Of course. The Warriors didn't make the playoffs in forever before they hired Mark Jackson and one his major contributions was establishing a defensive mentality on a team which had none under the likes of Don Nelson. The front office built on that with the Kerr hire and what you have is one of the best organizations in the game. Walton is going to have his work cut out for him, especially with the young Lakers, who played very little defense and in the case of Clarkson (who I like) show little interest in it. He needs to hire some old hands (Bill Bertka type) to help him with this process.
fwiw... Jeanie Buss did not make the decision to hire Luke Walton by Harrison Faigen | Silver Screen and Roll — 3 hours ago The Los Angeles Lakers hired Luke Walton as the team's next head coach on Friday night, and the decision seemingly had nothing to do with his extensive ties to Phil Jackson. That's right, conspiracy theorists can put their tin foil hats away, because Kevin Ding of Bleacher report revealed in his column on Walton's hiring that "Lakers p resident Jeanie Buss, Jackson's fiancee and Jim's sister, did not make this decision on Walton, according to team sources." According to Ding, Lakers president Jim Buss "appreciates" Walton's ties to Jackson, and from the sound of things, the Lakers basketball operations department has been given autonomy on this decision. This is good news, especially with the constant reports of a rift between the Buss siblings and rumors that Jeanie was beginning to involve herself in basketball decisions. On Twitter, it appeared Jeanie was still excited about the hiring based off of her Twitter post on Saturday morning: Jeanie Buss ✔ @JeanieBuss Congrats Luke Walton! Special thanks to Joe Lacob and @PeterGuber @warriors for granting permission to @Lakers to discuss during playoffs. 9:20 AM - 30 Apr 2016 Jim Buss and general manager Mitch Kupchak being given full opportunity to build the Lakers as they see fit is good news, because even if some fans disagree with choices they've made, the business operations becoming involved in basketball decisions is never a good thing. And with rumors that Phil Jackson's return is imminent if the Lakers cannot return to the Western Conference Finals by next summer, it's especially promising that the team is not already undermining Buss in an attempt to prepare for that scenario. Luke Walton appeared to be the Lakers top candidate all along, and according to Ding they only needed one job interview to confirm that notion. But those worried and/or excited that this is some sign that Jackson is riding in on a white horse to "save" the Lakers can relax.
Yeah Jeanie didn't even know Byron was getting fired When she said Jim's name the other day she put some respeck on it
Yuup. So ultimately next year it could very well look like Luke was signed to do the same thing Byron was to fans. But Luke is the guy that everybody wants, so everybody needs to remember that if times get tough.
No jeannie had no part in replacing the husband if one of her girlfriends. Of course not Jeannie is a master of pr. Including in her personal life. Let jim take the flack like a good brother protecting the women. And next year when phil becomes gm it will all dovetail together. Its not a conspiracy when its so obvious.
I'd be shocked if Phil became GM when Jerry West's son is currently being groomed to take over for Kupchak. Can't see them letting Ryan West get away and other opportunities will pop up sooner or later
Possible that phil will become a vp in charge of ryan and luke. Then after a few years ryan can take over phils position. I doubt phil wants to work that much longer.
This is the most reasonable outcome IMO and maybe it's crazy I don't care, PJ comes back as an unofficial coach or some Tex Winter type of role, he gets to sit courtside @ Staples in his high chair and give Luke advice or whistle at players or whatever he wants to do, but only home games because PJ's old AF. It'd be good TV and LAL has to hit marks ratings wise. But yeah, that's all I got I want PJ doing what he does best and that's coaching and on the sideline somewhere winning titles down on the floor. I don't want PJ up in the FO because his only experience in the FO has been shit and his resume doesn't compare to Kupchak's/Jim's in the FO. I don't want to start this post-Kobe era with unknowns across the board and PJ in the FO is at best an unknown.
That sounds like a freak show. Exactly what the Lakers don't need. Let Luke coach and if Phil comes aboard, leave him in the FO.
I really hope people are patient with Luke. Not sure there is a living human being that could come close to achieving success with the Lakers the next couple of years without drastic moves being made.
Phil becomes vp of jeannie bed. Which also gives him an advisory role with the team. Ryan gm. Luke coach. Sasha ballboy. Radman dealer.
Thing is, they have assets and cap space. Land one top tier free agent. Sign another second tier guy Trade 2-3 young players for another top tier guy. Fill out roster with vets that want to win now. Good team again next year...
I just assume LAL has Harrison Barnes in the bag if they want, but maybe that's foolish of me. The Carolina connection with Kupchak is there and obviously there's the GSW connection with Luke. I still prefer Simmons in the draft because he can play the 5 and be dynamic there, not that they'd play him exclusively at the 5, hopefully they go big for Whiteside even if they draft Simmons. Whiteside gets hack a Shaq'd at times so Simmons ability to play the 5 would be valuable when Whiteside just has to get off the floor. Would like Gary Payton II at the top of the 2nd round. Those 4 players would be reasonable additions to the core 4 they already have, but we know they'll chase Durant 1st and probably even LeBron if he opts out because they just have to, TWC would be like " WTF " if they didn't.
Isn't Simmons more or less the unanimous #1 right now? Our chances aren't that great at getting the #1 pick, let alone even keeping our draft pick
If you believe in Karma, the #1 should go to the Lakers for "basketball reasons". That being said, Simmons is the right guy & PJ is needed to bring some form of respectability to the Lakers. This will attrack top tier FA's needed to get this team back to the top. I just hope that Jimmy & Mitch are patient with Luke. Also, in not so hot on Jerry West's son. Haven't seen much luck around here with legends sons, see Jim Buss.
1 Philadelphia 10-72 .122 25.0% 2 Los Angeles 17-65 .207 19.9% 3 Boston (from Brooklyn) 21-61 .256 15.6% 4 Phoenix 23-59 .280 11.9% 5 Minnesota 29-53 .354 8.8% 6 New Orleans 30-52 .366 6.3% 7 Denver (from New York) 32-50 .390 4.3% 8 Sacramento 33-49 .402 1.9% 9 Toronto (from Denver) 33-49 .402 1.9% 10 Milwaukee 33-49 20% chance to get the first and 56% to stay in top 3. ray:
