Jim Buss change of heart?

LAL4EVA · by **LAL4EVA** on Thu Jul 19, 2012 9:06 am

A lot of Laker fans, including myself, have criticized the way Jim Buss handles the organization ranging from a variety of topics, most importantly the finances he's willing to invest in a winning squad. Last year we surrounded our team with a bunch of role players who were either scrubs or way over the hill and it definitely seemed like he's trying to save money while making sure we have somewhat of a competitive team, relative to the league. Now it is no secret that he and Kobe don't have the best relationship, as was exemplified with his decision to not consult with him when hiring a coach. However, things seem to have changed drastically since the last meeting he had with Kobe about a month ago, which he characterized as highly productive. I feel like they were able to get on the same page and align their agendas to reach a goal: championship. Maybe Jim is starting to like Kobe a bit after getting a chance to really interact with him and vice versa. The recent moves that we have made are in no way cost efficient, but they do help us win now, which is what Kobe wants in the twilight of his career.

It feels so out of character for Jim to make moves that help us get better while taking a big hit financially. Now we can say that it was Mitch that orchestrated these deals which weren't available before. However, I feel like Mitch finally has the green light, and that's because Kobe and Jim were able to forge some type of a relationship to align their agendas for a common goal. Jim wants to help Kobe and Kobe wants to help Jim create an identity for himself as an owner.

I really want to hear what you all have to say and I apologize ahead of time if this needs to go into another thread.

Lakerman JSJ · by **Lakerman JSJ** on Thu Jul 19, 2012 9:13 am

I've been a supporter of Jim against what I felt were numerous unfair attacks from a lot of Lakers fans. Since he's supposedly "taken over" for his pops, we've been pretty dang successful as a franchise. Also, I always thought he came off refreshingly honest and intelligent whenever he gives his time for interviews. Talks like he's more a fan of the team than an owner.

Though, I do owe Mitch yet another apology. Even if the Dwight deal doesn't ultimately go down, I really disliked his job performance up until he became the wielder of the almighty magic wand we hear so much about. He's now the GM I'd most want to entrust our franchise to.

A+, Mitchell! :bow:

therealdeal · by **therealdeal** on Thu Jul 19, 2012 9:18 am

Jim definitely got too much heat around here. I admit I was cautious about him, but this season he's certainly proving to be more on the same page as Laker fans and Kobe in particular.

Doling out the cash to get Nash and potentially landing Howard while trading away his project in Bynum. That takes balls and the kind of gambling attitude that his father used so well.

I think Kobe probably convinced him that he should pay deep these next few years to field a competitor before he retires. These next few seasons will be LA's big swing for thefences. Then we'll see how he rebuilds.

Right now instead of being cautiously suspicious, I'm cautiously optimistic.

Lakeshow24 · by **Lakeshow24** on Thu Jul 19, 2012 9:24 am

I was worried about Jim Buss a couple years ago, but I haven't been over the last year or so (as evidenced by my signature). He was hosed by Stern last season, the trade that he and Mitch worked last year that was vetoed messed up our season last year. That wasn't really his fault.

Even though our roster had glaring holes in it, people still wasn't Jim Buss' head on a stick as well as Mike Brown but the man is definitely doing a good job beefing up our roster in a limited amount of time. Let's see where all the Jim Buss haters are after the next few seasons pass. I think it will be the same reversal as the punishment we put Mitch through years ago.

LAL4EVA · by **LAL4EVA** on Thu Jul 19, 2012 9:27 am

Lakerman JSJ wrote:I've been a supporter of Jim against what I felt were numerous unfair attacks from a lot of Lakers fans. Since he's supposedly "taken over" for his pops, we've been pretty dang successful as a franchise. Also, I always thought he came off refreshingly honest and intelligent whenever he gives his time for interviews. Talks like he's more a fan of the team than an owner.

Though, I do owe Mitch yet another apology. Even if the Dwight deal doesn't ultimately go down, I really disliked his job performance up until he became the wielder of the almighty magic wand we hear so much about. He's now the GM I'd most want to entrust our franchise to.

A+, Mitchell!

