Magic/Pelinka/F.O. Thread (merged)

[TylersLakers]

According to Stephen A on First Take this morning, front office changes will be happening at the end of the season. He also talked about the coaches and speculated that Doc Rivers (with Lue, Thibodeau, Shaw as assistants), Coach K, Jason Kidd, Mark Jackson would be the potential options. When Jalen Rose mentioned he didn't think the Lakers would pay up to a guy of Doc's calibre with Luke Walton's guaranteed money on the books, Stephen A said he checked into it and was told that wouldn't be an issue at all.

What do you want to see happen with this Front Office & Coaching Hierarchy?

With Magic as the President, we need to find an actual GM with NBA experience who isn't afraid to go face-to-face with Magic and disagree. Also, a person who has LeBron experience would be great. And in my opinion, David Griffin would be a damn good choice. I realize it's a television broadcast, but he sounded phenomenal last night. He impressed me more in 2.5 hours on NBA TV than Rob Pelinka has ever impressed me. Instead of talking about trolleys, bread, and Kobe, he spoke of second spectrum data. He commented on Luke's comments about being in "must win" mentality. I trust this guys basketball brain to make good decisions for not only the present with LeBron, but also long term.

As far as coaching, I still have to dive into the candidates but there's a few guys I'd be okay with:

1- Monty Williams, 76ers Assistant, Former HC of New Orleans. Great relationship with Anthony Davis.
2- Doc Rivers, Clippers
3- Jeff Van Gundy, ABC/ESPN
4- Jay Wright, Villanova

Watch on YouTube

[TJM217]

I would like to see the lakers do a real coaching search. Like interview multiple candidates. Not just hire whoever was a former laker.

[Pythagoras]

According to Stephen A on First Take this morning, front office changes will be happening at the end of the season. He also talked about the coaches and speculated that Doc Rivers (with Lue, Thibodeau, Shaw as assistants), Coach K, Jason Kidd, Mark Jackson would be the potential options. When Jalen Rose mentioned he didn't think the Lakers would pay up to a guy of Doc's calibre with Luke Walton's guaranteed money on the books, Stephen A said he checked into it and was told that wouldn't be an issue at all.

What do you want to see happen with this Front Office & Coaching Hierarchy?

With Magic as the President, we need to find an actual GM with NBA experience who isn't afraid to go face-to-face with Magic and disagree. Also, a person who has LeBron experience would be great. And in my opinion, David Griffin would be a damn good choice. I realize it's a television broadcast, but he sounded phenomenal last night. He impressed me more in 2.5 hours on NBA TV than Rob Pelinka has ever impressed me. Instead of talking about trolleys, bread, and Kobe, he spoke of second spectrum data. He commented on Luke's comments about being in "must win" mentality. I trust this guys basketball brain to make good decisions for not only the present with LeBron, but also long term.

As far as coaching, I still have to dive into the candidates but there's a few guys I'd be okay with:

1- Monty Williams, 76ers Assistant, Former HC of New Orleans. Great relationship with Anthony Davis.
2- Doc Rivers, Clippers
3- Jeff Van Gundy, ABC/ESPN
4- Jay Wright, Villanova

Watch on YouTube

I think Doc is actually a decent coach, even if he’s not exactly the direction I’d like to see the organization head. Nevertheless, I wouldn’t hate hiring Doc and he strikes me as more of a “Magic” type guy.

Speaking of Magic. He needs to move into a figurehead type of role. Have him in on any recruiting of big name FAs, but leave the actual basketball decisions to somebody who knows what the hell they're doing. I don’t know who that guy is right now. Wasn’t Griffin the guy in charge in Cle? I thought he was ok. Either way, no more crappy nepotism hires.

[Kilroy]

Screamin Steavin A with his insider info, huh? Sure, I'll bite...

What I want to see is Magic gone and West and Mitch back as Pres/GM respectively... And keep Luke, give him a real team to work with where he didn't have so much inconsistency to deal with so he didn't have to dick around with the lineups every other night... And put a couple guys in place that could tell LeBron/Klutch where their limits are...

But that's not going to happen...

What we'll get is Doc in as Coach/GM and Luke/Pelinka taking the fall so that Magic moves upstairs untarnished...

That is, unless Phil has been sweet talking Jeannie... In which case, I could see him back as at least GM with Luke still coaching...

