Another road game, another loss. 5-11 on the road (not counting the IST in Vegas) and the Lakers couldn’t look more different than the team we saw raise the inaugural cup in Vegas. Worse, the excuses, er, reasons are piling up now.

1) Excuse #1: Were not healthy. Oh, really? Welcome to pro sports. Perhaps this was maybe-kinda-sorta true when we were missing 1/3!of the team. Now? That excuse rings hollow. If someone who should be playing isn’t that’s on the coach.
2) Excuse #2: Were not familiar with one another. Outside of Vando everyone played in camp and preseason, they had a Vegas mini camp together, and have played over 1/3 of the season. If the issue is the rotations that excuse sounds like a very thinly veiled knock on the coach.
3) Excuse #3: The Coach is blowing it. Up until the trade, and now again this season, many fans wondered openly big Ham has the chops to coach bay this level. While I think he does, my issue is that he seems slow to adapt. One glaring example is the Taurean Prince minutes imbalance. I cannot figure out what has created this wealth of trust the staff has in TP that isn’t shared amongst proven playoff players Rui or Vando. I’m not saying any of these are all that much better than the other. But Vando and his defense were a huge component of us even making the playin last season. Rui showed he can rise to the moment. Prince has been fine. Streaky, as all shooters are, and generally not really up to the task on D. The other semi-concerning issue with Ham is that he’s parroting the “we need guys back” excuse. That dog will never hunt, your whole job is to figure out a way to win given the resources at hand. It is a shitty job but you took it. So get to it. Also ditch the 5 out sets unless you can talk shooters into either getting back in D, matching up in transition and crashing the glass when the shot goes up. We’re getting killed because mall our guys are standing at the three point line for some dumb reason.
4) AD is balking out. This is the best I’ve seen Davis play in years and since he took the second half off against Denver I think he’s been pretty consistently great. We’re seeing him pop for some jumpers and his three ball is coming around.
5) Feels like a trade is inevitable. I just don’t see the inherent inconsistencies that some guys bring going away. DLo is perfectly content to be an after thought on offense, Rui’s scoring vacillates wildly from game to game, and we’re not going to waste LeBron and AD’s best season since The Bubble Banner. So whether it happens sooner or later it feels almost certain something will change.

LA Lakers trade rumors: 5 players that could wear Purple & Gold before NBA trade deadline https://t.co/4mDyhkijGe

— LakerTom (@LakerTom) November 29, 2023

#5 Bojan Bogdanovic
#4 John Konchar
#3 Alex Caruso
#2 DeMar DeRozan
#1 Zach LaVine

1) If you saw LeBron’s tweet about the refs you know he’s had it with this wish washy league and it’s double standards when it comes to how they officiate and when. Like we fans, I don’t believe LeBron is looking for preferential treatment but simple consistency.

2) People want to say Russ blew it in the clutch. Whether the foul was called or not there were three chances the Lakers, as a team, blew it. This #2 is about the first time when we corralled the rebound. Coach Ham made another rookie mistake and did not call a time out.

3) Russell pushed the ball up and, because there was so much time left, didn’t attack fast. He should have then called a time out to set up a real play, not the messy garbage we saw to finish the game. This time out could have been called by anyone, including the coaches.

4) LeBron and Russ blew when, with 5-6 seconds left and Russ lost control of the ball and regained they did not call a timeout. This also applies to coach Ham who could have come out on the court screaming to set up a play in a time out. This also did not happen.

5) Again, Laker fans are bashing Russ taking that last shot while conveniently ignoring that LeBron basically ran away from the play. Russ gets the ball, crosses mid court and LeBron…is not in any part of my TV’s frame. He’s not involved and seemingly didn’t want to be. Who cuts to the rim when Russ drives? Wenyan Gabriel! That, my friends, is fucking pathetic. It’s pathetic that we didn’t go to something that worked, like a the Russ/LeBron two man game. Or LeBron cutting back to the strong side when he saw Russ lose control as a release valve. Or that 2 veterans and a coach couldn’t decide to call a time out and set something up multiple times. LeBron bemoans not having a core group of guys while skirting the fact he himself pushed to trade them all away.

There have been some losses we should have won. This was a game we deserved to lose. Has nothing to do with Russ taking the last shit because he, alone and at least, had the balls to try.

