The Sales Pitch...Who's In Room, What Is Said ?

[Jakay]

I still think you spin the tradition of winning into the "where it's headed" spiel. But more in a "we have a wining tradition because we have a history of having the leagues premier players, and that's exactly what we're building, and that's why we want you".

Kind of past present future sentence there.

[DEEP3CL]

Anybody saying Kobe shouldn't be in the room or be part of the pitch just doesn't understand NBA business. It's redundant to think Kobe would be there just saying "come play with me", his being there would have absolutely nothing to do with that.

[dipstick]

Anybody saying Kobe shouldn't be in the room or be part of the pitch just doesn't understand NBA business. It's redundant to think Kobe would be there just saying "come play with me", his being there would have absolutely nothing to do with that.

Yeah. Kobe will be saying that the Lakers dont give discounts. Then shows slides of Duncan, Nowitzki and Wade.

[Kobe System]

MITCH: DEANDRE, PEOPLE ARE TALKIN ABOUT YOU GOIN TO THIS TEAM OR THAT TEAM. LIKEWISE, LEMARCUS, PEOPLE ARE TALKIN ABOUT YOU GOIN TO THIS TEAM OR THAT TEAM. DEANDRE AND LEMARCUS, WE ARE PREPARED TO OFFER THE BOTH OF YOU THE MAX RIGHT NOW!! (mitch turns and comments to Jeanie...JEANIE, BRING IN THE CONTRACTS, THESE BOYS ARE READY TO SIGN NOW!)

-THEY SIGN
-end of meeting

Are you talking about Cousins and Aldridge combined?

[Jakay]

Anybody saying Kobe shouldn't be in the room or be part of the pitch just doesn't understand NBA business. It's redundant to think Kobe would be there just saying "come play with me", his being there would have absolutely nothing to do with that.

Obviously you'd want him there. Not that him being absent would say "only in it for the paycheck", at this point in his career, but as far as a player with a legacy being present, it could speak volumes as to how the franchise treats their players.

I'd also think Jeannie and Jim would be pretty important to have there. Given how Dr Buss basically convinced half of the big names (or all, idk) to play there, it's almost a duty for them to represent.

And Mitch and Scott, and no one else, because no other player really represents the Lakers quite yet.

That would be a pretty big time room to be in.

Strategy wise, bring the angle of championship, and this is the foundation year. Buy into the being the face of the team since day 1, since literally there is nowhere to go but up.

Kobe is super important there because he can literally speak to the franchise winning, then busting, then winning, from a player's perspective.

[Jakay]

With the possible angle that no other franchise understands winning quite like the Lakers. Boston, a bit, but so many came in that early run with Red and Russell, and SA has never won without Pop and Duncan there, not that I think trashing another franchise is at all a smart strategy.

[Kilroy]

I don't think you have to say anything about the history... You bring that in the room with you. It's the 900lb gorilla in the room. SA won championships, but they aren't the Lakers... These guys know that. And they either hate us or want to play for us.
I think you just shake hands, express your eagerness for them to join the team, explain your plan for building a contender, put the offer on the table, whatever it is, and hand the floor over to the Guys from Staples and Time Warner.

They guys who sign with us do so because out deals are like deals with Swiss banks, they're rock solid. And we bring the understanding that they don't have to worry about us doing whatever possible to win... They understand we already have accepted that challenge and feel the pressure more than they ever could.

[cashflo]

Anyone think Kobe's retiring?
Would open up so much cap space!

I have a feeling the lakers are calling around offering Swaggy and Kelly with picks or Clarkson to open up even more cap..

Kobe 25m
Swaggy 5.2
Kelly 1.7
Black 8k
Sacre 8k
34mil +23mil current cap= 57mil

Aldridge/Jordan/= 38mil

Tobius 12 mil
7 mil to spare

[dipstick]

I don't think you have to say anything about the history... You bring that in the room with you. It's the 900lb gorilla in the room. SA won championships, but they aren't the Lakers... These guys know that. And they either hate us or want to play for us.
I think you just shake hands, express your eagerness for them to join the team, explain your plan for building a contender, put the offer on the table, whatever it is, and hand the floor over to the Guys from Staples and Time Warner.

They guys who sign with us do so because out deals are like deals with Swiss banks, they're rock solid. And we bring the understanding that they don't have to worry about us doing whatever possible to win... They understand we already have accepted that challenge and feel the pressure more than they ever could.