Same here my man. I wasn't happy with Mitch until the emergance of his wand. Although i will say this, I think he got the green light from Buss Sr. to do his thing. His track record indicates that when given a chance, he thrives. I'm sure you remember, kobe shananigans back then lit a fire under Buss Sr. and brought some urgency to making sure we try to have a championship out there. Even if Howard deal doesn't happen, I'm happy that at least we have owner/gm that are out there hustling to get better. Respectable for sure

by **jamabile** on Thu Jul 19, 2012 9:28 am

You know what convinced me was his interview with Mason & Ireland. He said, "I just don't want Kobe to get his 6th ring, I want get to get his 7 & 8th right with us." That said a lot to me. A.) He wants Kobe to go out on a high note and B.) His dedication to winning championships.

Even with the trade deadline, we went after Ramon, Hill, and almost had Beasley. They were trying to improve the roster to compete for a title. It didn't pan out. So in the offseason, what happens? They get Nash through the TPE created through the Odom trade, sign Jamison, and are on the verge of getting the best center in the NBA.

Jim has persuaded me.

TIME · by **TIME** on Thu Jul 19, 2012 9:28 am

I have not been a big Jim Buss fan, but based on his efforts this off season to improve the team and swing for the home runs I give him ...

LAL4EVA · by **LAL4EVA** on Thu Jul 19, 2012 9:33 am

jamabile wrote:You know what convinced me was his interview with Mason & Ireland. He said, "I just don't want Kobe to get his 6th ring, I want get to get his 7 & 8th right with us." That said a lot to me. A.) He wants Kobe to go out on a high note and B.) His dedication to winning championships.

Even with the trade deadline, we went after Ramon, Hill, and almost had Beasley. They were trying to improve the roster to compete for a title. It didn't pan out. So in the offseason, what happens? They get Nash through the TPE created through the Odom trade, sign Jamison, and are on the verge of getting the best center in the NBA.

Jim has persuaded me.

I feel like they were trying to make moves at the deadline to make us better while not dishing out more dough. However, it's completely different in the offseason, after the Kobe meeting. don't you think? I mean we could have had Beasley easily for basically nothing, just bigger payroll. He could've helped us out for sure. not saying put us over the top but definitely help out. Ramon and Hill we didnt take on additional $$

Lakerman JSJ · by **Lakerman JSJ** on Thu Jul 19, 2012 9:33 am

TIME wrote:I have not been a big Jim Buss fan, but based on his efforts this off season to improve the team and swing for the home runs I give him ...

Props.

Took me a second.

LAL4EVA · by **LAL4EVA** on Thu Jul 19, 2012 9:35 am

Lakerman JSJ wrote:
TIME wrote:I have not been a big Jim Buss fan, but based on his efforts this off season to improve the team and swing for the home runs I give him ...

Props. Took me a second.

Me too! hilarious

lotus · by **lotus** on Thu Jul 19, 2012 9:41 am

Never cared much for Jimmy and I've stated such. However, he's made efforts at several gargantuan moves, all in this year alone. So, you can't knock his hustle.

FabFourLakers · by **FabFourLakers** on Thu Jul 19, 2012 9:49 am

Honestly it started with the Cp3 move which was BLOCKED by the league. Lakers have been trying to improve the team both NOW and for the future since we were ousted in the 2nd rd of the playoffs last year. Then we went out and got session and hill (nearly got beasley). Now we use the LO exception to get Nash, and sign Jamison for vet's minimum. The Lakers are going all in for the next 2 yrs while Gasol and Kobe are still on this team. I can't be mad at the organization for that. If they are able to land Dwight, they will have ensured our future and given us the best chance to win while Kobe is still playing. After Kobe and Gasol are off the books, they can find another superstar to pair with Howard with the amount of cap space they'll have available in 2014/15. Gotta love the Lakers...best organization in all of sports. They will always find a way to be competitive because they have great ownership and management.