3 potential Myles Turner to LA Lakers trade scenarios to get the Indiana Pacers' center, including a package with Buddy Hield https://t.co/AKHAoOn9eG

— LakerTom (@LakerTom) November 2, 2022

#1 – Lakers give up Russell Westbrook and 2027 and 2029 first-round picks.

#2 – Trade two picks only for Turner.

#3– Find a third team to add to the trade.

3 Trades For Lakers Using Both Future 1st Round Picks: https://t.co/Npnpjv1jdL

— LakerTom (@LakerTom) August 23, 2022

#1 Indiana Pacers Receive:
-G Russell Westbrook
-2027 First-Round Pick (LAL)
-2029 First-Round Pick (LAL)

Los Angeles Lakers Receive:
-C Myles Turner
-G/F Buddy Hield

…

#2 Washington Wizards Receive:
-G Russell Westbrook
-2027 First-Round Pick (LAL)
-2029 First-Round Pick (LAL)

Los Angeles Lakers Receive:
-F/C Kristaps Porzingis
-F Kyle Kuzma

…

#3 Utah Jazz Receive:
-G Russell Westbrook
-2023 First-Round Pick (NYK)
-2023 First-Round Pick (DAL via NYK)
-2025 First-Round Pick (NYK)
-2027 First-Round Pick (NYK)
-2027 First-Round Pick (LAL)
-2029 First-Round Pick (LAL)

New York Knicks Receive:
-G Donovan Mitchell

Los Angeles Lakers Receive:
-F/C Julius Randle
-G Mike Conley

Based on NBA scuttlebutt Beal is opting out just to up his annual salary. Smart move for the Beal clan, not like the Wizards have much else going for them, and if that team can stay healthy they should a have a decent shot at a playin spot, maybe even a low seeding depending on how things shake out. Honestly this was one of the few teams I imagined being open to taking Russ in. He played well there and helped get them to the playoffs and they have shooters to open the floor up. KP would be #2 and Kuzma could still be the Swiss Army player we know him to be. This squashes that admittedly minor hope.

All of the Los Angeles Lakers problems start at the top https://t.co/X3BAtBOIJP

— LakerTom (@LakerTom) April 5, 2022

Who’s to blame for the Los Angeles Lakers‘ current train wreck? Fingers are pointed in many directions. The usual targets include Russell Westbrook, coach Frank Vogel, oft-injured Anthony Davis and general manager Rob Pelinka.

But the lion’s share of responsibility for the team’s fall from grace begins firmly at the top, upon the shoulders of team president Jeanie Buss.

…

Although she admits she’s far from a basketball expert, early on Ms. Buss believed that her brother Jim and Kupchak lacked a sense of vision for the team. So in 2017, she hired her close friend Magic Johnson to provide counsel. Shortly thereafter, she took Magic’s advice and fired both her brother and Kupchak.

This provided Jeanie with a golden opportunity to make her own mark. It was widely anticipated that she’d hire a proven basketball executive to run the team and return it to glory.

Instead, she persuaded Magic to become the Lakers’ president of basketball operations even though Johnson had zero front office basketball experience.

Normally an individual in Magic’s position would then name his own GM. But Jeanie Buss surprised the basketball world by appointing Pelinka, who she had grown to like when he was Bryant’s agent, even though he and Johnson hardly knew one another.

That meant she had appointed two people with no previous front office experience and no prior working relationship to run the NBA’s premier franchise.

Magic Johnson’s viewpoint was simple. He firmly believed that the Lakers needed to bring in established stars to win a title. He had no interest in waiting for the talented collection of young players drafted by Kupchak and by Magic himself to reach their potential.

In his mind, the youngsters were merely assets to be used solely as chips to bring stars to LA. The first step in that process was clearing salary space to sign free agent James. Exit high draft picks D’Angelo Russell and Julius Randle.

Next Johnson aimed his sights on Anthony Davis. After being thwarted in his attempts to trade for him, Magic abruptly resigned in April 2019.

Once again Jeanie had an opportunity to bring in an experienced executive to help guide the Lakers. But instead, she stood pat and didn’t hire anyone new, leaving Pelinka to run the show.

Rob followed Magic’s philosophy about bringing stars to the team. Although he might have waited a year to try to sign Davis as a free agent, he chose instead to trade two #2 draft picks, Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball, along with other players and multiple draft picks for him.

