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Really good interview, gives some insight into Jim's involvement and decision making power. For all of you Jim Buss doomsday sayers, this should ease some of your concerns

http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketbal ... 8E.twitter

Buss was responsible for the Lakers' ill-fated hiring of coach Rudy Tomjanovich in 2004, but he also helped nudge the team into drafting Andrew Bynum in 2005. It's too early to tell the results of Buss' latest decision, hiring Mike Brown to succeed Phil Jackson, even though Kupchak and Jerry Buss said they agreed with it.

Kupchak, head of the Lakers' basketball operations for 12 seasons, disputed Earvin "Magic" Johnson's recent comments that Jim Buss was running the team.

"It is inaccurate because there are three of us that are involved in all the basketball decisions," Kupchak said. "Dr. Buss still makes, to my knowledge, all the final decisions in the organization. He's always deferred basketball decisions at some level to his basketball people, and Jimmy is a part of the basketball people.

Kupchak said he still handled the daily chores of the franchise that had won 16 NBA titles, 10 since the elder Buss bought the team in 1979.

"Jimmy doesn't have any contact with the league or other teams or agents — the stuff that's day to day. He leaves that to me. That's what I do," said Kupchak, who added he spoke with Jim Buss almost daily.

"Jimmy and I brainstorm. He'll have an idea or I'll have an idea. I'll call him or he'll call me. We'll play with the numbers — the salary cap, the new rules, all that stuff, and see what makes sense. If we get somewhere, then it would be brought to Dr. Buss for his opinion."

"There was some frustration a few weeks ago, but really, that's the first time he's spoken out. I've sat with [Bryant] and talked to him since then, and our relationship hasn't changed. I'm not any more inclined to tell him what's going on day to day, although I'll ask his opinion from time to time on a player, which is what Jerry [West] would do with Earvin or Kareem [Abdul-Jabbar]. I think that's what most general managers do.

"But you can't keep players in the loop day to day. He doesn't want that. He wants to be remembered as one of the greatest players with the most championships of all time. He doesn't want to be involved in the criticism that may come with being a part of something that runs" a team.

there's more in the article, i just posted some of the quotes i thought were important

Jim: Do this interview and say these things, or else you'll lose all of your guys.
Mitch: Yes sir.



Okay, time to read now.

Good article indeed. Sounds like nothing has changed in the decision making process.

You shouldn't have posted this, suicide watch will be at an all time high tonight.

Jetset wrote:You shouldn't have posted this, suicide watch will be at an all time high tonight.

its the opposite, i can now have a good night sleep knowing mitch and jerry are on patrol

no one wants to hear news that jim buss isn't out to destroy the lakers, i get it.

who writes kupcake checks?

I'll stop worrying when he does something good for the lakers and hiring a bartender to replace one of th best scouts in the league isn't a good sign nor turning the 6poy into nothing.

DrewBynum77 wrote:who writes kupcake checks?

I'll stop worrying when he does something good for the lakers and hiring a bartender to replace one of th best scouts in the league isn't a good sign nor turning the 6poy into nothing.

I'm incline to agree, they need to bring in Sessions, Beasley and a damn good shooter.


SF:Artest/Beasley/Walton
PF:Gasol/McRoberts
C:Bynum/Murphy
SG:Bryant/Branes/Goudelock
PG:Sessions/Fisher/Blaker/Morris

Could've told all y'all it was media propaganda in the first place. Like I've said Jim hasn't done anything to cripple the "chise" yet........and hopefully he doesn't.

Gotta keep your job somehow.

Speedlot wrote:Gotta keep your job somehow.

I'm incline to agree, but they need ton get some exrta scoring and someone who can drive this damn team.


Farmar and Stevenson for Walton and a second

TPE for Beasley


SF:Artest/Beasley/Barnes
PF:Gasol/McRoberts
C:Bynum/Murphy
SG:Bryant/Stevenson/Goudelock
PG:Farmar/Fisher/Blake

(Kobe is known to bring in players that caused him problems in games) Stevenson also can nail it from downtown. Beasley would own the bench and playing next to Bryan, Gasol and Bynum would allow him so many open looks. This better happen tomorrow.

Jimmy gets a free pass until trade deadline, if no trades are made, this offseason would be a true measure of his managerial talent. Its been a compact season and its been difficult to evaluate exactly where our team is currently. At times we show clear signs of brilliance and dominance and then... we play on the road.

