ESPN: LAL will not replace Magic, Pelinka will report directly to ownership

[what would jack bauer do?]

Hmm... I had the impression that Rob is a hard worker. I thought there was report from a beat writer of a rift between him and Magic last season due to Magic's lack of availability in the office, but I can't find that article anywhere. Did anyone else read something like that or am I going crazy?

The fact that he's in line to gain more power he seems like the kind of worker to take the blame and accept the challenge to right the mess when the going gets tough.

I'd hope we stop with the bullsh** dramatics and just stabilize the franchise with Luke and Rob staying intact. Despite injuries, having to use Rondo heavy minutes and Lebron/Kuzma's lack of defensive drive Luke has us in the top 6 defensively again in the last 11 games. He did what he could with a tragically flawed roster.

[gts1]

Hmm... I had the impression that Rob is a hard worker. I thought there was report from a beat writer of a rift between him and Magic last season due to Magic's lack of availability in the office, but I can't find that article anywhere. Did anyone else read something like that or am I going crazy?

The fact that he's in line to gain more power he seems like the kind of worker to take the blame and accept the challenge to right the mess when the going gets tough.

I'd hope we stop with the bullsh** dramatics and just stabilize the franchise with Luke and Rob staying intact. Despite injuries, having to use Rondo heavy minutes and Lebron/Kuzma's lack of defensive drive Luke has us in the top 6 defensively again in the last 11 games. He did what he could with a tragically flawed roster.

I remember that coming up too....

From everything I have read Pelinka is in the office everyday all day and puts in tons of time... We also don't know how much Magic trusted in Pelinka or allowed him to do his job and who was ultimately trying to strike the deals.

We'll see how this all shakes out but I agree on stability at this point. A key for fans is not to fall into the rabbit hole with all this backstabbing talk and trying to find the culprit when I think it was more a comment by Magic on the state of doing business in the NBA and not directed at anyone person.

[RamonSessions7]

If this stuff from Ramona is right, we gonna stay trash

[LakerClipperFan]

Wouldn't it be great if we could somehow pry #JerryWest away from the Los Angeles Clippers and Steve Ballmer, the wealthiest owner in all of sports? It's terribly frustrating what we are going through right now as Lakerfans.

Ramona out there suggesting pelinka and Kurt **** Rambis are going to have expanded roles now.

I'm not sure why that should surprise any of us, but at the same time... I need to punch something.

[gts1]

Wouldn't it be great if we could somehow pry #JerryWest away from the Los Angeles Clippers and Steve Ballmer, the wealthiest owner in all of sports? It's terribly frustrating what we are going through right now as Lakerfans.

Ramona out there suggesting pelinka and Kurt **** Rambis are going to have expanded roles now.

I'm not sure why that should surprise any of us, but at the same time... I need to punch something.

I doubt money has anything to do with if West comes to Lakers or not... West is way past money being the determining factor on where he works. Not saying he'd do it for free but at this time in his life it's probably more about the situation than the financials.

[TylersLakers]

How the f**k is Rob Pelinka still here? And by him being here, that WILL shrink the pool of candidates who are interested in the job.

Sell the team, please. PLEASE.

[Pythagoras]

How the f**k is Rob Pelinka still here? And by him being here, that WILL shrink the pool of candidates who are interested in the job.

Sell the team, please. PLEASE.

While I’d like to bring in West as a consultant, I ultimately like your idea of bringing in Griffin as the GM. We need someone fresh brought in who’s going to tell Jeannie what she NEEDS to hear. Not what she WANTS to hear. The best way to do that is bringing in someone without deep ties to the org who can be honest with them.

[Ball so hard]

I'm actually in the minority here, but i'd like to see what Pelinka can do without Magic. I always felt Pelinka was Magic's puppet... this makes it nearly impossible to actually perform your duties to the best of your abilities.

[Kilroy]

I'm actually in the minority here, but i'd like to see what Pelinka can do without Magic. I always felt Pelinka was Magic's puppet... this makes it nearly impossible to actually perform your duties to the best of your abilities.

So who's puppet is going to be now... Only answer to that is "Lebron's" puppet... He's been Kobe's puppet for years...

Point being, we've seen nothing from him that indicates he's got being the main guy, in his DNA... And we don't have another season to waste on an unknown... We need a top tier NBA mind, who knows how to deal with LeBron/Klutch without handing the keys over to them...
And what's super frustrating is, unlike a team like the Kings or say, Utah, or Denver or whatever, our President job is one of, if not the most desirable front office job in the league... So we should have our pick of top candidates for the role...

But instead we talking 'bout Kurt Rambis and Rob Pelinka...

