Mike Bresnahan
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@Mike_Bresnahan
Four Laker starting spots are up for grabs.
Said Rob Pelinka: “We’re really excited about camp this year because Luke (Walton) has decided... we’re going to have an incredibly competitive camp and all the spots are going to be open spots, putting aside LeBron James, obviously.”
Not sure If I should post this elsewhere.. but what do you guys think about Bron having the only secured starting spot?
Pelinka shared this about Rajon Rondo on @SpectrumSN: “The first day when Rondo came, the first thing he did is ask, ‘Where’s your film guy.’ He had him pull film on every single player on our roster so he could start to study their tendencies.’
Quote:
What role did LeBron have in Lakers signing Lance Stephenson, JaVale McGee and Rajon Rondo?
“I learned from Dr. Buss that you should always include (star) players,” Magic said. “When (former GM) Jerry West thought about bringing a player in, Dr. Buss would call me, call Kareem.”
More from Pelinka on LeBron: “As Magic was talking about before, (LeBron) is a basketball savant. As we started to get a sense of what was in his head about our roster, talking to him about our guys, we had made a decision leading up to the chance to meet with him to make sure what we built around him was different from what he’s experienced the last three or four seasons. We wanted to build a team that was versatile, that was deep, that was fast and tough. You can see that’s been echoed in the moves we’ve made.”
Added Magic: “And high basketball IQ’s.”
How did GM Rob Pelinka find out LeBron would join the Lakers? Via text from James’ agent.
“The text just said ‘Congrats,’ and it had balloons,”Pelinka said. “It was one of those moments in life you’ll never ever forget.
Pelinka offered an anecdote: “So we go and sign the contract, he’s just getting back from his family vacation. I’m walking out to get in my car, he’s walking out to get in his car. He mentions to his agent or his assistant, ‘Such and such is going to be at the gym at six in the morning, right? That’s when I’m going to start my workout.’ So you realize, that’s just who he is. First day back, just had flown in, 6 a.m., ‘I’m going to get after it tomorrow.’”
There were a lot of good bits that were given as to the insights of the team and getting LeBron.
First thing I liked was that LeBron knew about the young guys strengths and weaknesses.
I also liked the idea of there are no 4 guaranteed starters on this team because honestly we are trying to win and as it stands the young guys got to shat that they can **** play winning ball. Phil did a similar thing benching Fisher, Fox, and Horry when he first came in.
Loved the Rondo bit the most though as he will dissect what they do well on O and what they can do on D