I think that's always the advantage when we talk to free agents. Everyone knows that the Lakers will always swing for the fences. There are down years, and that's always amplified, but we get back up faster than any other team in the league. We do not settle for being a midlevel team and that's what some free agents want. I think the reason why LMA wants out of Portland is because they are stuck being that midlevel western conference team. A few pieces away from possibly being great but FO not really doing anything to change the situation. Unfortunately, the cap spike next year and the next gives the Spurs an advantage because he can still envision 2 years of playing with Duncan, Manu, Parker and Kawhi opt out then re-up or look for another team when the spike has maxed.

What the Lakers bring to the table is just being the Lakers. Things are looking up, we aren't afraid to spend and we take care of our own.

[Kilroy]

Anyone think Kobe's retiring?
Would open up so much cap space!

I have a feeling the lakers are calling around offering Swaggy and Kelly with picks or Clarkson to open up even more cap..

Kobe 25m
Swaggy 5.2
Kelly 1.7
Black 8k
Sacre 8k
34mil +23mil current cap= 57mil

Aldridge/Jordan/= 38mil

Tobius 12 mil
7 mil to spare

It crossed my mind... But I think he might accept a stretch like Dock said, if both DaJ and LA agree to play for the Lakers.

[dipstick]

Anyone think Kobe's retiring?
Would open up so much cap space!

I have a feeling the lakers are calling around offering Swaggy and Kelly with picks or Clarkson to open up even more cap..

Kobe 25m
Swaggy 5.2
Kelly 1.7
Black 8k
Sacre 8k
34mil +23mil current cap= 57mil

Aldridge/Jordan/= 38mil

Tobius 12 mil
7 mil to spare

It crossed my mind... But I think he might accept a stretch like Dock said, if both DaJ and LA agree to play for the Lakers.

But we can only stretch if we waive him right? And that only happens if he retires, which he won't.

[The Laker Kid]

Mitch: Sit down 'Marcus. Jimboy, get out

Mitch: Kobe, close your eyes and keep your hands to yourself.

Mitch: Jeanie, show him the winning culture that we have here in LA

Spoiler:

Spoiler:

LMA: Where's the pen???

[Sofa King]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/ramonashelburne/status/616142290235588608[/tweet]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/ramonashelburne/status/616140527734386688[/tweet]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/ramonashelburne/status/616130006180343808[/tweet]

[Marionettetc]

Whenever I read stuff like "power point" presentations during free agent meetings, I always imagine stuff like this

[miggs]

^ that's pretty hilarious. I can see Jim looking right at LaMarcus as he places that block too hahaha

[H00PDREAMS]

Sources say LaMarcus was not impressed... According to Chris Broussard of ESPN. Says Suns now have a better chance at landing LA. Darn Chris Broussard and his 'sources', always raining on the Lakers parade.

[DEEP3CL]

Wow been a crazy day..especially on social media, lots of lies.

Anyway if some of the stuff we're hearing about the meeting is true, such as relying on selling "off court" affairs and "branding", then the Lakers just don't get it. We needed to get Aldridge to see what the team was projected to be in like 2 years. But honestly we don't have a veteran laden team that's been through some playoff battles.

It makes no sense whatsoever for LA to come here when the team hasn't made the playoffs in 2 years. This is why guys like kblo247 and myself we're saying for the last 3 years that our mindset on free agency should be B-tier guys. Guys like Greg Monroe, but when that was mentioned all people here did was talk about his game, defense and all that other nonsense.

It's not like you're marrying the guy for life...sign for only like 4 years, maybe he becomes an asset that nets you more talent or young talent. As I said then, we need to use the plan we used back in the early 90's. Keep drafting well and sign a B level talent like they did with Ceballos. That was the plan that got us Shaq.

[Gus McCrae]

I just noticed we are only chasing players with similar linear iterations of a name.


DEandre , DEmarcus , leMARCUS

Who better to pair with D'Angelo?

[contract]

I think Kobe could sell Tyson Chandler on coming here to be his Tyson Chandler.

I agree. I think the Lakers would do better if they simply accepted that until Kobe is gone, the only workable plan is to surround him with similarly long in the tooth vets who understand that this is Kobe's team, and can accept that and fit around him and his game.

A younger superstar or aspiring superstar is always going to be in a hurry to supplant Kobe, and Kobe ain't having any of that.

Chandler would have been a good fit in my opinion.