Are you OK with the Buss ownership?

[Kilroy]

Yeah the tweet was stupid. Don't know why she would feel like she needs to send this public.

Acting like she's Britney Spears or something. Locked away, unable to do what she wants, unable to handle her business.

Or it's entirely misrepresented and poorly worded. Still annoying to come out during tense negotiations, where the fanbase is waiting with baited breath for this Westbrook nightmare to end.

I think what she's alluding to, is the fact that due to union rules, as an owner, there's only so much she can say to the players...

That said, I'm not really sure what the point of all this is either, and I'm frankly getting a little tired of her rolling Kobe out every time she wants to say something about basketball... What do YOU think... Just say it and pay the fine if you have to.

[danfantastk32]

Yeah the tweet was stupid. Don't know why she would feel like she needs to send this public.

Acting like she's Britney Spears or something. Locked away, unable to do what she wants, unable to handle her business.

Or it's entirely misrepresented and poorly worded. Still annoying to come out during tense negotiations, where the fanbase is waiting with baited breath for this Westbrook nightmare to end.

I think what she's alluding to, is the fact that due to union rules, as an owner, there's only so much she can say to the players...

That said, I'm not really sure what the point of all this is either, and I'm frankly getting a little tired of her rolling Kobe out every time she wants to say something about basketball... What do YOU think... Just say it and pay the fine if you have to.

Yeah, I think you make a good point.

[tamaraw08]

Yeah the tweet was stupid. Don't know why she would feel like she needs to send this public.

Acting like she's Britney Spears or something. Locked away, unable to do what she wants, unable to handle her business.

Or it's entirely misrepresented and poorly worded. Still annoying to come out during tense negotiations, where the fanbase is waiting with baited breath for this Westbrook nightmare to end.

I think what she's alluding to, is the fact that due to union rules, as an owner, there's only so much she can say to the players...

That said, I'm not really sure what the point of all this is either, and I'm frankly getting a little tired of her rolling Kobe out every time she wants to say something about basketball... What do YOU think... Just say it and pay the fine if you have to.

Jeannie paying the fine? Sorry I just don’t see her spending her precious money on this …

[Landsberger]

One way to read that tweet is a coming let down for not trading for Irving. Individual over team seems like code to just that to me.

[sonnyhill]

The topic question of this thread: "Are you OK with the Buss ownership?" could also be followed-up with "How can Laker ownership better compete against winning franchise owners?"

The below article and the embedded podcast interview give us a better look into Joe Lacob and how he has evolved the Warrior franchise, which was once referred to as "Clippers North," into the juggernaut of today's NBA.

Instead of complaining about having the 4th highest payroll in the league, broadcasting how she is looking forward to seeing the NBA scoring record being broken by LeBron wearing a Laker jersey, yearning for the return of a deceased Kobe, and doing "fluff" interviews with the LA Times (https://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/story/2022-05-11/lakers-owner-jeanie-buss-exclusive-interview-la-times-bill-plaschke) Jeanie Buss needs a hard reality-check. She is leading the marquee franchise of the NBA and is up against smarter, wealthier, and much shrewder owners. Jeanie Buss either has to step up her ownership game or sell the franchise to someone with the chops to successfully compete.

By just comparing the above referenced interview in the LA Times with the below interview with Joe Lacob, we can see exactly why the Lakers are having trouble competing in today's NBA: The Lakers have an ownership, lack of thought leadership, and a money problem; it is that plain-and-simple.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nba/joe-lacob-irked-wyc-grousbeck-with-comments-during-nba-finals/ar-AAZCSTb?cvid=6a287a4875fe4fb6ab9a72e95b866887

Joe Lacob irked Wyc Grousbeck with comments during NBA Finals
Alex Espinoza

Joe Lacob’s “Light Years” energy hasn’t faded and probably never will.