As a result, the team was built entirely around the two stars, LeBron and AD. All other players were cast in supporting roles. That recipe worked to perfection the first year when the Lakers captured the championship in the Orlando bubble.

Davis and James were both superb in those playoffs, and supporting players Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Kyle Kuzma, Alex Caruso, Markieff Morris, Danny Green and others all played their roles extremely well, especially on defense.

But Pelinka believed the Lakers’ offense needed to be less reliant on the two stars. So in the 18 months since winning that 2020 title the GM completely blew up the roster. Only James and Davis remain with the Lakers. The entire supporting cast was traded away or not re-signed.

Last season, injuries to AD and LeBron played a major factor in the Lakers’ failure to repeat. During the offseason, encouraged by the two stars, Pelinka made his boldest move. In a controversial deal, he exchanged KCP, Kuzma and Montrezl Harrell for Westbrook.

Then, restricted by the salary cap, Pelinka filled the roster with mostly older non-athletic veterans. Some have retained their offensive skills but most lack the energy or desire to play much defense.

Right from the start, NBA observers questioned how Russ and LeBron would complement one another when each needs the ball in his hands to be most effective. And the experts further wondered how the Lakers could compete with an aging roster filled with players past their prime.

It’s true that injuries to Davis and others also contributed to this year’s dismal record, and the so-called “Big Three” of LeBron, AD and Westbrook have only played together in about 20 games. But even though Russ has averaged 18 points per game, his questionable decision-making and shot selection have led nearly everyone to label the trade a failure.

Most importantly, the team has rarely sustained a competitive winning drive throughout an entire game. Despite the efforts of Vogel, a notably strong defensive coach, the veterans have notably failed on that side of the ball.

In addition to being GM, Pelinka is now also the vice president of basketball operations. He made no big or even medium moves at midseason, which angered James. And once again rumors surfaced about his alleged poor relationships with other NBA executives.

Kurt Rambis, who also has no prior front office experience, was named the director of basketball affairs, and is believed to be influential in personnel decisions. His wife, Linda, a close friend of Jeanie Buss, is the executive director of special projects.

What will Jeanie Buss and the front office do to try to turn things around for the Los Angeles Lakers?

How bleak is the outlook for a team that has won barely 40% of its games this season?

This coming summer, for the fourth time in four seasons, the roster will once again dramatically change. Only four players, James, Davis, Talen Horton-Tucker and Austin Reaves, are signed for next season. The Lakers will likely exercise its team option on Stanley Johnson, and it’s assumed that Westbrook will accept his $47 million player option.

The Lakers will look to unload Westbrook and will likely at least consider trading LeBron and/or AD. Regardless of who is traded, the team will remain substantially over the cap, so once again they can only sign players at the margins. And they have traded away their first-round pick.

Jeanie Buss’ pattern is clear. She has surrounded herself solely with friends- Magic, Pelinka and Kurt Rambis. While it’s understandable why she would hire people that she trusts, she must now realize that cronyism isn’t working.

Jeanie is understandably proud of her father’s legacy. She passionately yearns for the Lakers to return to the top and appears willing to do what it takes to get there. But responsibility for the current Lakers mess lies with the choices Ms. Buss has made in her front office to run the team. To get the team back on a winning track, changes should be mandatory.

The time has come for Jeanie to bring in outside, experienced help. She needs to conduct a thorough search throughout the league to find the most qualified, knowledgeable NBA executive possible. Then she should hire that person to fulfill the vacant position of President of Basketball Operations to help rebuild the Lakers franchise.

Short term deal with Lakers or long-term deal with another team. Not much of a prediction because only other option is a long term deal with the Lakers, which we all know is not going to happen and would cost the Lakers $80 million.

Los Angeles Lakers Receive: G Lonzo Ball (via sign-and-trade)
New Orleans Pelicans Receive: F Kyle Kuzma, G Talen Horton Tucker (via sign-and-trade), LAL 2021 1st Round Pick (Pick #22)

5 Positives which the LA Lakers can take from disappointing 2020-21 NBA campaign https://t.co/wKlkM2AxlB

— LakerTom (@LakerTom) June 17, 2021

#5 Dominance against the Phoeninx Suns before AD’s injury
#4 Winning culture
#3 Rest for the LA Lakers’ stars
#2 Frank Vogel’s defensive system
#1 LeBron James’ pre-injury form