I hate Doc... But I honestly trust his assessment of talent (other than that kid of his) and his ability to combine that talent into at least a serviceable playoff team, a whole lot better that I trust our FO right now...
I just don't think Doc is a Championship Coach.

So, yeah.. Sure... Whatever...

[TylersLakers]

Screamin Steavin A with his insider info, huh? Sure, I'll bite...

What I want to see is Magic gone and West and Mitch back as Pres/GM respectively... And keep Luke, give him a real team to work with where he didn't have so much inconsistency to deal with so he didn't have to dick around with the lineups every other night... And put a couple guys in place that could tell LeBron/Klutch where their limits are...

But that's not going to happen...

What we'll get is Doc in as Coach/GM and Luke/Pelinka taking the fall so that Magic moves upstairs untarnished...

That is, unless Phil has been sweet talking Jeannie... In which case, I could see him back as at least GM with Luke still coaching...

I hate Doc... But I honestly trust his assessment of talent (other than that kid of his) and his ability to combine that talent into at least a serviceable playoff team, a whole lot better that I trust our FO right now...
I just don't think Doc is a Championship Coach.

So, yeah.. Sure... Whatever...

As much as I like Luke man, he's been average to very bad. And not just this season, in past seasons as well. Now, you can chalk that up to being a young coach, but you have to learn from your mistakes and he hasn't done that. He stresses ball movement but consistently there is no player movement and consistently it's only 1 or 2 actions and then an isolation or pick & roll. And this has happened regardless of the personnel. Even little things like screen setting have been completely awful. And if you're teaching young players and you can't get them to set proper screens, you can't be a coach in the league. Period.

His first year, I hoped it was more of a D'Angelo Russell/Lou Williams problem. His second year it was the exact same thing. This year, the exact same thing.

Now, I would have loved Mitch & Jerry West. It would have been a dream. Unfortunately, it looks as if that ship has sailed on both fronts. I can't believe we had Jerry West knocking on the door, begging to be involved in a consultant role and we told him we had enough experience in the front office.

Regardless of what happens, Magic needs to take this head on and admit that he screwed up and he put Pelinka & Luke in terrible positions because of the roster he assembled last summer.

[Kilroy]

Screamin Steavin A with his insider info, huh? Sure, I'll bite...

What I want to see is Magic gone and West and Mitch back as Pres/GM respectively... And keep Luke, give him a real team to work with where he didn't have so much inconsistency to deal with so he didn't have to dick around with the lineups every other night... And put a couple guys in place that could tell LeBron/Klutch where their limits are...

But that's not going to happen...

What we'll get is Doc in as Coach/GM and Luke/Pelinka taking the fall so that Magic moves upstairs untarnished...

That is, unless Phil has been sweet talking Jeannie... In which case, I could see him back as at least GM with Luke still coaching...

I hate Doc... But I honestly trust his assessment of talent (other than that kid of his) and his ability to combine that talent into at least a serviceable playoff team, a whole lot better that I trust our FO right now...
I just don't think Doc is a Championship Coach.

So, yeah.. Sure... Whatever...

As much as I like Luke man, he's been average to very bad. And not just this season, in past seasons as well. Now, you can chalk that up to being a young coach, but you have to learn from your mistakes and he hasn't done that. He stresses ball movement but consistently there is no player movement and consistently it's only 1 or 2 actions and then an isolation or pick & roll. And this has happened regardless of the personnel. Even little things like screen setting have been completely awful. And if you're teaching young players and you can't get them to set proper screens, you can't be a coach in the league. Period.

His first year, I hoped it was more of a D'Angelo Russell/Lou Williams problem. His second year it was the exact same thing. This year, the exact same thing.

Now, I would have loved Mitch & Jerry West. It would have been a dream. Unfortunately, it looks as if that ship has sailed on both fronts. I can't believe we had Jerry West knocking on the door, begging to be involved in a consultant role and we told him we had enough experience in the front office.

Regardless of what happens, Magic needs to take this head on and admit that he screwed up and he put Pelinka & Luke in terrible positions because of the roster he assembled last summer.

This is a **** roster... No player other than LeBron, plays the same way from game to game... How do you coach with that?

