Los Angeles Lakers: How one writer would run the Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers will have plenty of decisions to make in the coming weeks. This is how one writer would handle things if they ran the team.

The Los Angeles Lakers will finish what most will call the single most disastrous season in their storied history. After Tuesday night, when the Portland Trail Blazers game is in the rearview mirror, the reality will set in.

The Los Angeles Lakers will not be in the playoffs. LeBron James, who was brought in to reverse the fortunes of the franchise after leading eight straight teams to the Finals, will not even get a chance to compete for number nine.

Now Magic Johnson is gone. About one hour before the final game, he resigned as president of basketball operations.

The dysfunction that is well documented in the Jim Buss/Mitch Kupchak era would have been surpassed if Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka hadn’t delivered on some promises about some max-level free agents that was loudly declared in the middle of Dodger Stadium during the World Series.

This was on the assumption that the Los Angeles Lakers would at least make the playoffs this season. Now that video will be infamous and forever linked to Magic Johnson’s era as the head of the Lakers front office.

It would have been hard to believe that Anthony Davis, Kawhi Leonard, Kyrie Irving or that guy on the fullscreen with David Ortiz, Kevin Durant, was going to walk into the press conference in July.

If you think Magic Johnson was getting shredded by the media and fans alike now, just think how bad it would have gotten if the same type players were parlayed on the Staples Center floor with players like Reggie Bullock and Mike Muscala, who the Lakers settled on after that Anthony Davis situation.

Now it’s time to live in reality. No empty LeBron James quotes that come from a psychological term called “insecurity”. No more constant leaks to the media about getting top free agents with no real assets to obtain them. No more living in the past with arrogance thinking that everyone is lined up down Hollywood Boulevard begging to be a part of the Lakers dynasty. No more pushing the narrative that EVERYBODY wants to team up with LeBron James.

Those days are over and the franchise has to work. From Jeanie Buss down to the guy that turns the lights off in the Staples Center. Right now, this is embarrassing. There is one good place to start though. Jeanie Buss sees that the season was a mess.

"“We haven’t lived up to the brand that (my father) created, and he created a culture of winning and success,” Buss said. “(The Lakers) were always relevant and they were always in the conversation, and I felt like the team had lost that importance.” “We want a team the community can be proud of, and we bring in players that can fit part of something bigger than their individual selves,” Buss said. “(I want to) build something special that, just as my dad said so many years ago, that the community can be proud of.”"

Let’s hold on to that statement and analyze, shall we? The key words are “brand” and “culture”. Those are words that get used a lot in the English language without full understanding or execution. It seems that Dr. Jerry Buss’ death had a lot to do with that “brand” and “culture”.

Mitch Kupchak had his take to Bill Oram of The Athletic about those issues.

"In the four years after Dr. Jerry Buss died in 2013, the Lakers had made the playoffs just once, and the organization was splintered at the top. Dr. Buss’ wishes of having Jim run basketball and Jeanie be in charge of business were not working. The siblings did not speak. Jeanie did not trust Jim to make the right decisions. And Kupchak was caught in the middle. “I think everybody knows, when Dr. Buss passed away, everything changed,” Kupchak said. “And, quite frankly, the further away we got from his passing, the worse it got.”"

To the loyal readers of Lake Show Life, they know my writing style as “brutally honest”. I tell it like it is and in my lengthy list of post games and features of the Lakers front office, I came up with an interesting concept. I thought in theory, why don’t I have a try at running the Lakers?

What do you Lakers fans have to lose? Your team is the worst team in the NBA in the last six years which coincides with the death of Dr. Buss. Yes, my New York Knicks, who are the worst team in the NBA this year have more wins in the last six years than your Lakers.

That’s why I’m perfect for the job. I am your new President of Basketball Operations. Just like the information you get from my pieces, I’m objective. There will be past links from this season for everyone to refer to as we go along. Let’s get started.

My list of demands needed to do my job to get the Lakers in the right direction!

There have been many comments about how Ms. Jeanie Buss has run this organization. Some of them have not been kind and way out of line. The one thing I know about the lady is that she is business savvy and she wants the Lakers back to the level when her father was running the Los Angeles Lakers.

