Let us hop back in time to 2019. Kawhi Leonard is a free agent and the decision is between the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, and Toronto Raptors. Uncle Dennis is lurking and trying to squeeze every possible team for whatever he can get. Jeanie Buss made sure the Lakers held tight.
in 2019, Sam Amick reported Dennis Robertson was asking for part ownership, a private plane, a house, and guaranteed off-court endorsement money. Does that last part sound familiar? It should, because there are eerie similarities there to the exact thing that just cost the Clippers five first-round picks when Adam Silver's ruling on the Kawhi scandal came in.
Amick's report stated his source specified Uncle Dennis made those requests repeatedly of Buss and the Lakers. Jeanie did not budge. The NBA insider even added that Buss 'made it clear that such perks were illegal.'
Where Steve Ballmer and the Clippers bent the knee, Jeanie and the Lakers refused to take the stupid pill.
Maybe the short-term outlook with Leonard, LeBron James, and Anthony Davis could have been fantastic. However, landing in the same spot the Clips are in today would have been a damaging blow to the reputation of Los Angeles' big brother franchise. Point to Mrs. Buss.
Jeanie Buss came through for the Lakers when it mattered most
A lot of things can be said about Buss' time as Lakers owner. She certainly was not flawless by any stretch of the imagination, with multiple identifiable mistakes during her time as governor.
Had the Lakers suffered through a similar saga to that of what the Clippers are currently going through, that would have far exceed any of her other missteps. All the behind the scenes family drama distracting from the on-court product comes off as miniscule by comparison.
The Lakers are one of the most legendary franchises in NBA history. Many would indeed say they are number one due to their sustained legacy of winning across multiple generations.
Perhaps that image was hurt a touch in Jeanie's reign over the franchise. It would have been so much more damaging to take Leonard, win an extra championship or two, and then have this dark cloud significantly dampen the organization's legacy.
Buss could be on her way out if legal dealings do not rule in her favor when it comes to the family trying to sell their stake in the Lakers. If Jeanie's time in the front office is coming to an end, at least fans can bid her goodbye with one final thank you for not ending up as the Clippers did.
Add us as a preferred source on Google