Joe Lacob irked Wyc Grousbeck with comments during NBA Finals: https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nba/joe-lacob-irked-wyc-grousbeck-with-comments-during-nba-finals/ar-AAZCSTb?cvid=bf2966ac1ecf4b4f986b877d8e649c1e&fullscreen=true#image=1

The 66-year-old governor of the Warriors joined Andre Iguodala and Evan Turner on their “Point Forward” podcast which was published Friday.:

Watch on YouTube

At one point, Turner had to ask Lacob about his infamous quote to the New York Times in 2016, when he said, “We’re light-years ahead of probably every other team in structure, in planning, in how we’re going to go about things.” It led to Lacob sharing a new story from this year’s NBA Finals, when he rubbed Celtics governor Wyc Grousbeck the wrong way with comments he made to the media.

“I meant it in a different way,” Lacob said of his ‘light years’ comment. “ I didn’t mean for it to be derogatory to other teams. But do I believe that? I do yes. Just like I believe in our players today. I was asked if we were gonna win against Boston and I said, ‘I do believe. I think we’re better and I think we’re gonna win.’

“Wyc Grousbeck, the owner of the Celtics, who’s a friend, came up to me in the middle of the series and I don’t think he was too happy with me. He said, ‘So you think you’re better than me? You told the press you were gonna beat us?’ I said, ‘Well, yeah. I believe in my team. Do you believe in your team?’”

We all know what happened in the Finals, as the Warriors won in six games and celebrated their satisfying title at TD Garden behind and Finals MVP performance from Steph Curry. It marked Golden State’s fourth title in eight years and they have an exciting young core of Jordan Poole, Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody and James Wiseman moving up the ranks.

“About the ‘Light Years’ thing, I’m not gonna sit here and say, ‘Damn right.’” Lacob said. “I’m not doing that. But let other people be the judge. I really believe in our organization and the proof’s in the pudding a little bit.”

“You shoulda played Wyc one-on-one to solve the problem,” Turner joked. “I woulda loved to see that.”

“I’m a confident guy,” Lacob said. “Just like a great player, you have to be pretty damn confident. Just like golf. If you don’t think that putt’s going in, it’s not going in. Same with basketball, you shoot that ball, if you don’t think it’s going in, it’s not going in. If you don’t think you’re the best, you’re not gonna be the best.”

Adding another layer to the whole situation -- Lacob was a limited partner with the Celtics for five years before joining the Warriors.

[danfantastk32]

Great....so you think we should have the Warriors ownership?

Question for you: So if we got some new owner, and he/she turns out to be the greatest thing since sliced bread. Has Billions on top of it. Let's say Elon Musk buys the Lakers, and with our new superior brain trust, we go on an have a dynasty......

.....so does that mean the Warriors ownership now sucks? Just kinda curious how your mind works.

It's easy to point to the king of the mountain. You got any other examples of NBA ownership that's miles above Jeanie?

[sonnyhill]

Great....so you think we should have the Warriors ownership?

Question for you: So if we got some new owner, and he/she turns out to be the greatest thing since sliced bread. Has Billions on top of it. Let's say Elon Musk buys the Lakers, and with our new superior brain trust, we go on an have a dynasty......

.....so does that mean the Warriors ownership now sucks? Just kinda curious how your mind works.

It's easy to point to the king of the mountain. You got any other examples of NBA ownership that's miles above Jeanie?

Dr. Jerry set the standard, one which Joe Lacob has recently stated on The Athletics Tim Kawakami Podcast as his stretch goal to beat as an owner: "16 NBA Finals appearances in 33 years," a truly remarkable achievement (Dr. Jerry was the man!!!).

It is not about an owner or ownership group having "billions on top of it;" it is about smart and savvy ownership which can compete in today's NBA. Lacob-Guber and their group did not come into the league as the wealthiest ownership group. However, the Lacob-Guber ownership group came into the league with a true "go to market plan," built their minimal viable product (building a team through smart drafting/player development and getting the team into the playoffs), pivoted by firing Mark Jackson, who had just coached his Warrior team to a 50-win season, and hiring Steve Kerr (a former player, broadcaster, and front office executive), and scaling.
The Warriors scaled by
1. setting up its players' contracts so that the team could sign Durant and getting Durant to buy into taking less money so that the team could retain its key bench players (Livingston, West, Iguodala);
2. financing the building and owning of revenue producing arena (a great real estate investment which increases in value as well as throws off lots of cash,
3. getting Durant and the Nets to do a sign-and-trade deal so that the Warriors could acquire DLo and then trade him for Wiggins and the pick which became Kuminga.