If that is really the case, she will listen closely to what I have to say because a lot of what is going on is not pretty. No matter how hard everyone in the organization tries to hide it, the NBA world knows.

After securing my multi-year deal (the millions in salary will not be disclosed but let’s talk Jerry West level) that will make sure that the cost of living won’t make me homeless, I will ask for one thing that is a deal breaker and I will not guarantee my work until I get it; autonomy.

Every basketball decision will be run by me before the Lakers make any moves. Period. No negotiations. Oh, by the way, my father Walter Agers will be my assistant and avenging angel. As a retired manager of two Fortune 500 companies, if anyone knows how to provide structure to an organization, it’s that man.

The Lakers, right now, need structure with defined roles and to be held accountable. Give him 90 days, the front office will be run like a well-oiled machine, trust me.

As Mitch Kupchak stated before, there is a serious rift in the Lakers’ front office. This team stinks for a reason and it is because the Lakers’ brass is not on the same page. They’re not even in the same book or publishing company. That will change.

If Jeanie Buss is as savvy a businesswoman as everyone says, she will understand that it makes no sense to give the keys to the franchise without letting me in the front seat to drive while paying me millions to do it. I will break down the mistakes in this meeting.

Let’s start with the coach, Luke Walton.

The cracks started to show when Ms. Jeanie Buss mentioned on numerous occasions that Magic Johnson will be making all of the basketball decisions. That was not true. Magic Johnson did not want Walton as the head coach of the Lakers.

It was his right as the head of basketball operations to fire Walton and get his coach in. Jeanie Buss protected Walton all season long. What’s worse everyone knew it.

At this point, I would turn on a monitor and this would be playing.

"”Since Magic has taken over, they had been hoping to get their own coach in at some point. We saw it play out in the meeting they had earlier in the year where Magic really went after Luke,” Wojnarowski said. “If they’re going to be able to go to Jeanie Buss and sell her on replacing Luke Walton, they better be trying to do it off a season where they missed the playoffs or off of a long losing streak. Because she has been fiercely loyal to Luke Walton. “That was her hire in every way, and so far she has kept management off of him. They’ve allowed Magic and Rob Pelinka to change everything there, they haven’t been able to touch Luke Walton.”"

When ESPN lets the cat out of the bag, the game is over. You are caught. This will not happen under my watch.

I want my people that I feel comfortable with to work with me. Magic Johnson was hamstrung and now the Lakers are in a bad situation that will play out until a coaching decision is made. What’s even worse, Jeanie Buss still KEEPS saying all coaching decisions belonged to Magic Johnson. 

With Ronald Agers taking over, there will be no questions, no mixed messages and no media catching her in uncomfortable positions to be compromised. When she says ask Ronald Agers…

She ain’t lying!

I make a statement to you the fans

First off, I would talk to the Lakers Nation and give my first State on the Lakers address.

Statement:

Los Angeles Lakers fans, I ask for patience while the Los Angeles Lakers are going through a tough time. I know you are angry about the status of the team. I know that you are confused. But your Los Angeles Lakers are committed to getting back to winning brand of basketball that you are used to and I will do my best to spearhead the movement going forward.

This regime is not about making the playoffs. This regime is about winning championships. We want to honor Dr. Jerry Buss and we will be working with the Buss family, especially Ms. Jeanie Buss, to make this happen.

The Buss family is proud of the Lakers. It is a passionate family business and we want to be a part of the solutions going forward.

Thank you,

Ronald E. Agers

Now if I’m President of Basketball Operations, where does that leave Rob Pelinka?

Rob Pelinka will be fired effective immediately!

At the beginning of the season, Bleacher Report had questions about the leadership of these two under Jeanie Buss. I came right behind that article two days later and defended their leadership.

Okay, I was wrong. First, I have to admit wrongdoing and then correct the problem.

Magic Johnson resigned, Rob Pelinka would have the opportunity to do the same.

Why do you ask?

Then after the debacle that was spoken about above was over, Magic Johnson goes to the press

Then it gets worse. Magic Johnson told the young players to get over it.

After trying to offer up every player on the team in some form or fashion to make the failed deal, let’s just say that the meeting did not do the job, to say the least. If I remember the Lakers were playing the Philadelphia 76ers and got washed by about 30 points!