I believe with a solid roster with a better mix of vets to go with the young guys, Luke would be fine... Adding LeBron to an existing squad is the ultimate monkey-wrench...
But it seemed like they were starting to figure it out up to the AD fiasco... Then that all went to ****.

I think Luke is fundamentally a better coach than about 80% of the coaches in the NBA, which is why I say it'd be cool to keep him and see what he can do with solid players.

But I'd also love to see him go to UCLA and become a legend there too. So I don't care really.

I just have never thought Luke was the ultimate problem with this team.

[Ball so hard]

I understand where the Doc hate is coming from. For a while I thought he was an overrated coach. However, given his body of work and accomplishments, I'm not sure how anyone could say he's not a good coach. Luke is not even in the same stratosphere as Doc when it comes to coaching. I literally don't understand where the infatuation with Luke is coming from.

[myersia]

Screamin Steavin A with his insider info, huh? Sure, I'll bite...

What I want to see is Magic gone and West and Mitch back as Pres/GM respectively... And keep Luke, give him a real team to work with where he didn't have so much inconsistency to deal with so he didn't have to dick around with the lineups every other night... And put a couple guys in place that could tell LeBron/Klutch where their limits are...

But that's not going to happen...

What we'll get is Doc in as Coach/GM and Luke/Pelinka taking the fall so that Magic moves upstairs untarnished...

That is, unless Phil has been sweet talking Jeannie... In which case, I could see him back as at least GM with Luke still coaching...

I hate Doc... But I honestly trust his assessment of talent (other than that kid of his) and his ability to combine that talent into at least a serviceable playoff team, a whole lot better that I trust our FO right now...
I just don't think Doc is a Championship Coach.

So, yeah.. Sure... Whatever...

As much as I like Luke man, he's been average to very bad. And not just this season, in past seasons as well. Now, you can chalk that up to being a young coach, but you have to learn from your mistakes and he hasn't done that. He stresses ball movement but consistently there is no player movement and consistently it's only 1 or 2 actions and then an isolation or pick & roll. And this has happened regardless of the personnel. Even little things like screen setting have been completely awful. And if you're teaching young players and you can't get them to set proper screens, you can't be a coach in the league. Period.

His first year, I hoped it was more of a D'Angelo Russell/Lou Williams problem. His second year it was the exact same thing. This year, the exact same thing.

Now, I would have loved Mitch & Jerry West. It would have been a dream. Unfortunately, it looks as if that ship has sailed on both fronts. I can't believe we had Jerry West knocking on the door, begging to be involved in a consultant role and we told him we had enough experience in the front office.

Regardless of what happens, Magic needs to take this head on and admit that he screwed up and he put Pelinka & Luke in terrible positions because of the roster he assembled last summer.

This is a **** roster... No player other than LeBron, plays the same way from game to game... How do you coach with that?

I believe with a solid roster with a better mix of vets to go with the young guys, Luke would be fine... Adding LeBron to an existing squad is the ultimate monkey-wrench...
But it seemed like they were starting to figure it out up to the AD fiasco... Then that all went to ****.

I think Luke is fundamentally a better coach than about 80% of the coaches in the NBA, which is why I say it'd be cool to keep him and see what he can do with solid players.

But I'd also love to see him go to UCLA and become a legend there too. So I don't care really.

I just have never thought Luke was the ultimate problem with this team.

I don’t know where you get the 80% better than coaches in the league from? Did we watch the same team this year? You can’t say that it was just the players? We are beyond that point now. Luke is extremely inexperienced. He would fit well in college but he isn’t ready for the nba how do you not see that? Look I love Luke as a person and I think he’s a great guy but that doesn’t mean he’s a good coach. His little time as the warriors head coach does not count for Luke at all. He basically ran what Steve wanted. Kerr is a great coach. Luke will be in like 5-10 years.


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[Landsberger]

This is a **** roster... No player other than LeBron, plays the same way from game to game... How do you coach with that?

I believe with a solid roster with a better mix of vets to go with the young guys, Luke would be fine... Adding LeBron to an existing squad is the ultimate monkey-wrench...
But it seemed like they were starting to figure it out up to the AD fiasco... Then that all went to ****.

I think Luke is fundamentally a better coach than about 80% of the coaches in the NBA, which is why I say it'd be cool to keep him and see what he can do with solid players.

