league, but you don't luck into Lebron James and Anthony Davis. This requires actual FO work. The work was done, and it led them to where there are. 13 months ago a healthy AD and Bron won a title. Since then we have not had significant time (8 weeks) where AD and Bron are both healthy at the same time. This is the real problem, IMO, not the role players.

They are good and bad in all partnerships and making one with Klutch has it's cons too. No arguments. When you get in bed with Klutch and LBJ, it is what it is. That said, we got a ring. In 3 years. In a time where Bron has clearly physically broken down to where he is not an iron man anymore. Not even close. CLE/Miami got the full ironman Lebron. We have not.

Most relevant. Letting guys like Caruso walk, was similar to me to the moves Dr Buss made. He waived Shaw once to save money. He let Fisher walk in 2004 to Golden State only for us to get lucky he was able to get a buy out and come back in 2007. Caruso helped with one title. Fish helped get us 3 at the time he was first shown the door. How much FO planning was there in that Fisher move? And lets not pretend the Fisher partnership with Kobe was not important. Phil picked Fisher as a starter on his all time Phil Jackson coached teams, because of his leadership and floor general skills. We signed Smush Parker for Kobe in his athletic prime to replace Fisher/Payton. Can you imagine if that happens now on Jeanie's watch in this era? Kwame for Caron, an all-star Caron. Caron goes to Washington, ends up an all-star. Until Kwame is eventually in a package turned into Pau Gasol, can you imagine what it would be like in this era a move like that? How fortune were we that Fisher had the issue he did and got bought out, and comes back to LA in 2007-08?

I understand a lot of frustration with this year's team. It's been tough to watch for all of us, myself included. But in the end, it's not like this franchise is heading into disaster. We don't have WB for 5 years. He has a player opt out, and he also is a FA at latest in 2023. Same as Bron. The Lebron dominated Klutch era likely ends in 2023. Moving forward we have AD, and THT. I doubt the team keeps Westbrook unless he is able to prove himself in the playoffs. Even then, it will depend on the contract value. Rondo had an amazing playoffs and still was allowed to walk. Some may not like the cap plan, and cap flex, but it is the way the Lakers are proceeding. 2023 onward it's AD, THT and a ton of cap. Lets see what happens. I also don't believe anyone can beat a healthy AD/Bron in a 7 game series, especially now that we have weapons like THT, Westbrook, Melo etc. But this is the main issue, we don't know if we will ever get a healthy Bron/AD (together) ever again. That may have been the "outlier".

[paymonM]

we have an owner of a $5B franchise posing nude with 2 basketballs covering her chest. if that's not enough for people to realize how dysfunctional and unprofessional this organization is .... well .... I don't know what to say.

https://twitter.com/JeanieBuss?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

[Drifts]

disagree.

ownership has shown they are willing to do what it takes to win. brought stars players, built the facilities, has treated employees extremely well, been outstanding citizens, has not been a distraction, etc. The Buss family, are still, the best owners in sports.

biggest issue thus far this season is lackluster play... now, season is still very very young, we'll see if they can turn it around.
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"Now, if life is coffee, then the jobs, money & position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold & contain life, but the quality of life doesn't change. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee in it."

[2019]

[SGV-Laker fan]