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The Heat board is talking about Pat Riley and asking fans if they think he'll be willing to stay in Miami for another rebuild.

Would you welcome him back to LA as President of the Lakers?

No i wouldnt would rather have Sam... or Ryan West

I would have welcomed him as coach instead of Mike Brown, Mike Pringles, and Byron, but nope.

I actually could see Mitch reporting to him and I know he loves LA and the Buss family... But I just don't see what value he adds.

Riles is a bit of a lone-wolf too... He's not exactly the easiest guy to get along with all the time.

No thanks.
But I'd do everything I can to bring West back.
I know he's old.
And I know the dynamics with Jeanie and Phil are not conducive.

But I'd bring that guy back.
He is still as sharp as it gets. Still well respected.
He'd be a calming influence not only over the FO but the ownership group.


A very long shot, but I'd make the call. The siblings would have to agree to it. I assume Jeanie would be against it. But she would get out-voted

Kilroy wrote:I actually could see Mitch reporting to him and I know he loves LA and the Buss family... But I just don't see what value he adds.

Riles is a bit of a lone-wolf too... He's not exactly the easiest guy to get along with all the time.

Yeah I think he could co-exist with Mitch too. All they have to do is let Riley take over for Jim.

Jim would be out of the drivers seat but his vision to restore Showtime would be in place. Perfect compromise.

Even if you got Jimmy to agree it would be tough getting Riley to leave a Miami rebuild for a LA rebuild though.

DO IT MITCH!!

lakerRD wrote:No thanks.
But I'd do everything I can to bring West back.
I know he's old.
And I know the dynamics with Jeanie and Phil are not conducive.

But I'd bring that guy back.
He is still as sharp as it gets. Still well respected.
He'd be a calming influence not only over the FO but the ownership group.


A very long shot, but I'd make the call. The siblings would have to agree to it. I assume Jeanie would be against it. But she would get out-voted

I fully agree that having someone like West in the FO as executive or some fancy title along with Mitch would help us land better FAs. Its like Michael Corleone having his father as the advisor.

Luke
Mitch and West!!

We don't need Riley. Time to stop looking at the past (especially with Jerry West) and move forward.

The Lakers would be idiots to turn away Riley if he were interested. He can still get it done and is instant credibility. Jim Buss is a joke.

Sofa King wrote:We don't need Riley. Time to stop looking at the past (especially with Jerry West) and move forward.

exactly... team has done so much last couple years to bring themselves into the modern era of sports and forge a new direction it would be a shame to take that step back.

Riles has lost Lebron and now Wade, feuding with Bosh... I've always felt Riles was a bit overrated.. The Lakers were ready made for him, he took over a championship team, and Jerry West kept reloading it, Shaq forced himself to Miami, Lebron and Bosh gift wrapped themselves to Miami, Riles just filled in the blanks on the paperwork but it was Wade Lebron and Bosh that put it together long before the off season. Not saying he's not a good executive or coach, just this whole aura around him is a bit of smoke and mirrors

You bring Riles in as a consultant at best...

hmmmm...Jim Buss out of the way and handing over total control to Riles? Not a difficult decision. Because that is the only way a situation like that would even be considered. Total and complete Control of things to Riles.

There is no way Arison would allow Riley to go anywhere.
Riley probably has some ownership stake with the Heat. And if he doesn't, I wouldn't be surprised if Arison gave him a piece of the team to stay.

lakerRD wrote:There is no way Arison would allow Riley to go anywhere.
Riley probably has some ownership stake with the Heat. And if he doesn't, I wouldn't be surprised if Arison gave him a piece of the team to stay.

pretty sure partial ownership was one of his conditions of going to Miami in the beginning..

Just like West is said to have a stake in the Warriors

lakerRD wrote:There is no way Arison would allow Riley to go anywhere.
Riley probably has some ownership stake with the Heat. And if he doesn't, I wouldn't be surprised if Arison gave him a piece of the team to stay.

He would if it is what Riley wants. Riley met with Jerry Buss in 2004 thinking it was about him returning to the Lakers and he came back with a deal for Shaq.

I love Riles... And seeing him at Dr Buss's funeral made me miss him being a Laker... But honestly, he hasn't really done a whole lot in Miami to warrant rolling out the P&G carpet for him to come back here and 'right the ship' or something...
I like where we are right now better than where Miami is... So I'd love the story line of Riley coming back, but I wouldn't want to gut the FO and turn the keys over to him... If Jim wanted to step away and Riles came in to replace him, maybe, but then again, I think Mitch has earned the first right of refusal on that job....

So there's really not a place for Riley here.

I do not want a front office headed by an ingrate who messed up Dwayne Wade's last contract. A lot of heat fans were upset in their treatment of Wade which resulted to Wade going to Chicago.

Would certainly take Riley over Jim. No question there.

Would love J-West....but I think he prob aughta hang it up soon. I think he will ride the GS wave for a few years, and then call it a career. Best of luck to him. Greatest B-Ball 'person' of all time IMO.....but I think we need to blaze a new trail.

I think we should get someone new. Totally new.

If Riley does come back, I would be fine with it though. Can't possibly be worse than the current guy. I think that makes retaining Mitch possible as well, and I would like it if Mitch survives this whole ordeal.

Of course I would, he is one of the greatest Laker coaches/execs ever. One of our own.

Would rather see Jerry West involved, but if Jim Buss is going to step down, I could see Riles and Mitch developing something good. My only question is whether Riley would want full control.