Looking back now, the Lakers dysfunction was no longer a secret. Their problems were league-wide. The team made a desperate move that was shared by Magic Johnson and LeBron James alike. Now there is blood in the water for every GM in the NBA.

Rob Pelinka’s downfall

It seems that Aaron Mintz reportedly is not too fond of you! The reputation of handling players like Julius Randle or D’Angelo Russell, who are clients of Mintz and the Creative Artists Agency, weren’t handled with class. That might have a little to do with why Paul George signed up with the Oklahoma City Thunder without a meeting, phone call, text, smoke signal, anything.

Guess who Lonzo Ball signed up with to be his agent? Uh yeah, that dude. Bottom line, your reputation around the NBA states you are unqualified. Take the offer or well, you’re fired.

Now to the meeting all of you Lakers fans want to be a part of.

The message will be sent that Klutch Sports (aka LeBron James) will not run the Lakers

In this meeting, you will find Ms. Jeanie Buss, me, my assistant, LeBron James and Rich Paul in a corporate setting. This is to make sure that everyone is on the same page.

I’m going to tell LeBron James to explain to me, in full, the agreement of the roster construction that you had with Magic Johnson. I’m going to ask some questions that need to be answered so we can figure out why this team is out of the playoffs.

1. Did you sign off on the plan that the ball would be out of your hands more so you could play the post more? Why did it stop? Who authorized the change?
2. Did you work with your immediate supervisor (aka your head coach) to set the team up for success? Do you know your history as a coach killer?
3. Did you ignore your coach during the season with his offensive play calling? Now before he answers, I want him to be careful because the guy that leaked the report just wrote your book that is coming out in the next few days! You know, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst!
4. Just for giggles, were you really at 2 Chainz’s studio one night before you had to play Golden State?

By this time, he will have gotten the point that I am very serious and I will let him in on a secret that seems to be eluding him. You are not as good as you think. If you were, the Lakers fans would be watching you in the playoffs right now.

You thought you could get over in the Western Conference. No. Ever heard of Kevin Durant? You should you’ve probably called him every hour on the hour. That Stephen Curry dude is good, too. Houston? OKC? I could go on.

You are an employee here for the Lakers. You are being paid in excess of $35 million dollars a year while G League players play harder than you.  You will not be standing in between Mr. Agers and me during games as you did with the past regime.

Sit down at the bench and support your co-workers (aka your teammates and coaching staff) and stop embarrassing yourself and the franchise! Speaking of embarrassments, if this happens again…

I will do something Los Angeles Lakers fans low-key are begging for. I will trade you!

Forget the injuries, don’t you spend a reported $1 million dollars on your body? To be clear, you got hurt, got heavy, (If he denies…well the guy that wrote that book has a different story to tell).

Stay off social media saying things that cause distractions to the franchise. The Jordan G.O.A.T. conversation? He retired years ago. You play now! He owns an NBA team while you are messing up this one! Go work on your game starting at the free throw line.

As for Rich Paul, only one statement.

No more leaks. No more passive aggressive LeBron James media games. LeBron James will play for whoever coaches the Lakers. It could be Luke Walton, it could be Donald Duck. LeBron James is very media savvy and I give him credit. But after 25 years in media, I know every trick in the book.

No choice, I would have fired Luke Walton, beg Jeff Van Gundy to coach

Shocked huh? I’ll bet you thought after giving LeBron James and his representative the riot act I would keep Luke Walton on as coach?

Nope. Couldn’t do it, it won’t work.

I actually liked Luke Walton. He has done a great job considering the circumstances. I’m doing the man a favor. He will be hired in 30 seconds after he is released. Plus, I really don’t think he wants to deal with this chaos anymore.

In any rate, I can’t afford to give him a multi-year deal. The LeBron James contract locks the franchise for the next three years. Am I happy? No. But, I have to get something out of that four-year, $154 million dollar albatross contract that will be murder to trade.

He’s not going to play for Walton, no matter what the dynamics are. I know you Lakers fans are tired of waiting and a new coach will expedite the process.

Will it be Jason Kidd? No. I have the 411 on how he coaches. Mark Jackson? Please, he is a Klutch client. Why would I give LeBron James more ammunition for a corporate takeover like he did last year?

