SBNation - Laker mystique is dead.

[Springsteen]

http://www.sbnation.com/2015/7/2/8880797/la-lakers-lamarcus-aldridge-rumors-nba-free-agency-2015

Some interesting points from the article.


Two seasons in the tank is bad enough. But now, the Lakers have struck out on their top free agent targets three years in a row. In 2013, Dwight Howard decamped for Houston after a bizarre season in L.A. and an even weirder courtship. In 2014, Carmelo Anthony chose the awful Knicks over the awful Lakers and LeBron didn't even bother considering L.A.

And now, the Lakers appear to have lost all three of their top free agent targets on Day 1 of the 2015 free agency festival. Kevin Love decided to stay in Cleveland, Jimmy Butler is staying in Chicago and LaMarcus Aldridge has reportedly ruled out L.A. after a late-night meeting.


Reflect on that for a second. The Lakers were envious that the Rockets could make a legitimate basketball case to Aldridge because the Rockets, you know, have great players. The Lakers do not. This turns out to be a pretty big deal!

It's also at least in part due to Kobe, or more accurately the crazy contract extension the Lakers gave to Kobe. He's on the books for $25 million this season. L.A. was essentially unable to offer Aldridge a second free agent star because of Kobe's contract. The Lakers would have no problem promising a co-star in 2016 when the cap rises and Kobe's deal falls off the books. But why would Aldridge waste a year of his prime mentoring up rookies and popping shots out of Bryant's shadow when there are options to contend for a title elsewhere?


This is also where we note that the Lakers' 2016 first-round pick will transfer to the Sixers unless it lands in the top three. This was a really bad July 1 to botch given that there's even less upside than normal in being awful next year. Unless L.A. can pull a DeMarcus Cousins out of a hat or something, this could get even worse before it gets better.

So much for Lakers exceptionalism.

Thoughts? :confusedshrug:

[J Shuttlesworth]

Once Kobe retires, people will want to play there again. Most of the real Laker fans have accepted this.

[Derka]

Once Kobe retires, people will want to play there again. Most of the real Laker fans have accepted this.
There's a lot more to that than people think.

I don't want to say its an outright anti-Kobe sentiment, either. But while he's there, its his team and he eats first. I don't think other guys looking to put a stamp in that franchise's history would relish the idea of being second fiddle to Kobe right off the jump.

[GIF REACTION]

There's a lot more to that than people think.

I don't want to say its an outright anti-Kobe sentiment, either. But while he's there, its his team and he eats first. I don't think other guys looking to put a stamp in that franchise's history would relish the idea of being second fiddle to Kobe right off the jump.
No.... it's just Kobe...

http://picture-cdn.wheretoget.it/emb3us-i-c50x50.jpghttp://picture-cdn.wheretoget.it/emb3us-i-c50x50.jpg

[Magic 32]

I wonder if SBnation writers get paid by volume.

[TheMarkMadsen]

Once Kobe's contract is up and the cap is higher , people will want to play there again. Most of the real Laker fans have accepted this.

Fixed that for you..

Anyways.

The media seems to be chomping at the bit to put out anything negative about the lakers/ Kobe

Meanwhile other players get marketing campaigns built around excuses for losing.

I guess when you've been winning for so long the haters just line up to see you fall.. The media is still butthurt after Kobe made them eat shit when he proved he could "do it without Shaq"

Funny how the biggest stories so far haven't been where these players are going, but instead that they're not going to the lakers..

[Magic 32]

A lot of conclusions considering the 3 "failures" he is mentioning.

Dwight is a spineless loser.

Carmelo is a cancer and a money-first guy.

LA has yet to make any official statement.

And all this during a time then the Lakers best players are either under 20 or over 36.

[Le Shaqtus]

That's what happens when you give all your money to an egotistical has been.

[STATUTORY]

that's why we secured meetings with all the top FAs right

:facepalm

[Lebron23]

That's what happens when you give all your money to an egotistical has been.

Le Shaqtus with no regard for human life.

[Doranku]

Ever since Jerry died, the organization has been in a free fall.

Jim Buss :facepalm :facepalm :facepalm :facepalm :facepalm :facepalm

[Springsteen]

that's why we secured meetings with all the top FAs right

:facepalm

Securing meetings = Current FA Juggernaut? By that logic, the Knicks are just as influential.

