Jim Buss is vindicated

[ALL HAIL]

I've been an open critic of "Kupchak and Co." for many years now.

Management has done a very good job in piecing this thing together this summer, but I don't think they were "genius" moves at all --- more like common sense type moves that just about any non-idiot would have made.

The Nash trade was made possible due to the Suns' respect for Nash more than the savviness of Kupchak and Jim Buss. And although I'm sure Buss signed off on trading his boy Bynum, it took blatant acts of upheaval by Bynum and an "easy" opportunity to upgrade the center position to convince him.

I give credit where credit is due and call things what they are regardless of how it makes me look as a result.

The moves they made were fantastic and improved this team two fold, but they were not entirely "genius".

If you ask me the only "genius" move in all of this was letting Odom go for what would turn out ot be Nash. To me, that's "genius". Taking a risk and turning nothing into something is what defines genius for me.

Odom for TPE (Nash) ... genius.
Divac for Bryant ... genius.
Perdue for Rodman ... genius.
Evans and Cook for Ariza ... genius.
Iguodala for Bynum ... genius.

Trading the second best center for the best center in the league after a long and drawn out publlic spectacle ... just common sense.
Acquiring Nash for a TPE and picks ... just common sense.

I respect Kupchak for his pragmatism and patience, and I respect Buss for not being "too" cheap by allowing Kupchak to spend the 9 million to acquire Nash and the 4 million to acquire Hill.

Also, and probably the most interesting idea that is lost in all of this vindication talk is the idea that, if reports were really true, Buss made the ultimate genius move by pulling rank and drafting Andrew Bynum.

I've criticized Buss alot, but it's pretty undeniable, if the reports were in fact true, that even in the midst of a very akward transition of power in the front office, it was Buss' vision of what Bynum could be, when apparently no one else could see it, that has allowed this team to be in the position it is currently in.

Kudos for drafting Bynum Mr. Buss, that was sheer genius and kudos for the moves this summer too, although those were more common sense than genius.

[ennui]

Crow please, side of rice.

[dockingsched]

so orchestrating a trade that involved 4 teams, 5 picks, over 10 players - just common sense. get outta here!

[ALL HAIL]

Multi team trades happen all the time. You sound a little simple.

It was a FANTASTIC trade, but it wasn't genius because of the circumstances surrounding the trade.

Turning Bynum into Howard while Howard was screaming to the world to be traded was not a genius move (although it should not take away from the fact that it was a splendid move at all).

On the other hand, turning Iguodala into Bynum was.

[ennui]

What about keeping Gasol? That was the genius of the trade. I can agree that a trade for Dwight seemed like an eventuality, but the inclusion of Gasol was initially pretty likely, imo. We made out like bandits, give it up.

[dockingsched]

trading iggy for a much better bynum is just common sense!

[ALL HAIL]

Although it was reported, I don't believe any of those teams really wanted Gasol.

But I could very well be wrong.

[ennui]

trading iggy for a much better bynum is just common sense!

mm dat logic

[ALL HAIL]

You don't understand. I'm making an argument based on pure semantics based on other posters calling these moves "pure genius".

Genius = Turning nothing into something, ususally, but not exclusively, coming out of nowhere, without the aid of extenuating circumstances (ie. trade demands or teams doing players or other front offices favors).

Common Sense = No-brainer moves, that when presented, any right-minded person would make.

I give all the credit in the world to the front office. I am merely arguing that although both moves made this summer were fantastic, to me, I would not classify them as genius.

I reserve that classification for the more cunning, sometimes even smaller, fleecings that occur sometimes when teams are not desperate to unload a guy (ie Howard, P. Gasol, V. Carter), but moreso for those times when one guy completely rapes another guy without the rapee even knowing like Divac for Kobe, Odom for a TPE, and yes Iguodala for Bynum (the Magic actually think the package they got was better than Bynum).

That was a genius move by Phila.

[Sedale Threatt]

Owners have two roles in my eyes: Cutting checks, and not f'ing things up. (The latter is harder than it sounds. See: Jones, Jerry.) He seems to be getting the hang of it, so keep it up Jimmy!

More than anything, I continue to be impressed with Kupchak's patience and discipline in a job where most people would melt under the pressure in a week. He could have easily panicked and overspent, but he stayed the course and made an upgrade at a discount.

[draw12]

finally let Bynum go, id also like to thank Zeke from cabin creek for tutoring Kupchak because he keeps coming up with big moves, i dont remember being disappointed in Kupchak since Caron for Kwame and that got us Gasol soooo... thanks again mitch

[gotokyo]

I don't get this guys logic that every trade this off season was nothing more then just "common sense"

Do you really believe all these moves just fell into the lap of the lakers and anybody with half a brain would sign off on it and wha-la superteam? No.

All of these trades took a lot of planning, patience and a competent FO to get the deals done. After the chris paul deal fell through and odom was traded for a TPE many people thought that TPE should have been used on guys like michael beasley or mo williams. What did it eventually turn into? Steve F-ing Nash! You still think basic common sense made that deal possible? Because NO ONE expected that TPE to turn into what it did.

Same goes for the D-Howard deal and the FO standing strong and getting a deal done without both pau and bynum. When just a year ago everyone was expecting both of them to be dealt in order for a howard trade.

*EDIT*

Re-read your post and you do give credit for the nash deal.

However my point still stands that ALL the recent moves do deserve a lot more credit then basic common sense

[dockingsched]

http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketbal ... 873.column

It's about 9:30 Friday morning, the Lakers talking to the NBA office and finalizing the deal for Howard when [Jim] Buss' phone rings.

It's his father, Jerry.

"He wanted to know the terms of the deal, the teams we were dealing with and who was going where," Jim says. "And I'm saying, 'Dad, you just got out of surgery 14 hours ago; what are you talking about? I can't even believe you're on the phone.'

"I was with him [Thursday] night and he was basically incoherent and he was going to be like that for two or three days. But now the nurse has him on the speaker phone, and while I'm thinking he's fallen off and gone to sleep again, he suddenly wants to know the money situation and who gets what and who gives what. Are you kidding me?

"So I tell him, and then I get an, 'Incredible job, Jim,' from him, and let me tell you, that erases all the insults and anything else anyone has to say. To help make him comfortable and happy, that's what I work for."

[Kilroy]

^Prick

[Dr Aki]

im glad ive been defending jim buss up to this summer.

sure i understood why people were apprehensive, because change is scary, and especially coming from all the success papa buss gave LA