The coach I would select would be Jeff Van Gundy, the only coach I know in the NBA circles, not in Miami, that can keep LeBron James in line. I probably would beg the man to join me in L.A.

More than likely he will turn me down because it’s easier to call games and make that ESPN money. So more than likely, I will be stuck with Tyronn Lue as the next head coach.

But, the staff under him will be Alvin Gentry (He probably will be fired from New Orleans), Monty Williams and Larry Drew (He will probably be fired from Cleveland). These three guys are my insurance policy. If Ty Lue is a LeBron guy like most say, I have three great candidates to replace him.

How is all of this going to work with a guy like me that has no experience? I get people that know what they are doing.

I call Joe Dumars and play Mary J. Blige’s Reminisce song!

I would beg Jerry West first, second and third to the point I get accused of stalking! But, I don’t think he would take the job.

His son works for the Lakers and I would promote him immediately to be placed in the circle of people that will have a hand in the decision making. That way Jerry West can groom his son like a paid GM mentorship program.

If that does not work (Ballmer got DEEEP pockets folks), I need a people guy that can keep things together on the roster. ESPECIALLY with LeBron James and his drama that rivals the soap opera “Days of Our Lives”.

Joe Dumars took six Detroit Pistons teams to the Eastern Conference Finals and two NBA Finals appearances with an NBA title.

At one time, Joe Dumars was compared to the great Jerry West.

"[Stephen A. Smith and Steve Smith] agree, next to Jerry West, there hasn’t been a basketball figure as successful from the playing side to the executive side as Dumars — and he leaves behind an indelible mark on a segment of fans that won’t think of successful basketball in Detroit without him coming to mind."

Everybody makes mistakes, Darko Milicic will always be a stain on the resume.

Joe Dumars’ explanation at the time.

"I could give a dissertation on that. After I drafted Darko, from that point on, the amount of background we do on every single player that you see us draft is ridiculous. We do as much or more background than any other team in the NBA because of that. The background on (Milicic) was about 20 percent of what we do now. I look back on it now and realize you didn’t know half of the stuff you needed to know."

But, we have to realize that at the time, the plan was to develop him for the future while Rasheed Wallace, Ben Wallace Tayshaun Prince and Elden Campbell (yes, he was on that team too) held down the fort in the championship years. Was it wrong? Yep! They could have had Carmelo Anthony.

Another bad choice was trading Chauncey Billups for Allen Iverson. That was a cap move. Was it wrong? Sure, but the man can build teams and he is one of the only former players that made the successful transition from player to an executive.

David Griffin would have been my first choice. But the New Orleans Pelicans snapped him up quickly to orchestrate the exodus of Anthony Davis. This does not guarantee the Lakers getting him in a trade, but who really knows after this week.

This hurts the Lakers bad. It shows that the leading GM’s are not looking at the Lakers as a premium destination. It shows no matter how much history that David Griffin has with LeBron James and Ty Lue, he took a small market job almost immediately. After dealing with the dysfunction of Dan Gilbert and the similar business model the Lakers have at this point.

Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma, you ain’t going nowhere

I will tell all three of these players that they are part of the future and they will not be traded. Now, they will have to make some changes with their behavior because this is a business and the Lakers are in the business of winning.

They will be on workout programs during the summer and I will be monitoring closely. I will tell them that the days of the head guy being gone from the office building 2/3rds of the time are over. I’m here and I’m not going anywhere.

Lonzo Ball:  

Learn to shoot. I don’t care if it’s a hook shot or a granny shot, learn how to shoot! Defense is wonderful but no coach can keep you on the floor shooting 41 percent from the free throw line. I understand the transition that is going with your father, but if I turn on my TV set and see this…

You will be traded! Love the guy, he’s funny, but I will trade you! Tell him I will not draft, sign or even call your brothers in for a tryout. Let it go!

Kyle Kuzma:

Ball handling and shooting. Bottom line, it needs work. Free throw shooting, fix it.

Brandon Ingram:

Deal with those blood clots then get into shape. You are going to be the focal point of the offense with Lonzo running the break and Kyle in the other lane. LeBron will not be a problem. You are the future now act like it.

This is part one of the Lake Show Life series of “If I was running the Lakers”! Next, I will build the roster from the ground up. Stay tuned!