Ronnie Lester fired

[sonn]

Another thing that's clear: Jim Buss has gained so much knowledge about NBA personnel matters that he decided to cut loose Ronnie Lester

http://twitter.com/#!/lazenby/status/73447095708811264
Jim Buss is starting to look like a Jerry Jones wannabe.

[H00PDREAMS]

"So this is how liberty dies... with thunderous applause."
Senator Padmé Amidala

Revenge of the Sith

[Zebra People]

This is crazy. Why would you fire your top scout one month before the draft? Brace yourself guys the Jim Buss era has just begun.

[LApwnd]

anyone know where Jim Buss drinks at and very knowledgeble of upcoming college players? Go and give him your input lol

[eckoner]

Been there done that - New boss making his presence known. I once cleaned house because the more tenured staff had no respect for me even though i was their boss.

I tightened the reigns and got rid of all of them and brought in my own peeps. Smooth sailing for the most part after that.

Jimmy knows he is not well liked nor respected so he has to clean house and bring in those that will fear/respect him as the head honcho.

It sucks and i dont like it but i understand it, He knows the pressure is on so i expect him to consult and make an impression recruiting and managing his new staff members.

[H00PDREAMS]

Strangeways Here We Come....

[Wavy Q]

Jim Buss is a **** (Please Use More Appropriate Word)

[shobe_81]

Been there done that - New boss making his presence known. I once cleaned house because the more tenured staff had no respect for me even though i was their boss.

I tightened the reigns and got rid of all of them and brought in my own peeps. Smooth sailing for the most part after that.

Jimmy knows he is not well liked nor respected so he has to clean house and bring in those that will fear/respect him as the head honcho.

It sucks and i dont like it but i understand it, He knows the pressure is on so i expect him to consult and make an impression recruiting and managing his new staff members.

In the business world we do that when dramatic changes are required. Not when you've won 5 chips in a decade and went to about 7 finals.

[H00PDREAMS]

Been there done that - New boss making his presence known. I once cleaned house because the more tenured staff had no respect for me even though i was their boss.

I tightened the reigns and got rid of all of them and brought in my own peeps. Smooth sailing for the most part after that.

Jimmy knows he is not well liked nor respected so he has to clean house and bring in those that will fear/respect him as the head honcho.

It sucks and i dont like it but i understand it, He knows the pressure is on so i expect him to consult and make an impression recruiting and managing his new staff members.

I understand that and I have been apart of that too. I was apart of that in a small way and in a bigger stage way.

I once worked at a company where there was a buy out. All the loyal lifer staffers were canned simply because they were too close to the out going regime. Some others who didn't get canned exited the place like rats escaping a sinking ship.The workplace went downhill fast lost tons of money and it took a few years for the workplace to recover.

When I was in the Army during the early days of the Iraq War, the US was kicking major tail. Then word came down that the top guy Gen. Shinseki was stepping down. All the ground troops knew this was bad cos guy was a lifer. Step down more like FORCED into early retirement. Anyway, within weeks there was exiting all over the military most was all due to Shinseki's dismissal. New guy comes in muddles around a few years and then guess what he is then replaced as well. We all know the rest of this story.

Both transitions were mistakes. There is a right way and a wrong way to do this. So far this is shapping up to be a rocky one at least. It will take a few days before we hear the rest of the Laker camp reaction to this. Then and only then will we know what to expect next season. If there is a business as usual vibe then all is well. If we start to see odd exits within the org and or word that Kobe is unhappy, the gig will be up my friends.

[Kilroy]

My thinking on the whole Jim Buss thing...

I just realized that as long as I've been a Laker fan, I have never known another owner...

And from what I've seen, I can't help but think this franchise is in a world of trouble when he's no longer around...

His kids are involved in different aspects of the business but the only thing that seems to keep them together is Jerry. If he wasn't around, I can imagine some ugly fighting for control of this organization.