There is no reason why a smart Laker ownership group cannot do what the Lacob-Guber ownership group has done; there is no reason why a smart Laker ownership group cannot do better than what the Lacob-Guber ownership group has done. Jeanie Buss and her "stuck in nostalgia" mindset has ossified the Lakers into perpetual mediocrity.

Nothing stays stagnant and remains relevant. The Lakers either have to evolve or will be continually be stuck in a similar situation which also ails the Knicks. Mediocrity is not fun.

Yes, it is "easy to point to the king of the mountain," and no real Laker fan should look to "other examples of NBA ownership." The Lakers should be about competing to be the best and should never settle for being average.

The Lakers should be studying and deconstructing what the Warriors have been able to do and then find a better path in order to hopefully disrupt the Warriors and every other NBA franchise, too. Do you honestly believe that Jeanie and her "friends" are capable of doing this?

[Kilroy]

Evolve into what? Having a core of Curry/Green/Klay since 2012? With KD and Harrison Barnes sprinkled in for flavor?

Remember when people talked about San Antonio like they talk about GSW now? Funny how that worked... Duncan retires, and no more talk...

Spurs and GSW were great franchises because they lucked into a core of 3 top tier players who weren't maybe, individually ambitious enough to want to call all the shots... Duncan and Curry were content to stay put and share... Even if that meant not winning every year and not getting paid the most in the league...

That's not a teachable skill... It's only a skill in the sense of knowing how not to screw it up.

So using either of them as a model of team ownership is kind of simplistic...

[sonnyhill]

Evolve into what? Having a core of Curry/Green/Klay since 2012? With KD and Harrison Barnes sprinkled in for flavor?

Remember when people talked about San Antonio like they talk about GSW now? Funny how that worked... Duncan retires, and no more talk...

Spurs and GSW were great franchises because they lucked into a core of 3 top tier players who weren't maybe, individually ambitious enough to want to call all the shots... Duncan and Curry were content to stay put and share... Even if that meant not winning every year and not getting paid the most in the league...

That's not a teachable skill... It's only a skill in the sense of knowing how not to screw it up.

So using either of them as a model of team ownership is kind of simplistic...

Great questions and commentary, Kilroy.

The Lakers and perhaps the Celtics are the marquee brands of the NBA.

Some luck, of course, is needed; but, it is organizational excellence which finds talent, acquires talent, and develops talent. The Lakers have been good at identifying and drafting later round talent, and even during the Jim Buss era was able to identify and draft earlier round talent. However, the Lakers seem to have some challenges when it comes to in-house player development and player retention. Is the Laker organization committing the necessary resources into its coaching, scouting, development and training staff in order to compete with the very best in the NBA?

The Lakers, at one time, had no competition when it came to recruiting top level free agents. Players want to play in Los Angeles. Yet, the two data points of Lamarcus Aldridge and Kawhi Leonard choosing to not sign with the Lakers should have been the "LARGE AND BRIGHT RED FLAGS" to warn the Laker org that it was time to reevaluate its methods and ways of operating and make some necessary changes.

There is no "simplistic" way of making the Laker situation better; yet, the first step has to be an acknowledgement that the old way, the comfortable way, the current Laker way is not working. From there, the franchise can hopefully do the necessary planning (think McKinsey and Company, BCG, Bain, etc.) in order to have a better shot at competing in today's NBA.

Sports empires/sports dynasties do decay, crumble slowly rot and eventually die. A new ownership group (many in the NBA are rooting for LeBron and Klutch), a geographic move to a state with no state income tax (NV (Las Vegas0; WA (Seattle) (BTW, both Las Vegas and Seattle actually do have a large "lake" nearby its cities)), a team-owned arena to generate revenue and build real estate equity, may not be nice to have, but rather, a requirement for the Lakers to get back to relevance in today's NBA.