XXIV · by **XXIV** on Thu Jul 19, 2012 9:55 am

A lot of us (including myself) have given Jim a lot of heat, but he's really done the right moves when they've presented themselves. So far we've upgraded our PG by obtaining Nash, and getting a 6th man in Jamison. Now if he can just get Dwight... :bow:

LAL4EVA · by **LAL4EVA** on Thu Jul 19, 2012 9:55 am

FabFourLakers wrote:Honestly it started with the Cp3 move which was BLOCKED by the league. Lakers have been trying to improve the team both NOW and for the future since we were ousted in the 2nd rd of the playoffs last year. Then we went out and got session and hill (nearly got beasley). Now we use the LO exception to get Nash, and sign Jamison for vet's minimum. The Lakers are going all in for the next 2 yrs while Gasol and Kobe are still on this team. I can't be mad at the organization for that. If they are able to land Dwight, they will have ensured our future and given us the best chance to win while Kobe is still playing. After Kobe and Gasol are off the books, they can find another superstar to pair with Howard with the amount of cap space they'll have available in 2014/15. Gotta love the Lakers...best organization in all of sports. They will always find a way to be competitive because they have great ownership and management.

Not necessairly. The CP3 deal would shed ton of salery. Sessions and Hill, we didn't take on extra salery. And beasly didnt happen because we didn't want to add salery. The point being is that those deals made us better but didn't add salery, where as this season, we just want to win at all costs, regardless of salery. Do you know what I mean? It seems like Jim is on Kobs side this time around. BTW you are right, even if we don't win it all or if this whole experiment fails, I would still be happy with mngmt for hustling.

borri · by **borri** on Thu Jul 19, 2012 10:03 am

Based on the attempted acquisition of D12 this offseason, I think it's pretty safe to say, Bynum being Buss' pet project is in a way a smokescreen. It was his pet project, to turn Bynum into D12.

Showcase the kid, raise his stock. Use him to land D12.

Alcindor · by **Alcindor** on Thu Jul 19, 2012 10:11 am

The early abuse on Jim was exactly that. Early. And thankfully, incorrect.

Forklift · by **Forklift** on Thu Jul 19, 2012 10:21 am

Actually at first i was bashing on him like crazy for not doing anything in the off season saying he is just in it for the money, but he already changed my mind a long time ago when he tried to land CP3. CP3 would have f'ed up Westbrook :man6:

even though it would have shed some salary, but trying to pair one of the top 3 PG with one of the top 3 SG and the 2nd best Center in the league would have been EPIC, but we got screwed hard by Stern and had to give up our 6th man for nothing. I was pretty amazed that Jim and Mitch were able to salvage something off that season.

Edit: One thing i like love about Jim he doesn't give a s*** about Luke Walton :man10:

mapabu1 · by **mapabu1** on Thu Jul 19, 2012 11:01 am

TIME wrote:I have not been a big Jim Buss fan, but based on his efforts this off season to improve the team and swing for the home runs I give him ...

I don't get it

therealdeal · by **therealdeal** on Thu Jul 19, 2012 11:02 am

mapabu1 wrote:
TIME wrote:I have not been a big Jim Buss fan, but based on his efforts this off season to improve the team and swing for the home runs I give him ...

I don't get it

Lakerman JSJ wrote:Props.

JGC · by **JGC** on Thu Jul 19, 2012 11:15 am

Laker fans are no different than any other fans. A bunch of chicken littles with sprinkles of reason here and there but still few and far between.

Forklift · by **Forklift** on Thu Jul 19, 2012 11:18 am

mapabu1 wrote:
TIME wrote:I have not been a big Jim Buss fan, but based on his efforts this off season to improve the team and swing for the home runs I give him ...

I don't get it

Fans comes in all shape and sizes.

Big Mamma Jamma · by **Big Mamma Jamma** on Thu Jul 19, 2012 11:39 am

TIME wrote:I have not been a big Jim Buss fan, but based on his efforts this off season to improve the team and swing for the home runs I give him ...

Time, as I mentioned in the D12 thread ... you're on a roll. Hilarious!!!!

lotus · by **lotus** on Thu Jul 19, 2012 11:50 am

JGC wrote:Laker fans are no different than any other fans. A bunch of chicken littles with sprinkles of reason here and there but still few and far between.

Speak for yourself.

the_Dude · by **the_Dude** on Thu Jul 19, 2012 12:04 pm

Jim was definitely in the doghouse around here and I had the feeling he wasn't willing to spend any money to help the team. There were so many negative reports about how he was pinching pennies, estate taxes, etc.

Finwë · by **Finwë** on Thu Jul 19, 2012 12:19 pm

I'd also like to add that I still don't get why when we make a good move (i.e. Nash) it's all "praise Mitch and his magic wand" but when things go bad it's all on Jim Buss.. Props to both of them.

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