Kupchak: Jim Buss deserves less criticism, more credit

[Sedale Threatt]

I'll be the first to admit that I've engaged in some scapegoating with Jim. It's just hard to respect the guy from afar. Horse racing and partying didn't work out, so now that it's time to grow up, he gets the keys to the family business without really having done anything to prepare himself. Not like, say, Josh Kroenke with the Nuggets.

That his ascent seems to have come at the expense of Jeanie Buss, who while not a basketball person at least put in the work to deserve a CEO-type position with the franchise, doesn't seem all that fair.

And while we're on the subject of scapegoating, people can brush off the media at large all they want. But there's just too much stuff out there about Buss' potential negligence/ineptitude to just ignore it carte blanche. Because let's not forget that Kupchak is still merely sticking up for the guy who will one day he be his boss, if he isn't already.

[Sedale Threatt]

No bartender and it turns out Jerry Buss still has the final say in management? Just how in the world are RealGM posters supposed to take their frustrations out on Jim now?

OK, so this guy wasn't a bartender, but some sort of hanger-on from Jim's days at the track. Huge, huge difference.

[Sedale Threatt]

And for the record, I've always thought Jerry Buss' role with the Lakers has been overblown. As long as the other Jerry was in charge, this franchise was going to be successful.

[dockingsched]

ST, i mean this in the most non sarcastic way, but it sounds like you have a Jerry Buss problem more than a Jim Buss problem. after all Jerry is the one that hand picked Jim over Jeanie.

[Sedale Threatt]

Could be, but I don't think so. I honestly respect Jerry for what he's done, especially as it pertains to his private business success. With the Lakers, he's done all you can ask from an owner in terms of maintaining a winning atmosphere.

At the same time, I think the amount of credit he does get for L.A.'s success has been somewhat overblown, especially in comparison to Jerry West, who not only did all the heavy lifting but from what I've read stood firm when Buss wanted to do something stupid, i.e. his knee-jerk trade of Worthy for Mark Aguirre.

And yeah, I do think it's ridiculous that somebody like Jeanie, who has been all class and at least actually put the work in, was passed over for somebody who by all accounts was pretty much a wastoid until he was decided he wanted a shot at the family business.

So I think the accurate answer might be, all of the above. In most cases, I'd honestly try to give somebody the benefit of the doubt, as I'm doing, despite some complaints, with Mike Brown. But with Jim's complete lack of credentials outside of being the owner's oldest son, I'm not going to give him a shred of respect until he earns it.

[eckoner]

There is a reason they get paid to goto the games and we have to pay to goto the games!

But what, exactly, are Jim Buss' credentials, other than springing forth from the right gene pool?

I respond but keep in mind i am in no way a fan of Jim but i will say the credentials he has is spending time on the inner circle with the likes of Dr. Buss, Jerry West, Ronnie Lester, Mitch K and others being part of the conversations to make the team better and why this player/ Why not that player. He has had the opportunity to be on the inside looking out for many years even when we had no idea who he actually was!

With that said he has some very big shoes to fill and i think his lack of communication skills outway his lack of decision making skills, and i am referring more so to his understanding of the need to play the media game and give those nasty reporters some insight as well as throwing the fans a bone every now and then.

To us perception is our reality and for the past year or two our reality has been "who the hell is steering this ship"?

Perhaps when it's all said and done we hail Dr. Buss for being so smart as to appoint Jim the man due to future success this team and fans enjoy........or maybe just the opposite!

[hermes]

if mitch says it then i'll believe it

[Sedale Threatt]

I respond but keep in mind i am in no way a fan of Jim but i will say the credentials he has is spending time on the inner circle with the likes of Dr. Buss, Jerry West, Ronnie Lester, Mitch K and others being part of the conversations to make the team better and why this player/ Why not that player. He has had the opportunity to be on the inside looking out for many years even when we had no idea who he actually was!

With that said he has some very big shoes to fill and i think his lack of communication skills outway his lack of decision making skills, and i am referring more so to his understanding of the need to play the media game and give those nasty reporters some insight as well as throwing the fans a bone every now and then.

To us perception is our reality and for the past year or two our reality has been "who the hell is steering this ship"?

Perhaps when it's all said and done we hail Dr. Buss for being so smart as to appoint Jim the man due to future success this team and fans enjoy........or maybe just the opposite!

Yeah, to be honest, even as a total non-fan of this guy, we just don't know.

My impression of him is that he was not soaking up the wisdom of our brain trust, as you infer. I could be very wrong, but the way I understand it is that he meandered around for much of his adult life, basically being an overgrown rich kid, before realizing that, oh yeah, my dad owns a pro basketball team, maybe I'll try that.

The Los Angeles Lakers -- a silver spoon if there ever was one.

[dockingsched]

from the biggest jim buss hater out there:

Lazenby:

Lakers fans've had much anxiety over point guard targets. Kupchak + Jim Buss were shooting for something big with D Wil. Hats off to them. Appears Howard's back+forth snared the Lakers in a waiting game. Once Dwight decided to stay LA apparently has tried again for D Wil. You can fuss that the Lakers were wasting time, but that's what Jerry West taught Mitch to do. Be patient and try to get the very best. You're free to do what you want with your own hat. I take mine off. Kupchak+the Busses are doing the kind of big thinking that's won titles.

[Sedale Threatt]

If true, a great point. I definitely respect patience over knee-jerk. Which is why the Odom deal still bothers me, but I digress...