Ronnie Lester fired

[So Gutta]

I've actually heard that the entire scouting department's contracts will not be renewed. All scouts will not be paid during the lockout.

Lester is head of scouting.

I expect this issue to be addressed by the media to Mitch Kupchak at Mike Brown's press conference. We will find out the true extent of this, but obviously Lester will be in charge of the upcoming NBA Draft. Hardly, "fired" as this thread title implies.

[Kilroy]

FWIW... Espn is reporting this may not just be a cost cutting measure for the lockout... It may be permanent.

The layoffs first appeared to be a cost-cutting measure by the Lakers in light of the potential lockout that could occur July 1 if the NBA owners and players' association cannot finalize a new collective bargaining agreement by then. But, while it initially seemed like there was potential for the employees to be rehired when the possible drawn-out labor unrest is settled, the growing sense is the team is using this offseason to cut ties with the Jackson days and turn the page on the next era of Lakers basketball.

Dave McMenamin covers the Lakers for ESPNLosAngeles.com.

I don't know if this guy has any great insight into the Lakers and their decision making process. Is this the general feeling that the Lakers are moving away from the PJ era, or is there some specific indication that this particular move to let the Scouting staff go is a direct effort to move away from the PJ era?

It seems like a bit of a stretch to me to think that the two things are related. But who knows if there's an open door for any of them to return after the lock-out? Maybe being Lakers scouts, they were grossly overpaid by industry standards and this gives the Org an opportunity to restructure contracts???

[Slava]

Buss will probably hire a female bartender or personal masseuse to do the scouting for the team next.

[So Gutta]

FWIW... Espn is reporting this may not just be a cost cutting measure for the lockout... It may be permanent.

The layoffs first appeared to be a cost-cutting measure by the Lakers in light of the potential lockout that could occur July 1 if the NBA owners and players' association cannot finalize a new collective bargaining agreement by then. But, while it initially seemed like there was potential for the employees to be rehired when the possible drawn-out labor unrest is settled, the growing sense is the team is using this offseason to cut ties with the Jackson days and turn the page on the next era of Lakers basketball.

Dave McMenamin covers the Lakers for ESPNLosAngeles.com.

I don't know if this guy has any great insight into the Lakers and their decision making process. Is this the general feeling that the Lakers are moving away from the PJ era, or is there some specific indication that this particular move to let the Scouting staff go is a direct effort to move away from the PJ era?

It seems like a bit of a stretch to me to think that the two things are related. But who knows if there's an open door for any of them to return after the lock-out? Maybe being Lakers scouts, they were grossly overpaid by industry standards and this gives the Org an opportunity to restructure contracts???

McMenamin does know quite a bit, but even he is speculating here.

Lester actually pre-dates Phil.

[Slava]

Lock out or not it doesn't make sense to fire your assistant GM and scouts. Its not like the NCAA and Euroleagues are also locking down with you and its the end of basketball. Scouting and reporting is a continuous process for as long as the club is functional.

It makes sense of they fired the video analysts and production workers but not the basketball personnel.

[mnWI]

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.

Every other NBA team will be paying a scouting staff during the lockout, because the scouting season doesn't change much in terms of personnel scouting (save the one pro-personnel guy on every NBA staff. And even after the lockout Lester will not be brought back. I expect him to have another job long before then anyway.

[DEEP3CL]

Guess I was wrong, in a few years who knows how our front office looks.

[Gek]

Other than Bynum, Lakers scouting is reading DraftExpress.

[Jetset]

Other than Bynum, Lakers scouting is reading DraftExpress.

This.

[So Gutta]

Okay, so I asked Brian Kamenetzky who covers the Lakers and this is what he said:

Deal was allowed to expire like all assistants, staff, etc. Could be back, not a reflection of his work. Mitch loves him. BK

http://twitter.com/#!/ESPNLandOLakers/s ... 9594787840

John Ireland on radio also confirmed this. He said that it's the position the Lakers are taking on personnel with expiring contracts, as they don't want to renew the contracts without a guarantee that there will be a season.