pancakes3 wrote:so you're talking more along the lines kobe running shaq out of town? or MJ being our vp of basketball operations? or even MJ freezing out isiah from the dream team?
Yes. As Benjammin points out, current players lack the objectivity and perspective to make personnel decisions. Players are short-sighted, let personal feelings interfere, don't really understand the team's goals in the first place. I wouldn't have a problem with a front office guy asking players for opinions and intel, but no way in hell should the player be making the call.
For example, Kobe wanting to trade Bynum for Kidd. Even granting that Kidd is one hell of a player, and that he probably would do more to help the Lakers win a title now, it would have been an aggressively stupid trade. Bynum will probably be on the All-Star team long after Kidd is retired.
Or think about Jordan being furious when the Bulls traded Oakley for Bill Cartwright. Turned out to be a great move for Chicago (and Jordan).
Benjammin's thing about Magic having Westhead fired isn't a good example. First, because Magic didn't have Westhead fired -- Buss had already decided to can him when Magic popped off in the press -- and second because Westhead's replacement was Pat Riley. Had Magic actually gotten Westhead fired, it would go down as a great thing. Side note -- when Riley took over, and the Lakers started playing better (especially on the offensive end), Riley actually deserved no credit. He changed nothing -- in no small part because he didn't have time. They continued to run Westhead's schemes on both ends of the floor.
"A lot of what we call talent is the desire to practice."
-- Malcolm Gladwell
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