[Ball so hard]

I'm actually in the minority here, but i'd like to see what Pelinka can do without Magic. I always felt Pelinka was Magic's puppet... this makes it nearly impossible to actually perform your duties to the best of your abilities.

So who's puppet is going to be now... Only answer to that is "Lebron's" puppet... He's been Kobe's puppet for years...

Point being, we've seen nothing from him that indicates he's got being the main guy, in his DNA... And we don't have another season to waste on an unknown... We need a top tier NBA mind, who knows how to deal with LeBron/Klutch without handing the keys over to them...
And what's super frustrating is, unlike a team like the Kings or say, Utah, or Denver or whatever, our President job is one of, if not the most desirable front office job in the league... So we should have our pick of top candidates for the role...

But instead we talking 'bout Kurt Rambis and Rob Pelinka...

lol fair enough. Being Lebron's puppet isn't exactly a recipe for success either.

[Kilroy]

I'm actually in the minority here, but i'd like to see what Pelinka can do without Magic. I always felt Pelinka was Magic's puppet... this makes it nearly impossible to actually perform your duties to the best of your abilities.

So who's puppet is going to be now... Only answer to that is "Lebron's" puppet... He's been Kobe's puppet for years...

Point being, we've seen nothing from him that indicates he's got being the main guy, in his DNA... And we don't have another season to waste on an unknown... We need a top tier NBA mind, who knows how to deal with LeBron/Klutch without handing the keys over to them...
And what's super frustrating is, unlike a team like the Kings or say, Utah, or Denver or whatever, our President job is one of, if not the most desirable front office job in the league... So we should have our pick of top candidates for the role...

But instead we talking 'bout Kurt Rambis and Rob Pelinka...

lol fair enough. Being Lebron's puppet isn't exactly a recipe for success either.

I mean, I'm not discounting the idea that perhaps Magic was the problem and if Pelinka could get a shot to run things on his own, he might show himself to be an excellent Gm... That might very well be the case...

All I'm saying is the timing sucks for us to go that route right now...

This off-season is clearly one of the most critical we've had as an organization in the last 30 years... We MUST add a second star to LeBron this summer, or we must seriously think about going a different direction from him.

So we need a genius who can turn this team into a contender this summer... Pelinka doesn't feel like that guy right now, and Rambis certainly doesn't.

If your committed to keeping Rob Pinklowe on board (nudge nudge, wink wink) in a similar role, and you want to expand Rambis' role... And Jerry West is available to come back, you pretty much have to beg him to come in and be Pres with and give VP to Rambo or Pinklowe and GM to the other...
Only way keeping those 2 buffoons on makes any kind of sense...

Close second to West would be Phil, but I wonder if Phil would want Pinklowe in the mix if he came back...

[Showtime:Part2]

Hinkie is the move. Clear the stink of klutch sports out and rebuild. Can’t believe people want presti, he is a moron. Has no shooters on okc, signed Adams to awful deal, and saddled team w Schroeder contract... and that’s when u ignore harden deal

[Landsberger]

What do the younger guys think right now. I'm sure they, through their agents, know who was truly on board with trading everyone of them and picks for Davis. If that (or those) people are still here then my guess is that we're not re-signing them when the time comes. That very public rejection/blunder/WTF move will have lasting implications unless all responsible are purged.

[milesfides]

Hinkie is absolutely the right move for this team. Hard to see how somebody is going to step in and build a team that will beat Golden State. No, move Lebron, grow and amass talent, play the right way, and Luke has plenty of fans around the league.

[I_Love_This_Game!!]

I think it makes sense for Pelinka to stay in place as GM while the Lakers search for a new POBO. This will ensure some continuity heading into the draft and free agency. With that said, the Lakers need to fill the senior role with THE BEST POSSIBLE CANDIDATE, choosing from the list below (in order):

Jerry West
Pat Riley
RC Buford
Bob Meyers
Daryl Morey
Sean Marks
Masai Ujiri
Travis Schlenk

Once this position is filled, I would hope Pelinka would be replaced with one of the following (in order):

Sam Hinkie
David Griffin
Lawrence Frank
Danny Ferry
Ryan West (if it is a requirement for Jerry to return)

I'd keep Luke and see how he does with a healthy, upgraded roster unless Pop (pipe dream!) or Kerr are open to joining the purple and gold.