[wco81]

I don't think the Lakers owners will be under a lot of pressure for a few more years.

If they're unable to make any more runs while Lebron is still with the team, there might be more noise in a couple of seasons. Once they get Westbrook off the team, they should be able be able to use that salary slot for a couple of good players.

It's what happens after Lebron retires. Depending on when that is, they may or may not have good draft assets.

So it may take a couple of years to draft some high-ceiling talent or sign some free agents.

Last title was in 2020 so if they're not contending by 2027-28 season or so, the fanbase may get restless. Maybe a lot more than restless.

[danfantastk32]

Sports empires/sports dynasties do decay, crumble slowly rot and eventually die. A new ownership group (many in the NBA are rooting for LeBron and Klutch), a geographic move to a state with no state income tax (NV (Las Vegas0; WA (Seattle) (BTW, both Las Vegas and Seattle actually do have a large "lake" nearby its cities)), a team-owned arena to generate revenue and build real estate equity, may not be nice to have, but rather, a requirement for the Lakers to get back to relevance in today's NBA.

Awww man...your back to the 'move to Vegas' thing again, eh?

Why don't you go sell this crap to the Warriors fan base? They got the savvy, state of the art ownership, right? They'd prob pull it off much smoother, and faster. And they could buy a new arena.

Look, it's frightfully obvious you don't live in LA, and have no pulse on how the Lakers are viewed here. That's all fine, and whatever. Plenty of people who don't live in LA are Laker fans. But you understand that most Laker fans are at least in SoCal (or were at some point) and so we really don't want the Lakers to leave. Having the home team up and move out of state for some sort of financial X's and O's thing, is pretty asinine.

Leaving the 2nd largest market in the country for a much smaller one is also pretty stupid.

So let's give it a rest on the 'move to Vegas' thing. It's not happening. Let's just stick with ousting Jeanie, shall we??

[sonnyhill]

Sports empires/sports dynasties do decay, crumble slowly rot and eventually die. A new ownership group (many in the NBA are rooting for LeBron and Klutch), a geographic move to a state with no state income tax (NV (Las Vegas0; WA (Seattle) (BTW, both Las Vegas and Seattle actually do have a large "lake" nearby its cities)), a team-owned arena to generate revenue and build real estate equity, may not be nice to have, but rather, a requirement for the Lakers to get back to relevance in today's NBA.

Awww man...your back to the 'move to Vegas' thing again, eh?

Why don't you go sell this crap to the Warriors fan base? They got the savvy, state of the art ownership, right? They'd prob pull it off much smoother, and faster. And they could buy a new arena.

Look, it's frightfully obvious you don't live in LA, and have no pulse on how the Lakers are viewed here. That's all fine, and whatever. Plenty of people who don't live in LA are Laker fans. But you understand that most Laker fans are at least in SoCal (or were at some point) and so we really don't want the Lakers to leave. Having the home team up and move out of state for some sort of financial X's and O's thing, is pretty asinine.

Leaving the 2nd largest market in the country for a much smaller one is also pretty stupid.

So let's give it a rest on the 'move to Vegas' thing. It's not happening. Let's just stick with ousting Jeanie, shall we??

You are missing the point of this discussion. It is not about moving the franchise to any one city, but rather, it is about what are the best actions that the franchise can take in order to have the best chance to succeed in today's NBA.

The Warriors are successfully implementing a plan to optimize its opportunities (on the court, their brand, and revenue generation). They built and own a brand new arena, which provides not only cash flow to the org, but also allows for the franchise to increase its value.