But I'd also love to see him go to UCLA and become a legend there too. So I don't care really.

I just have never thought Luke was the ultimate problem with this team.

I agree that Luke is not the ultimate problem.... coaches are finishing pieces most of the time. I doubt Kerr does anything ever again after the GS team ages and disbands for example. Even Phil's never coached a crap roster.

That said, I will lay some of the inconsistency in the youth at his feet. He's been yanking some of the guys around with PT while others are left to play through horrible stretches. I don't think he's a guy for a young team at all after watching the last couple of years. He has no real experience in the post season either so I can see him going for sure.

What do you base the "better than 80% of the coaches in the NBA on"? There has to be something you're seeing that I'm missing. We seem unmotivated, disorganized and reactive since day one with him. He isn't leading with confidence and doesn't seem to be either a players coach or a disciplinarian.... he just seems to "be" most of the time.

[Marionettetc]

I'm not a huge fan of blaming the coach when the team sucks. Between load management Lebron, a bunch of young guys and a ton of injuries I'm not sure what anyone else was expecting.

[RoyceDa59]

I want to see Magics powers reduced in place of a real GM (but still let Magic have influence).

Hire Lue as Head Coach
Sign Kyrie Irving
Trade for Anthony Davis
Sign shooters and defenders
3-peat


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[Ballerhogger]

Hopefully we get shooting coach , a GM of some sort .

[kblo247]

This is a **** roster... No player other than LeBron, plays the same way from game to game... How do you coach with that?

I believe with a solid roster with a better mix of vets to go with the young guys, Luke would be fine... Adding LeBron to an existing squad is the ultimate monkey-wrench...
But it seemed like they were starting to figure it out up to the AD fiasco... Then that all went to ****.

I think Luke is fundamentally a better coach than about 80% of the coaches in the NBA, which is why I say it'd be cool to keep him and see what he can do with solid players.

But I'd also love to see him go to UCLA and become a legend there too. So I don't care really.

I just have never thought Luke was the ultimate problem with this team.

I agree that Luke is not the ultimate problem.... coaches are finishing pieces most of the time. I doubt Kerr does anything ever again after the GS team ages and disbands for example. Even Phil's never coached a crap roster.

That said, I will lay some of the inconsistency in the youth at his feet. He's been yanking some of the guys around with PT while others are left to play through horrible stretches. I don't think he's a guy for a young team at all after watching the last couple of years. He has no real experience in the post season either so I can see him going for sure.

What do you base the "better than 80% of the coaches in the NBA on"? There has to be something you're seeing that I'm missing. We seem unmotivated, disorganized and reactive since day one with him. He isn't leading with confidence and doesn't seem to be either a players coach or a disciplinarian.... he just seems to "be" most of the time.

Phil Jackson turned Pippen into an all star.

Phil JAckson took a team without MJ to a 50 plus win season with Scottie as his best player.

Phil came to LA and won a ring with a less talented group than Del Harris had and despite Mitch being incompetent during the 3 peat and lowering their depth every year.

Phil came back and finished over 500 using Brian Cook, Smush PArker, Kwame Brown, Shammond Williams, Mo Evans, Chris Mihm, Ronny Turiaf, Vladimir Radmanovic as main rotation pieces.

Phil never missed the playoffs. You really telling me Phil has never coached a crap roster? Phil made his rosters relevant and when it came time to coach he out X'd and O'd Pop multiple times. He would easily make Ingram, Kuzma, and LeBron a playoff team.

[Spens1]

Three steps

1. Fire Magic
2. Hire Jerry
3. Profit

[Revived]

Why would the Clippers billionaire owner Steve Balmer let Doc or West leave?

He would and can pay them like triple what Jeanie could offer.

[Ugly0598]

Doc has his flaws, but he's way better than Kidd, Lue, & Jackson. I don't see why K leaves Duke.

[kobe808lak]

How would we and why would Doc even want to coach this team? I agree he is better than Walton but I don't see how it's even possible?

[Landsberger]

This is a **** roster... No player other than LeBron, plays the same way from game to game... How do you coach with that?

I believe with a solid roster with a better mix of vets to go with the young guys, Luke would be fine... Adding LeBron to an existing squad is the ultimate monkey-wrench...
But it seemed like they were starting to figure it out up to the AD fiasco... Then that all went to ****.

