Los Angeles Lakers: Good cop, bad cop for fixing their problems this offseason

The Los Angeles Lakers have experienced some turmoil recently, but they can fix things this offseason. We take a look at how that could happen with a good cop, bad cop routine.

I’m sure by now we have all seen the Baxter Holmes article that was released on ESPN on Tuesday outing all the Los Angeles Lakers turmoil over the last two seasons since hiring Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka. It wasn’t pretty, to say the least.

Since its release, the Lakers are, once again, at the forefront of drama in the NBA. Ranging from Magic Johnson-spawned panic attacks for multiple staffers to a potential pathological liar as the general manager.

Add to that an owner who believes in fate over qualifications when hiring staff and the Lakers are starting to look more like a scene out of Shudder Island than an NBA organization.

Rob Pelinka to all Lakers front office staffers being contacted by the media:

But, as Lakers stans always believe, there is still a chance they can turn this around and become a legitimate contender in the NBA next season.

Last summer I wrote a Shea Serrano-inspired Good Cop, Bad Cop piece about if the Lakers were going to sign LeBron James. Two weeks later LeBron signed with the Lakers.

Now, unlike Lakers owner Jeanie Buss, I may not believe that fate brought LeBron to the Lakers but a small, superstitious side of me might be convinced that if I wrote that article last summer and it ended up happening, maybe the same will happen this summer.

So, let’s debate the biggest story in the NBA right now. That’s right Warriors and Raptors fans, even when you’re in the NBA Finals, the Lakers are still the team being talked about the most. Can the Lakers get their organization back on track?

Good Cop: The Lakers might be in shambles, but they can still turn it all around this offseason.

Bad Cop: The Lakers have no idea what they are doing and will not fix their situation this offseason.

Good Cop: You honestly believe after everything you have seen the Lakers do in their franchise history that they can’t pull this together and become a contender?

Bad Cop: Are you serious? This is literally the most chaotic, disarrayed and disoriented I have ever seen an NBA franchise, and I watched the Minnesota Timberwolves take two point guards, Ricky Rubio and Jonny Flynn, with the 5th and 6th picks in the 2009 NBA Draft while Stephen Curry was still available.

Good Cop: Okay, let’s settle down, things aren’t THAT bad! We at least know how to draft!

Bad Cop: Really? Because scouts from the Lakers literally said that in the last draft, they were under the impression that the Lakers would select Omari Spellman from Villanova with their 25th pick and they found out from Adam Silver announcing the pick that the Lakers were taking Moritz Wagner. Your GM didn’t even confer with the people whose job it is to find talent for the draft, on who they were going to take. He spoke with Josh Hart and made his decision.

Good Cop: I actually don’t mind that he asked for Hart’s opinion on the Spellman.

Bad Cop: THAT’S NOT HIS JOB!! Sure, ask for his opinion, but the fact that he just took Hart’s word and didn’t even collaborate with the scouts just proves his ineptitude as a general manager.

Good Cop: I don’t think a questionable call on a late first-round draft pick is enough to classify him as inept.

Bad Cop:  Fine but he is deceitful, under-qualified and spends more time making up stories and sitting in on inessential meetings than actually doing his job and finding the right players for LeBron to play with.

Good Cop: Hey The Dark Knight story was a motivational tactic.

Bad Cop: The only motivation that came from that story is other players motivated to not want to play for Rob Pelinka. You couldn’t even get your top two coaching candidates to sign with your team!

Good Cop: Which may be true. The coaching dilemma could end up being a blessing in disguise by the way. The Kobe Bryant-Heath Ledger story was a disaster but that’s fine, because Pelinka-aside, you know who players will always want to play for?

Bad Cop: Oh god, here we go.

Good Cop: THE Los Angeles Lakers.

Bad Cop: Completely unbiased statement right there.

Good Cop: What? We are one of the most legendary franchises in the history of sports, located in one of the most popular cities in America, with arguably the best player in NBA history. Plus, it’s the Lakers. Being a Laker immediately puts them in the spotlight that you can’t get anywhere else in the NBA. Just look at the media right now. The NBA Finals just started and yet the Lakers are what everyone is talking about across the country. Albeit, it’s not the most exemplary reason to be at the top of news feeds, but if drama like this was happening with the Orlando Magic, it would be getting half as much as attention.

Bad Cop: That spotlight is more detrimental to your chances of signing a star because players now see how much animosity they will receive when things with Lebron are dissonant.

Good Cop: But the benefits of being a star on the Lakers when things are going well are unparalleled.

Bad Cop: Who are you trying to convince, me or you?

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Good Cop: Not trying to convince anyone. Just speaking the truth.

Bad Cop: You’re starting to sound a lot like your GM.

Good Cop: Well to take a line from what I’m going to assume is his favorite movie, “the night is darkest just before the dawn.”

Bad Cop: Yeah, that rarely applies to sports.

Good Cop: Really? Pretty sure the University of Virginia basketball team just proved that very statement after losing in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to a 16 seed last season only to come back and win the National Championship this season.

Bad Cop: You’re starting to get on my nerves.

Good Cop: Also, let’s not forget the Lakers still have a decent team, cap space, young potential players, and the fourth pick in the draft. All of which can be used to help enhance the roster and turn the franchise around.

Bad Cop: Glad you brought that up. Your two best prospects are both coming off injuries, one of which could have been life threatening with Brandon Ingram and you think teams are just going to be lining up with trade offers?

Good Cop: Both are expected to make full recoveries, and both are under the age of 22 so yes, I think teams will definitely be interested. Not to mention, we have still have LeBron.

Bad Cop: Yes, you have LeBron, who turns 35 this year and looks to be more focused on his business and Space Jam 2 than actually helping your franchise in its time of need.

Good Cop: He’s still LeBron and until he gives me a reason to believe he won’t perform at a superstar level I will not lose faith.

Bad Cop: Want to know my opinion?

Good Cop: Not really, but let’s hear it.

Bad Cop: You should trade him.

Good Cop: In the history of sports, when has it ever worked out well for a team when they trade their superstar? Spurs trade Kawhi Leonard and the Raptors are in the Finals with him, the Thunder traded James Harden and now he’s a former MVP and they can’t escape the first round, the Red Sox traded Babe Ruth and started an 86-year curse. Should I go on?

Bad Cop: Eh, you should at least consider it.

Good Cop: I hope you never become a GM of a team.

Bad Cop: Oh, the irony of that statement.

Good Cop: Alright so what’s your solution?

Bad Cop: Step 1 is easy, fire Rob Pelinka.

Good Cop: Now, I don’t hate that idea. But that just adds fuel to the fire with the chaos of this offseason.

Bad Cop: Better than having Pelinka as your GM any longer.

Good Cop: Alright, well, let’s say you’re the new GM of the Lakers, what would your big offseason move be?

Bad Cop: Trade for Chris Paul.

Good Cop: Okay, I hate you and this conversation is over.

Bad Cop: Good because this conversation is irrelevant because as I said earlier, the Lakers will not fix all these problems this offseason.

Good Cop: That, my dear friend, is incorrect. The Lakers aren’t too far gone where they can’t fix these problems with a couple of personnel decisions and some free agent/trade market success. The Lakers will fix these problems this offseason.