I have owned a home in Laurel Canyon since the early 1960s and have been going to Laker games at the LA Sports Arena (hardcore fans), The Forum (Fabulous/Great Western (fun and exciting venue)), and Staples-The Crypt (Crypto). I have also been going to Warrior games at the Cow Palace, USF, the Civic Auditorium, Oakland Coliseum (loudest arena), and Chase (the Warriors did move from Oakland to SF). You are wrong; the Laker brand is national-international and there are a larger number of Laker fans who live outside of Southern California than there are Laker fans living in Southern California. I also spent a lot of time going to Bulls games in both the old Chicago Stadium and the United Center (sterile place). BTW, most Laker fans do not physically go to Laker games; they watch the games either on television or on a mobile device. Also, your thinking about teams moving "out of state for some sort of financial X's and O's thing" being "asinine" is an infantilized and fairy-tale view of sports ownership. I will not question where you live; but, I do question your understanding of how modern sports franchises operate and compete in today's world.

Keeping a team in the "2nd largest market in the country" without being able to leverage the geographic and financial advantages is beyond stupid, demonstrates irresponsible ownership, and if the Lakers were a public entity, there would be public outcry to charge the team and its ownership with malfeasance.

I do enjoy reading your posts; they show passion for the Lakers. Given the current state of the franchise, its ownership group (family owned), and the current competitive landscape, what do you see as the best course of action for the Lakers to take? The definition of insanity "is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results;” and yet, you seem to be suggesting that continuing with "more of the same" will somehow yield better results moving forward.

[LAL1947]

[danfantastk32]

I have owned a home in Laurel Canyon since the early 1960s

You should totally go there sometime. Laurel Cyn is pretty nice.

[sonnyhill]

Colin Cowherd really does a good job in deconstructing how the Laker brand has been diminished over the past 10-years.

Very sobering...

Watch on YouTube

;ab_channel=TheVolume

[wco81]

If the sale of the Suns go through at $4 billion, Lakers would go for at least $6 billion, even if they don't own their own stadium.

Maybe that would entice the Buss family to cash out and sell to some really deep-pocket owner who's not afraid of the luxury tax.

[sonnyhill]

If the sale of the Suns go through at $4 billion, Lakers would go for at least $6 billion, even if they don't own their own stadium.

Maybe that would entice the Buss family to cash out and sell to some really deep-pocket owner who's not afraid of the luxury tax.

During a November trip to Belgium, I had read an article in an European journal which had speculated how both LeBron and Drake, primarily through Main Street Advisors, along with Tom Werner and John Henry, LeBrons’ partners in Fenway Sports Group, are preparing to make an offer to purchase the Lakers. Main Street Advisors, with both LeBron and Drake as participants, recently purchased a stake in AC Milan, an Italian soccer team, and Fenway Sports Group, with LeBron and Maverick Carter as a participants since 2011, had purchased Liverpool FC of the Premier League.

[wco81]

They're associated with the Las Vegas expansion team.

The expansion fee would now go up to $4 billion instead of $2 billion because of the Suns sale.

[Pointgod]

I was willing to be patient and give them the benefit of the doubt, but this clown show needs to **** go. They have no direction and no clue what the **** they’re doing. They’re going to just let this team coast hoping a superstar trade will save them and we’re just going to end up giving the Pelicans a great pick!

I get if we don’t want to use those two lottery picks for a non superstar player but we have 37 million in expiring contracts excluding Westbrook, Lebron, Davis and Max Christie. We have 2 second round picks in 23, second round pick in 24, 25, 27, 28. Why the hell haven’t we used some of those expiring contracts and make a move for some players that fit with Lebron. The Clippers managed to Norm Powell and Robert Covington without giving up any first round picks.

The Lakers drafting has been exceptional over the years, you’d think that they would have some common sense to find a way to get more first round and second round picks. Don’t get me started on the idiotic THT for Pat Bev trade. And pick a lane. If we’re going to rebuild, then rebuild. Trade Lebron and AD in the off season and let’s start fresh. Don’t do this half in half out competing move. Fire Rob (oh wait we extended him!), Jeanie needs to step away from basketball ops and put someone else in charge.

[DanishLakerFan]

No superstar should ever sign in LA with the way they've fumbled things this past decade. The only think they've done well is draft.

I hope Lebron sits out with "back problems" and demands a trade when he's two points away from breaking Kareems scoring record.