Laker Ownership Faces Tough Decisions

Jim Buss said something incredible in the Buss family article on the L.A. Times.

"“I was laying myself on the line by saying, if this doesn’t work in three to four years, if we’re not back on the top — and the definition of top means contending for the Western Conference, contending for a championship — then I will step down because that means I have failed,” he told The Times about the meeting. “"

It’s clear to the Buss family that the Lakers team is for the fans.  The Buss family wants to follow through with continued success, even with the departure of beloved Dr. Buss. Jim loves the team so much, that he’s willing to step down just to put the Lakers in a place to succeed.

While Jim Buss gets a lot of blame from the Laker fans, who else would take his place?  Jeanie?  Cutting two people out of the ownership which made the Lakers successful isn’t the way to make a winning organization. While Laker fans trust Jeanie because she’s the Governor for the Lakers and very personable during interviews, no one is clear of her basketball acumen.  We have a lottery pick, free agency decisions, and a possible coaching decision to set things up.

A great storybook ending would be to have Jim Buss find the Lakers in championship contention within two years, to have plans work, and redeem himself and the ownership team.  Our king has fallen, and it’s only fair for the prince and princess to take over and reclaim former glory.

It’s nice that Jim Buss is showing humility, putting the franchise ahead of him. Personally, I want to see the Buss family succeed.

Isn’t that what we all want?