And, I would avoid at all costs anyone from the list below for POBO, GM or Coach:

Phil Jackson
Mark Jackson
Jason Kidd
Stan or Jeff Van Gundy
David Blatt
Mike Brown
Monty Williams

[EggIsCooling]

Make Ryan West the new GM and send the Gulfstream to Miami first thing tonight and show up at Pat Riley’s front door with a Godfather’s type offer... then have Ryan bring in Jerry as special consultant... after winning a championship, then they need to take Jeanie, Magic, and the clan to Jerry’s grave to offer their sincere apologies for **** up this once proud franchise!

[tamaraw08]

I can't believe some fans here mention Hinkie as a replacement.
The guy ABUSED the lottery system by shameless tanking for like 5 straight years, finally got 2 great picks out of it.
The deliberate tanking must not happen again, esp with the lakers.
I like Riley but it's not like Miami is doing great right now. He had his share of bad contracts from way way back, like Brian Grant to even the recent years with Waiters etc.
No to a liar Ujiri who made a promise to De Rozan that he will not get traded. He didn't have to make that promise but he did, I bet most free agents have noted this.
Jerry West is 80 years old, He probably was great at what he did.... 10 years ago, even at 70 but at 80?
Some are demanding for Jeannie to break the bank and simply outbid everyone to get the ultimate best. I like RC Buford but I have doubts that she is willing to do that. It' s not like she has the wherewithal to do it without any OTHER source of income UNLIKE other owners.
It make sense to me to get Griffin esp if the agents respect him.

[Revived]

I doubt money has anything to do with if West comes to Lakers or not... West is way past money being the determining factor on where he works. Not saying he'd do it for free but at this time in his life it's probably more about the situation than the financials.

Doesn’t West have a pretty good situation with the Clippers?

[LakerClipperFan]

I think so. I heard them refer to the Clippers as the "Gold Standard" in the NBA this morning on Sirius radio. Dude but I still think Lakers have an edge since we have the sixteen championships. We'll find out in free agency this summer.

I doubt money has anything to do with if West comes to Lakers or not... West is way past money being the determining factor on where he works. Not saying he'd do it for free but at this time in his life it's probably more about the situation than the financials.

Doesn’t West have a pretty good situation with the Clippers?

[gts1]

I think the move is to keep Pelinka for now... I know there's reports smearing him right now but you have to wonder why Jeanie would pick him over Magic.

Magic and her are tight as two peas in a pod so either all these reports about Pelinka today are just noise being fed to the media by somebody with an agenda or Magic was way out of line on something, something happened internally or some shoe is going to drop that it was big enough that Jeanie wouldn't back Magic's play OR it's all just media noise and we should be taking Magic at his word that he just want's to be Magic Johnson the smiling ex Laker and not Magic the Lakers Basketball President.

There's just so much jockeying for position right now by the media, Magic has a lot of old friends in the ink business and some detractors so I'm taking a lot of this with a huge grain of salt. This story is still less than 24 hours old and these things evolve.

Heading into the offseason I'd like to see the Lakers get their priorities in order, there's the draft coming and then free agency. The Lakers scouting/player personnel department with West and Buss have proven themselves to be more than adept at finding quality in the draft so that's not a worry...

Free agency and the offseason, I'm afraid that with Lebron on the squad that none of the big name guys were coming anyways I've said that here before, there's no incentive for KD or Leonard or others to join the Lakers (maybe Kyrie) and this was my feeling before Magic left, so who the President or GM could be a moot point. Problem is many of the names being dropped as Magic's replacement still have jobs and are under contract so talking to them while teams are still in the playoffs and prying them away will be damn near impossible, that's why you keep Pelinka until you actually have somebody to replace him with.

You have solid talent evaluators in the front office, a guy in Pelinka who knows the numbers better than anyone, lean heavily on Kobe and Lebron to do some serious recruiting and see where the chips fall. There's enough knowledge in the front office now to fill out the roster, nothing they do will or can worse than what Magic filled it out with last summer with his version of roster building

I know there's the ex Cavs GM out there but what has he really done in his 25 years in the league? he was only successful because of Lebron and I know he's Lebron's buddy and all but Lebron is only here for 3 years and I question his commitment to basketball. It feels more like his retirement gig while he sets up life after basketball than anything else. Ultimately I want stability not a bandage, find somebody who will stick. Until then we need a guy who knows the CBA and we got one in Pelinka.. Is he a long term fix who knows but he's here and I don't believe he's gotten a fair chance being in Magics' shadow

Keep Walton on, all the players seem to love him, everyone in the organization (except Magic) thinks he's doing a good job considering the circumstances. He was brought in as a rookie coach with the intention he'd grow into the job over the years and supply the team with a long term solution to the position, Magic tried to derail that plan but now it looks like it can stay the course and for now, he may not be a Phil a Pat or a Pops (yet) but he's a lot better than many of the choices out there.