I think Luke is fundamentally a better coach than about 80% of the coaches in the NBA, which is why I say it'd be cool to keep him and see what he can do with solid players.

But I'd also love to see him go to UCLA and become a legend there too. So I don't care really.

I just have never thought Luke was the ultimate problem with this team.

I agree that Luke is not the ultimate problem.... coaches are finishing pieces most of the time. I doubt Kerr does anything ever again after the GS team ages and disbands for example. Even Phil's never coached a crap roster.

That said, I will lay some of the inconsistency in the youth at his feet. He's been yanking some of the guys around with PT while others are left to play through horrible stretches. I don't think he's a guy for a young team at all after watching the last couple of years. He has no real experience in the post season either so I can see him going for sure.

What do you base the "better than 80% of the coaches in the NBA on"? There has to be something you're seeing that I'm missing. We seem unmotivated, disorganized and reactive since day one with him. He isn't leading with confidence and doesn't seem to be either a players coach or a disciplinarian.... he just seems to "be" most of the time.

Phil Jackson turned Pippen into an all star.

Phil JAckson took a team without MJ to a 50 plus win season with Scottie as his best player.

Phil came to LA and won a ring with a less talented group than Del Harris had and despite Mitch being incompetent during the 3 peat and lowering their depth every year.

Phil came back and finished over 500 using Brian Cook, Smush PArker, Kwame Brown, Shammond Williams, Mo Evans, Chris Mihm, Ronny Turiaf, Vladimir Radmanovic as main rotation pieces.

Phil never missed the playoffs. You really telling me Phil has never coached a crap roster? Phil made his rosters relevant and when it came time to coach he out X'd and O'd Pop multiple times. He would easily make Ingram, Kuzma, and LeBron a playoff team.

Yeah... I'm telling you he never coached a crap roster. Those rosters were crap? Really?! Come on man.....

Phil avoided rebuilding like the plague. What he did to manage egos and get the best out of guys is legendary but he's not a guy who wanted to coach young guys.... see Bynum for example. How many times did he want him traded for basically nothing.

[Danny Darko]

"Phil came back and finished over 500 using Brian Cook, Smush PArker, Kwame Brown, Shammond Williams, Mo Evans, Chris Mihm, Ronny Turiaf, Vladimir Radmanovic as main rotation pieces. "

that was a terrible lineup dude. ^^

[kblo247]

I agree that Luke is not the ultimate problem.... coaches are finishing pieces most of the time. I doubt Kerr does anything ever again after the GS team ages and disbands for example. Even Phil's never coached a crap roster.

That said, I will lay some of the inconsistency in the youth at his feet. He's been yanking some of the guys around with PT while others are left to play through horrible stretches. I don't think he's a guy for a young team at all after watching the last couple of years. He has no real experience in the post season either so I can see him going for sure.

What do you base the "better than 80% of the coaches in the NBA on"? There has to be something you're seeing that I'm missing. We seem unmotivated, disorganized and reactive since day one with him. He isn't leading with confidence and doesn't seem to be either a players coach or a disciplinarian.... he just seems to "be" most of the time.

Phil Jackson turned Pippen into an all star.

Phil JAckson took a team without MJ to a 50 plus win season with Scottie as his best player.

Phil came to LA and won a ring with a less talented group than Del Harris had and despite Mitch being incompetent during the 3 peat and lowering their depth every year.

Phil came back and finished over 500 using Brian Cook, Smush PArker, Kwame Brown, Shammond Williams, Mo Evans, Chris Mihm, Ronny Turiaf, Vladimir Radmanovic as main rotation pieces.

Phil never missed the playoffs. You really telling me Phil has never coached a crap roster? Phil made his rosters relevant and when it came time to coach he out X'd and O'd Pop multiple times. He would easily make Ingram, Kuzma, and LeBron a playoff team.

Yeah... I'm telling you he never coached a crap roster. Those rosters were crap? Really?! Come on man.....

Phil avoided rebuilding like the plague. What he did to manage egos and get the best out of guys is legendary but he's not a guy who wanted to coach young guys.... see Bynum for example. How many times did he want him traded for basically nothing.

Jason Kidd, KG, and Melo aren’t nothing especially when they had longer careers and were effective before and after Bynum