RealGM

I still don't understand why Jerry Buss continues to lowball Phil Jackson by insisting that he take a pay cut in order to sign a contract. Phil's the best coach of all time, not just in the NBA but in any freaking sport you can name. They guy has won 10 rings as an NBA coach, four with the Lakers, and he's coached six Laker teams to the Finals with yet another Finals appearance on the way.

Phil was able to get Shaq and Kobe on the same page long enough to win three titles at point when each of them were at their worst with the egos, their jealousies and their selfishness. Kobe thinks so highly of him that he was willing to play for him even after Phil called him out in his book. If it were any other coach is there anyway Kobe agrees to play for him again? As far as I'm concerned Phil Jackson is just as important to the Lakers as Kobe is and deserves to get at least the same contract he has now. And to leave him hanging out there and demand a paycut when he's done everything you want from a coach is the ultimate sign of disrespect to a coach.

its just chatter

5 mil base pay
500k for making playoffs
500k for winnng round 1
750k for winning round 2
1 mil for winning WCF
1.25 mil for winning Chip

= incentive based 9 mil potential salary

Phil is the only guy that can keep Kobe's ego in check once he leaves welcome back 04/05 Kobe not that I would complain because he would be putting up monster numbers but we probably wouldn't win the title because basketball is a team game so please Buss pay Phil his money.

and kobe wouldnt know how to play team basketball with four allstars around him

^

jeanie will make up the difference.

phil doesn't seem as concerned about it as the OP does

This just doesn't sound true. Jerry Buss is not the kind of man that keeps 100k in the bank while going all in on the table. I also remember reading an interview not so long ago where buss said that he'd do whatever is in his power to keep Phil within the organization even after he decides to retire as a coach.

This could be Phil Jackson doing his typical routine of creating smoke before the fire to ensure that he gets his salary sealed for next season. Perfect timing I would say with us going on an 8 game winning streak and playing great basketball until now.

Phil probably boosts his ego with that pay package more than anything else.

If we win it all this season then I can't see Phil walking away from a job unfinished. The man wins rings in 3s. What I can see happening is once all of this free agent crap finally settles down it will be time to renegotiate Phil's contract and everyone in the media following the story will be saying something along of the lines that he should at least come back for one more season to finish the job. The media would hype up the 3peat thing and the Lakers organization would buy into it if Phil really threatened to leave.

I think Phil would regret it if he won a 2nd championship in a row and just walked away from it all with a great team there ready to go for 3.

Buss never used to go to the media for any internal decisions... He learned from Phil.

This is just how Phil negotiates.

That said, even great players have to take a little less eventually... Phil says he always has one foot in retirement and one foot on the court... That describes a coach on the decline instead of at the peak of his game. I would think it makes sense to pay accordingly...

I want PJ to stay, but I don't want his salary to be a deciding factor in our ability to sign on the floor talent. I don't think that's the case by any means right now... But I would rather pay a little more for a starting PG and a little less for the coach if it came down to it.

Has Jerry said something in the media? I haven't seen it. I've seen Phil talking about it in the media, but we know Phil loves to do that for many things. (use the media)

Magicontinues wrote:Has Jerry said something in the media? I haven't seen it. I've seen Phil talking about it in the media, but we know Phil loves to do that for many things. (use the media)

Exactly

Phil has been the highest payed coach in the world each of the last 5 seasons. Even with a pay-cut down to 5 mil a year, he would still be the highest paid coach in the NBA. That isn't a terrible low ball

daddyfivestar wrote:5 mil base pay
500k for making playoffs
500k for winnng round 1
750k for winning round 2
1 mil for winning WCF
1.25 mil for winning Chip

= incentive based 9 mil potential salary

I like the idea of a huge bonus if Phil wins

8 mil base
4 mil bonus if wins it all

I've heard it's Jim Buss who wants to offer Phil 5 million, not Jerry Buss. That's the rumor, anyway.

Phill will either take the pay cut or retire..at 65 years of age hes not going to another team to try to win ...