[STATUTORY]

Ever since Jerry died, the organization has been in a free fall.

Jim Buss :facepalm :facepalm :facepalm :facepalm :facepalm :facepalm

The buss family needs to sell the team NOW

they are too chickenshit and small potatoes in term of networth to own a team like the lakers

Dan Gilbert can buy the Buss family OUTRIGHT

[Haymaker]

Lakers died with Jerry Buss.

[ShackEelOKneel]

Apparently Lakers offered Monroe a max contract and he still chose Bucks :eek:

https://twitter.com/ramonashelburne

[Springsteen]

they are too chickenshit and small potatoes in term of networth to own a team like the lakers

Dan Gilbert can buy the Buss family OUTRIGHT

There may be some truth in this. The Buss family is probably the only team whose sole income now comes from NBA revenue.

[ClipperRevival]

As a Laker fan, I'm not going to sit here and say our brand hasn't diminished the last few years. It's definitely not what it used to be. In the past, guys would by tripping over themselves to be "the man" in purple and gold. But I don't think it's as bad as it looks. Once Kobe retires, a lot of stars will want to come here once again.

[Mirror]

Apparently Lakers offered Monroe a max contract and he still chose Bucks :eek:

https://twitter.com/ramonashelburne
:roll:

[Mr. Jabbar]

small di.ck era

[Braincells]

Jim Buss destroyed the Laker brand the moment he went with Mike Brown over Adelman as the head coach in 2011. Then he went completely senile a year later and hired D'Antoni in an effort to bring back the showtime lakers. The only problem with that was the Gasol and Howard front-court. Clearly, this is a case of an owner who doesn't know how to think straight and get the best out of his roster. Kobe doesn't make terrible management decisions nor does he have any say in them, so I don't think he deserves the blame.

[fiddy]

small di.ck era
/thread

[Rooster]

Jim Buss destroyed the Laker brand the moment he went with Mike Brown over Adelman as the head coach in 2011. Then he went completely senile a year later and hired D'Antoni in an effort to bring back the showtime lakers. The only problem with that was the Gasol and Howard front-court. Clearly, this is a case of an owner who doesn't know how to think straight and get the best out of his roster. Kobe doesn't make terrible management decisions nor does he have any say in them, so I don't think he deserves the blame.

Jim Buss said the reason he did want hire back Phil Jackson was he know he's gonna be working under him. So he let his ego got in a way for the team. He should refrain himself from making basketball decision.:rolleyes:

[Springsteen]

small di.ck era

Anyone who doesn't want to sign with this team is A: soft, B: can't handle the "big lights", C: has a small dick, or D: is not a alpha.

Not because they don't want to play on a shitty team, right.

[Braincells]

Jim Buss said the reason he did want hire back Phil Jackson was he know he's gonna be working under him. So he let his ego got in a way for the team. He should refrain himself from making basketball decision.:rolleyes:

He wears a baseball cap to meetings. I'm sure the meeting ended with LaMarcus Aldridge thinking "does this nikka think we're playing baseball... SMH"

The way you conduct yourself represents the organization. He looks like he doesn't know what he's doing to be honest.

[LoneyROY7]

that's why we secured meetings with all the top FAs right

:facepalm

This dude's really hyping up the Lakers SECURING MEETINGS! :roll:

My how the mighty have fallen.

[gilalizard]

Even Kobe's ridiculous contract and end-of-career insanity isn't the core problem.

Jimmy Boy Buss is. He's a born bumbler. Jeannie needs to force him out and bring back Phil.

The Zen Master rebuilds the castle. Princess Jeannie as the sexy lady boss. Dump Scott. Get a fresh coaching face, or bring Fish back over if Phil is confident in him.

That will re-establish the mystique.

[Soundwave]

It happens. Boston lost their luster a long time ago, the Lakers just got lucky that Shaq had (very misguided) ambitions of being a movie star which then basically set off a chain of dominos that got them out of their post-Magic Johnson retirement funk.

Today with the internet and marketing campaigns being viral and all that and TV becoming less relevant to marketers, the idea that you have to be in a LA/New York/Chicago to be a big star is pretty much kaput too.

Curry, Durant, and LeBron James are the three biggest stars in the NBA and none of them play in any of LA/NY/Chicago.