Secondly and more importantly theres also the new CBA to consider. Businesses operate under specific strategic plans that designate long term goals and then cast budgets etc to achieve them. Moreover there has been numerous articles out there that suggest that GM's still aren't able to grasp the new CBA i.e how new contracts would operate and the potential flexibility/inflexibility of said contracts. Whatever former blue print the management were using to design their strategic plans, would have been thrown out once the new CBA was signed. Management will be working under a new framework so I am willing to be patient. If for example you are an accoutant or work in finance, and your governing regulatory body decided to change up key components of the legislative frame work, there would obviously be a feeling out process and a hell of alot of uncertainty.

This is why I am willing to give a pass on Jim for the time being. The lakers have a long history of success and inclined to believe this will continue if Jerry Buss is around even if its in a reduced capacity. I also take solice in the fact that trade buzz remains active and yet no trades have yet been made in haste i.e beasly, persistent houston rumours. I would like to interpret this as prudent and measured management where we are leaving things all open and exhausting all measures in the pursuit of success.

There is a reason they get paid to goto the games and we have to pay to goto the games!

yows wrote:Jimmy gets a free pass until trade deadline, if no trades are made, this offseason would be a true measure of his managerial talent. Its been a compact season and its been difficult to evaluate exactly where our team is currently. At times we show clear signs of brilliance and dominance and then... we play on the road.

Secondly and more importantly theres also the new CBA to consider. Businesses operate under specific strategic plans that designate long term goals and then cast budgets etc to achieve them. Moreover there has been numerous articles out there that suggest that GM's still aren't able to grasp the new CBA i.e how new contracts would operate and the potential flexibility/inflexibility of said contracts. Whatever former blue print the management were using to design their strategic plans, would have been thrown out once the new CBA was signed. Management will be working under a new framework so I am willing to be patient. If for example you are an accoutant or work in finance, and your governing regulatory body decided to change up key components of the legislative frame work, there would obviously be a feeling out process and a hell of alot of uncertainty.

This is why I am willing to give a pass on Jim for the time being. The lakers have a long history of success and inclined to believe this will continue if Jerry Buss is around even if its in a reduced capacity. I also take solice in the fact that trade buzz remains active and yet no trades have yet been made in haste i.e beasly, persistent houston rumours. I would like to interpret this as prudent and measured management where we are leaving things all open and exhausting all measures in the pursuit of success.

what a great post.

All I got now is don't just blame Jimbo. Blame Mitch, Jim, and Jerry Buss.

I'll give Jimbob his props but I also dont like any of the bad stories reported bout him either, from hiring former bartender buddies, to the scout firings and most importantly to quick hiring of Brown.

eckoner wrote:There is a reason they get paid to goto the games and we have to pay to goto the games!

But what, exactly, are Jim Buss' credentials, other than springing forth from the right gene pool?

that bartender story isn't even true. the guy, chaz osborne, was one of his friends from the horse racing/raising industry, so yeah he doesn't have a bball background. probably doesn't make it any better, but the whole bartender thing is just a catchy line that isn't true.

the guy also takes his job seriously, having been to over 50 college games this season as of the end of february.

http://hoopshype.com/columns/lazenby/se ... -the-scout

dockingsched wrote:that bartender story isn't even true. the guy, chaz osborne, was one of his friends from the horse racing/raising industry, so yeah he doesn't have a bball background. probably doesn't make it any better, but the whole bartender thing is just a catchy line that isn't true.

the guy also takes his job seriously, having been to over 50 college games this season as of the end of february.

http://hoopshype.com/columns/lazenby/se ... -the-scout

thats fine but Jim also failed from that horse racing endevors, doesn't convey alot of confidence if he's hiring people from a failed project. I know scouting wouldn't necessary require one to have experience but at the same time I'm sure a team like the spurs who keep on finding gems in the 2nd rd aren't hiring scouts because they're friends with mgmt.

hey, i'm quite happy with goudelock and think he's a great pick, and am pleased to hear that the lakers placed a waiver claim on jeremy lin when the warriors released him.

No bartender and it turns out Jerry Buss still has the final say in management? Just how in the world are RealGM posters supposed to take their frustrations out on Jim now?