Just got word on the ESPN station here in DC ...Mitch has been fired by the Lakers and replaced by Magic Johnson
Kupchak out...Magic in in LA
- Thread starter keysersosay#1
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Fired a long term GM like Mitch? What? NBA career as a player very short term but long term as GM.
Magic? No experience other than an NBA career as a player. None as GM.
Makes perfect sense...
Magic? No experience other than an NBA career as a player. None as GM.
Makes perfect sense...
The problem out there these days is in the ownership. Mitch had a very successful unail the past few seasons..
And then Ms. Buss got involved...cleaned house, hubby and Mitch gone. This sure seems more about the Buss's issues as anything.
Lets replay the tape, Mitch came in to LA and worked hard to make the team and to play. Worked his butt off everyday. Then the knees. He rehabbed like crazy and showed his work ethic every day. That and he was frugal. They rewarded him and he went to work hard for the Lakers. He was a good GM.
So now its Earvin as President of basketball operations. Changed the position names and staff to suit Ms. Buss.
Lets replay the tape, Mitch came in to LA and worked hard to make the team and to play. Worked his butt off everyday. Then the knees. He rehabbed like crazy and showed his work ethic every day. That and he was frugal. They rewarded him and he went to work hard for the Lakers. He was a good GM.
So now its Earvin as President of basketball operations. Changed the position names and staff to suit Ms. Buss.
I am guessing he is either talking about Phil Jackson, or Jim Buss. Probably just assumed Jim Buss was her hubby, not brother.
Neither was Phil. They never married. It's unfortunate, but mgmt was not getting the job done and it was bearing itself out on the floor. Mitch will be fine and someone else will want his expertise.
The Lakers have sucked the past few years. Not really surprised by this. Mitch did a great job for them over the years, but it was time to make a change.
Phil Jackson, now Knicks GM..was her boyfriend(hubby)...bottom line is winning championships..half the NBA makes the playoffs...the lottery is a joke...every year under developed players..no superstars..and the NBA is market driven by the "named' superstars.or those considered to be super
The only good news is Magic Johnson will probably be a good GM. He has proven to be an extremely smart and accomplished business man so the art of the deal should be fine. I would guess he is a good talent evaluator since he coached first and has that experience.
The young Buss peeps need to step aside and let some bball minds run the show for a change! Maybe Jordan could use his connection and lure Mitch home!
The young Buss peeps need to step aside and let some bball minds run the show for a change! Maybe Jordan could use his connection and lure Mitch home!
Meh, Mitch had a great run. He won 3 rings and has made a ton of money over the years. If I'm him at 62, I retire and enjoy the fruits of my labors. It was just estimated that he has a net worth of $10 million. Relax and enjoy it.
Yeah, and boy am I confused.
Yeah, Mitch was always frugal, I recall he had his stereo set up on the boards and cinderblocks even after his first contract.
Yeah, Mitch was always frugal, I recall he had his stereo set up on the boards and cinderblocks even after his first contract.
mitch was controlled, not really about him...although he never initiated anything worthwhile in years...they completely screwed up the last four drafts and if he didn't have control, they are certainly making it seem like he did.
this was about jim and what has happened since jerry died.
magic is actually in a role he'll do well in...he's already acquired a good defender/solid guard and 1st rounder, for lou williams.
this was about jim and what has happened since jerry died.
magic is actually in a role he'll do well in...he's already acquired a good defender/solid guard and 1st rounder, for lou williams.
I think about the only thing distasteful about this is that maybe they should have let Mitch just retire and step away as if it were his decision and not place the "You're Fired" tag on him. Maybe he was not willing to do that, IDK. But they Lakers had to make major changes, they have gone from one of the most respected franchises in sports to a bit of a laughing stock. So a total house cleaning was in order and to bring in Magic as the face of that team with the mission to save them, ya kinda could see that coming.
But being a great player does not automatically make you a great GM, how much leeway will ownership give him to rebuild and restore them is going to be interesting to see moving forward. And how will Magic do it, will he go first for a great coach and then bring in players (like the Spurs or GSW) or does he do what they did in Cleveland and bring in the players and feel any coach can lead great players? There are not many Pops out there and the great players he is going to want are not going to be easily let go by the teams that now have them. They need that great young cornerstone player if they go the Cleveland route but those players do not come around that often. I think NO has one in Davis and adding Cousins may be the foundation that launches them, of course Cleveland got Lebron but he is getting deep in his career.
But being a great player does not automatically make you a great GM, how much leeway will ownership give him to rebuild and restore them is going to be interesting to see moving forward. And how will Magic do it, will he go first for a great coach and then bring in players (like the Spurs or GSW) or does he do what they did in Cleveland and bring in the players and feel any coach can lead great players? There are not many Pops out there and the great players he is going to want are not going to be easily let go by the teams that now have them. They need that great young cornerstone player if they go the Cleveland route but those players do not come around that often. I think NO has one in Davis and adding Cousins may be the foundation that launches them, of course Cleveland got Lebron but he is getting deep in his career.
I'm blaming Kobe. It seem when it was right to trade Kobe, Mitch didn't or couldn't. Kobe and his ego is the reason the Lakers are behind but they do have a lot of young talent. Everyone knew the Lakers for the past four years started tanking their season to get better draft picks. Wny? Because no TOP Free Agent wanted to play with Kobe. However, if Mitch wanted to trade Kobe Jenny and her brother wouldn't have it. I understand their loyalty to Kobe plus he got a nice pay check for his past two season which kill the Lakers from getting any quality help so they had no choice but keep tanking the season and do it via draft.
Mitch has drafted well but again until Kobe retired everyone was just watching him. Now he's gone they are learning to play without that shadow over their shoulders.
I like Magic but until he can add some Top Veterans to his young roster the Lakers will still be a few years away because if they can keep all their young pieces they will be very good in the future but it's a "what have u don't now league".
Mitch has drafted well but again until Kobe retired everyone was just watching him. Now he's gone they are learning to play without that shadow over their shoulders.
I like Magic but until he can add some Top Veterans to his young roster the Lakers will still be a few years away because if they can keep all their young pieces they will be very good in the future but it's a "what have u don't now league".
That was a great trade by Magic, no doubt. A first in a deep draft for Lou Williams is a good get.
And you may well be right, I don't really follow the NBA much at all, I could not have told you who the Laker coach is. For all I know he may be on par with the GSW coach and all they need is a trans formative player. I was speaking in more in general terms and by no means speaking as an expert on who they now have. I think Deangelo Russell is still there, Randle is there but other than that can't really tell ya who is on their roster.
Mistercvr talked about the what to do about Kobe situation, I followed a little bit of that back then and that was a tough spot for Mitch. Kobe was about over the hill but was still favorite son. Keep him stalled them from growing forward but trading him would have seemed disloyal to many of their fans, kind of a no win situation where the ownership decided to keep him where Mitch I believe was thinking now is the time to move on from Kobe. Really have not followed them much after that, they kinda became irrelevant, especially with GSW stealing their thunder and glitter.
Saw some talking heads on espn this morning and they offered the Warriors draft selections compared to LA's over the last few years. Quite striking, as sk1310 said above. I agree, don't think it is about Mitch but the controlling interests. And the screwed up Buss family. And in the end too bad for Mitch.
I think someone mentioned he comes away with $10million in the bank, I suspect he has much more than that but what ever, he parlayed a short NBA career full of injury to a really nice living. Makes it hard for me to feel to bad for him! LOL
Luke is a former GSW assistant. He is the one that coached the team while Kerr was out last year recovering from back surgery. He is also a former Lakers player.