The Lakers aren't even the best team in LA anymore.

Going to a team that a good basketball fit has become much more of a priority. LeBron could've gone to New York or Chicago, but opted for Miami and then back to Cleveland. Melo chose New York. We've seen where that's gone.

[Mirror]

This dude's really hyping up the Lakers SECURING MEETINGS! :roll:

My how the mighty have fallen.
:lol

[PejaNowitzki]

There may be some truth in this. The Buss family is probably the only team whose sole income now comes from NBA revenue.


Pretty sure the Suns owner sold off like half of their 1st rounders in one decade.

[warriorfan]

I don't know why people complain about renting prices in Los Angeles, around here it always seems free.

[RightTwoCensor]

I'm die-hard Lakers fan and I can confirm we suck and will suck for decades on.

I wish we were the Houston Rockets, now those guys are winners.

[Rooster]

I'm die-hard Lakers fan and I can confirm we suck and will suck for decades on.

I wish we were the Houston Rockets, now those guys are winners.

winners:facepalm :oldlol:

[gts]

I wonder if SBnation writers get paid by volume.you wonder if they get paid at all :lol


People need to ask themselves when was the Lakers last big name free agent signing of a player in his prime then check themselves before saying things like Lakers can't draw big name free agents anymore, the mystique is gone...

hint it was 19 years ago

[Springsteen]

I don't know why people complain about renting prices in Los Angeles, around here it always seems free.

Are you actually a Warriors fan? Everytime I see you post it seems you are slobbering the Lakers and Kobe's knob 24/7

[dazzer87]

Apparently Lakers offered Monroe a max contract and he still chose Bucks :eek:

https://twitter.com/ramonashelburne
:roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:

[KG215]

Apparently Lakers offered Monroe a max contract and he still chose Bucks :eek:

https://twitter.com/ramonashelburne
:oldlol:

Because the Bucks are in a much better state as an team/organization right now than the Lakers.

That's a sentence I never thought I'd post on ISH.

[senelcoolidge]

Ever since Jerry died, the organization has been in a free fall.

Jim Buss :facepalm :facepalm :facepalm :facepalm :facepalm :facepalm

This. It won't be the same lakers. Those glory days are gone. Jerry Buss in not coming back from the dead.

[alanLA92]

you wonder if they get paid at all :lol


People need to ask themselves when was the Lakers last big name free agent signing of a player in his prime then check themselves before saying things like Lakers can't draw big name free agents anymore, the mystique is gone...

hint it was 19 years ago

Lakers do the most damage in trades. Funny how people forget this and think the Lakers always get the FA like the Yankees.

[STATUTORY]

free agency is a suckers play in the NBA

lakers rebuilding through draft like always

[Springsteen]

free agency is a suckers play in the NBA

lakers rebuilding through draft like always

Yea, Shaq was a real steal in the draft by the Lakers. Don't know how Jerry pulled that one off.

[Mirror]

free agency is a suckers play in the NBA

lakers rebuilding through draft like always
:lol

[Bosnian Sajo]

Jim Buss destroyed the Laker brand the moment he went with Mike Brown over Adelman as the head coach in 2011. Then he went completely senile a year later and hired D'Antoni in an effort to bring back the showtime lakers. The only problem with that was the Gasol and Howard front-court. Clearly, this is a case of an owner who doesn't know how to think straight and get the best out of his roster. Kobe doesn't make terrible management decisions nor does he have any say in them, so I don't think he deserves the blame.

I still don't understand how or why Mitch and Jeanie just stayed quite and let all that happen. Had Phil come to the team, I don't think we would ever be in this position. Those coaching moves were so damn frustrating, Brown is an IDIOT ****ING MORON and 'antoni just straight up didn't fit on the team, at ALL...at least Byron isn't a nut job.

[BBallZen83]

free agency is a suckers play in the NBA

lakers rebuilding through draft like always

You're trying too hard.

[Megabox!]

This dude's really hyping up the Lakers SECURING MEETINGS! :roll:

My how the mighty have fallen.
:lol :applause:

[Mr. Jabbar]

Anyone who doesn't want to sign with this team is A: soft, B: can't handle the "big lights", C: has a small dick, or D: is not a alpha.

Not because they don't want to play on a shitty team, right.

right