I guess the end of the Dr Buss era was inevitable... But I guess I'm a lot less prepared for it than I thought...

I've seen lots of great Lakers come and go, but for the first time as a Laker fan, I'm starting to feel like long term success isn't a guarantee...

[eckoner]

Well i think the name alone assures the Lakers have continued success. It may not be every year but for the most part we are pretty set.

I dont like changing coaches, replacing well liked players (Fisher) and changing leadership. But this is all a part of life and is gonna happen regardless if we like it or not.

I try to stay optimistic and hope for the best but again i dont like any of it.

I wish Brown the best of luck and hopefully we dont have a player fire sale as many are suggesting is the next shoe to fall.

[Rox_Nix_Nox]

Ronnie Lester has been an assistant to two of the best gm's this franchise has ever had.

And that argument about Jim Buss cleaning house because they don't respect him can't be the case, I remember reading an article about The buss family and Jim buss said that he wasn't a guy that wanted people around him that agreed with him on everything and were afraid of conflict and arguments.

[H00PDREAMS]

Ronnie Lester has been an assistant to two of the best gm's this franchise has ever had.

And that argument about Jim Buss cleaning house because they don't respect him can't be the case, I remember reading an article about The buss family and Jim buss said that he wasn't a guy that wanted people around him that agreed with him on everything and were afraid of conflict and arguments.

Bull Jim Bull...

[Sedale Threatt]

His kids are involved in different aspects of the business but the only thing that seems to keep them together is Jerry. If he wasn't around, I can imagine some ugly fighting for control of this organization.

I just wish it was like the days of the Roman empire, where siblings would scheme and kill each other for the right to succeed Dad. That would make for a hell of a reality show. WAY better than Lamar's.

[Slava]

Wasn't Ronnie Lester instrumental in drafting Bynum? Strange decision.

[bruddahmanmatt]

Wasn't Ronnie Lester instrumental in drafting Bynum? Strange decision.

Yes he was, and it's yet another strange twist to what's been going on in the LA FO recently. Seems like Jim is looking to start completely fresh with these decisions he's making, the problem is that he's changing personnel in the FO and on the coaching staff while the core group of players will remain the same. I wouldn't be entirely against them making so many changes if they were planning on a bit of a roster shakeup as well.

[salmahayek]

I like Lester, overall, and I'm sure he will land on his feet. In fact, I'd be surprised in the other Staples tenant doesn't pick him up yesterday.

However, the Lakers have missed a lot of opportunities to acquire cheap talent on many occasions over the last several years in the second round. I know they have not had a lot of first round picks to use, but still, the college and international scouting has not been as good as some of the other NBA teams.

Off the top of my head, San Antonio is one that comes to mind. They seem to always find players in the draft that can contribute something to their team. So, with a new coach, perhaps Jim Buss decided it was also a good time to alter the scouting and personnel evaluation philosophy.

We won't know for at least a couple of years if this was a good decision or not.

[So Gutta]

This is false. He was not fired as you claim.

They simply decided not to renew his contract which expires next month, in anticipation for a lockout. They have done this with the entire training staff, and countless other FO personnel.

You don't pay people to do nothing, now do you?

You think Kupchak would be okay with them firing his right-hand man right before the draft? Mitch would probably resign.

[DEEP3CL]

This is false. He was not fired as you claim.

They simply decided not to renew his contract which expires next month, in anticipation for a lockout. They have done this with the entire training staff, and countless other FO personnel.

You don't pay people to do nothing, now do you?

You think Kupchak would be okay with them firing his right-hand man right before the draft? Mitch would probably resign.

Exactly, even the TV and radio teams are without contracts. Everything will be sorted out once the impending lock out is done. Ronnie has been with the Lakers for over 20 years, you don't really rub out guys like that....he'll be back.

[Dr Aki]

lol, we're really quick to accuse jimmy buss of ruining the franchise...

will we be quick with the apologies?