Should also be noted that Kobe and Kawhi have a real relationship, and the funniest thing about that is their relationship was actually strengthened by none other than Popovich. Pop asked Kobe to keep in touch with Kawhi and help him become an even better player. Yeah..Pop asking for help from a Laker..for those that think Pop's hate for the Lakers isn't circumstantial. If Pop can gain something from the Lakers, he's their best friend. Lol But yeah, this matters because of course, Rob Pelinka is Kobe's guy and so Pelinka can easily call on Kobe as a reference when sitting down with Kawhi this summer. So as big as LeBron could be as a recruiter this summer ( he and Kawhi also have a relationship), Kobe could be just as big. And now you know the real reason why Pelinka will remain with the club. I foresee us getting Kawhi one way or another, by FA signing or opt in/trade that'll save cap space. If I'm Kawhi this shit is easy....1) I turned down the supermax money in San Antonio because I want to play where I want to play..not where Pop wants me to play. And 2) the Clips don't have anything. Not compared to the Lakers that have more young talent and assets, a lottery pick incoming, and a LeBron to play with and do all the media related shit that I'd rather not do. And if Kobe trusts Pelinka, I'd trust Pelinka if I were Kawhi....I wouldn't give one shit what Larry Nance Jr.'s bum ass thinks about Pelinka. I'd be more inclined to ask an actual peer, Blake Griffin, about the long term promise the Clips made to him..and the long term promise the Raps made to Derozan. So yep, I think Kawhi and Danny Green end up leaving the Raps for LAL this summer. Even if Kawhi doesn't opt in and go the trade route to save LAL cap space, LAL will have the MLE worth around $9M to offer Green in free agency and get that deal done for an experienced shooter.
LAL will travel east and meet with Monty Willams between Game 2 and Game 3 of the Philly/BKN series Lue and Juwon Howard will also be interviewed this week
Great article in today's Sunday sports page, OC Register version by Mark Heisler whom I'm normally not such a fan. "Johnson quit when Lakers needed him most for what he did best" Heisler calls out Magic for his cowardly timing and his lame excuses about 'his business needed his attention' what a crock. I get the Magic is always going to be loved in LA but... It ended with "Unfortunately for Jeannie, she's already called all the all time Lakers greats that she knows. From now on she's on her own" Yeah so? Do something impressive... or languish another year
Smh Clicking on those links, eating that garbage. Jeanie most certainly is not on her own. Kobe, at the very least, is around until Pelinka is out. Drama definitely sells and the NBA does drama better than any league
Shake your head dude, nobody was "clicking on those links" Per that story Kobe has been offered involvement and has chosen twice to stay away. Will he remain a Pelinka contact? Of course... though not the point. Kurt Rambis remains an adviser but Linda Rambis asserts more control The Lakers have gone from being the envy of the league to a spectacle in disarray
Kobe's not involved officially, no. But read up, she's been advised by Kobe on several occasions. Including on behalf of Pelinka. Clicking the links or not..eat up Lol Lakers were " in disarray " last offseason..nobody was coming..and then LeBron did.
Easy to get all out of sorts and start believing everything you read. OC Register doesn't give a damn about accuracy..just get it out there. It's Lakers. It sells. But we've still seen enough about Kobe's involvement over the last couple weeks to know he's still around. Jeanie went to Kobe because she didn't know what to do..Kobe told her to fire Jim Buss and Kupchak Let's just panic over the correct stuff is all I'm saying. Shit like Ingram's/Lonzo's health
A) not out of sorts; nor believing all I read B) OC Register prints what they think will sell to their audience... like ALL journalists C) Let's NOT panic; over anything. D) Not all the 'stuff' you compose is any more 'correct' than elsewhere E) Kobe's involvement is best kept at 'informal' since his rep among fellow players is one of begrudging respect rather than 'homies' or confidant, each of which is fine with me. Not all who play at the highest level are capable of coaching/managing at the NBA level
So many were complaining about Magic. Ok, well, Magic is out. Now, that's a problem too? Lol And Luke was the other complaint..ok, he's out. They're now in position to upgrade at coach and even prez if they want. Kobe's rep is fine among players..they just didn't want to play with him. They all..all..look up to him. All. It reminds me of people complaining about Friedman..like he's the one with the money. Today I have to read about Pat Riley not having interest..as if that was ever an option. Riles still hates LeBron for leaving Miami. Shit was a never was and now it's a headline.." Riles, no interest ". Drama
And wasn't that what I said too? They 'respect his work ethics' and NO WAY that they want to be under his thumb expected to work as hard as he did. Thus he will prevent Star babies with massive egos from joining the Lakers... for fear of his work ethic
You could be right about his involvement never reaching more than the informal level, but he's around if she needs his advice. Still, it's feasible because stars didn't want to play with him..they also may not want to play for him in an official capacity. Look at Jordan's existence as an exec..he never lands a star. So the informal, behind the scenes, phantom role could be where he needs to stay. But yeah, every player in the league wishes they could go out like Kobe, with a big game and all that pomp and circumstance, the big production that Jeanie put on for him. Even Draymond had to tell Pierce, " ha! You thought you was Kobe? We don't love you. You ain't Kobe. Sit yo ass down. " Lol Kobe is their Jordan. But as far as not wanting to work as hard as Kobe..these guys actively seek out Kobe to work out with him and get pointers. The best players aren't afraid to work..they know what's at the end of the rainbow.
It all equals money. Money and status. Can't get it by chance. The strict diet is by far the biggest thing. Still, the best players will commit to gain that edge. They aren't afraid of work, it begets success and the aforementioned
If you're scared of Kobe and that bar, you don't seek him out. You don't attach yourself to that, as Kyrie, Kawhi, Tatum, Kuzma and others have. You don't seek out the Lakers or look to be the next star for them, as Kawhi did last offseason..as AD's done most recently. Stars aren't made the same. Kawhi is different. LeBron is different. These are apex guys. Kyrie always fully embracing the moment and clutch stage..different star. Guys like George and Derozan are on the other end of the spectrum. Lesser. George thought he was about it and when it came time to prove it, he ran. What does that say about a guy like Ingram that's yet to go to Kobe? We already know. Ingram's motor is already in question around the league. That he hasn't gone the extra mile to improve is a problem, but hopefully not ours for much longer.
Oh yeah..can't forget those Zubac numbers from Game 1 VS GSW 10 minutes, 0-2 from the field, 4 rebounds, 2 fouls Clippers laughing about the Zubac trade More fake news
Yeah we agree with this.. in fact it is only by the grit and sweat that one rises to such heights Still as you point out a great many egoistic pretenders float among NBA 'leaders'. George and DeRozan join the likes of Dwight Coward and others weak of spirit. Does anyone truly know about Butler, Simmons, Aldridge or Towns until / unless they step up on the larger playoff stage? I personally think we'll see that fighters spirit out of Giannis but most others are harder to predict. They just care about "money and status". If Ingram had grit he'd of learned by now that he's going to get dominated without adding 20+ lbs on his shoulders
Butler's very similar to Kyrie in that they're sort of labeled as stars that aren't the easiest to play with, but both are big moment/big shot guys that aren't really afraid of anything or anyone. I think back to the last era and they remind me of guys like Sprewell and Iverson. Dawgs. Butler's head to head record against LeBron over the years is like 2nd only to Kawhi. He's given LeBron hell. George and Derozan are guys that'll put together better regular seasons than Butler, but I'm pretty sure most stars would pick Butler over George/Derozan in meaningful games. It feels like Simmons could be similar to Butler/Kyrie because his inability to shoot presents some challenges in terms of playing with him, but he usually plays with the proper edge and motor. Aldridge is just on the back 9. His best days are behind him, but he was really good in Portland in some big games. Towns, meh. Agreed on Giannis. Lonzo made Ingram look bad this year with the way he committed to his weight room regimen last offseason. It took Lonzo one offseason to improve his body/strength. There's no excuse for Ingram..AD is super-long, as is Giannis, and both locked themselves in the weight room and were determined to get stronger and we see the results.