LA mgt really that good?

What iced West's reputation as a great GM was building a post-Magic playoff team in the mid-90's based almost entirely on draft picks, only one of which was in the lottery.

Vlade Divac (#26 in 1989)
Elden Campbell (#27 in 1990)
Nick Van Exel (#37 in 1993)
Eddie Jones (#10 in 1994)
Cedric Ceballos (in trade for #21 in 1995)

Unfortunately, getting Shaq caused him to lose most of those players (as well as other drafted players such as Anthony Peeler and George Lynch), either to clear the necessary cap room before he was signed or as Shaq-identified scapegoats after playoff losses.


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The only brilliant move by West was trading for Kobe. Then again I dont know if that was brilliance by West or stupidity by Charlotte management.

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MANGO - Get in my BELLAY!

 

In an article the other day, a guy who was in Charlotte's front office (I forget the name) said they never considered drafting Kobe -- they only picked him because that's who the Lakers asked for, and in fact the trade for Divac had been arranged the previous day without the Lakers saying who they wanted with the draft pick.

I think West was the first to identify Kobe as having not only NBA-level talent, but potentially MVP-level talent. (If other GMs had agreed, no way would he have been available at #13.) So he deserves credit for that call.

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Here is the link to that article.

<a href="http://www.journalnow.com/news/local/sports/nba/jd07.htm">http://www.journalnow.com/news/local/sports/nba/jd07.htm</a>

 

I think West is good finding talent through the draft, no doubt about that. But I dont think he deserves credit for bringing Shaq over.

And why did West allow the Campbell/Jones trade happen on his watch?

That was a really dumb trade.

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I have a special purpose.

 

I agree on both counts, Crisco.

The only defense of the Rice trade (since heaven knows Rice doesn't play any!) is that basically Shaq was the GM last year -- he had an out clause that would have let him become a free agent last summer if he wanted to. So the Lakers had to do everything possible to keep him happy, and he wanted Rice.

The out clause also explains why Lakers coaches before this year didn't get on Shaq's case about his declining interest in playing defense.

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The Lakers have the same advantage The Cowboys (NFL) & Yankees (MLB) have. All three of these teams are very polar (either love them or hate them) and people want to see them on TV (to either win or lose). TV means players get seen which means if a player plays well that someone else will overpay for them.
I do like Jerry West, but he does have an advantege being the GM in LA.

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u cannot underestimate the mystique of playing
in lala land. Look at Rick fox. . .Takes
less to play there becuase he know he can
hook a few acting gigs to supplement the income.
Even Derrick Fisher got an acting gig.

So if you make 3 mil in bball and 2 mil in movies
beats the hell our of 5.5 mil in milwaulkie
because the movies will spill over into advert money.

I think Ny has the same appeal but not as strong.

I know shaq wanted the movies too.

[The mystique of boston is ok .. . but nothing outside of being on a team with a history]

Rocket River

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I think the Lakers are more lucky than anything else. They, along with the Celtics, probably fielded the most complete teams to ever play. Both offensively and defensively only the Bulls of recent years come anywhere near those Celtic and Laker teams of the 80's.

BTW, sorry Mango, basket interference by CriscoKidd. Do play again.

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Just shut up and post

 

All those clowns in L.A. want is a piece of the spotlight!!! Thats why L.A. has the players they have! It's definetly not because West is the Best!! It's all about the lights,camera and action!!!!!

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TheMugg

[This message has been edited by themugg (edited June 12, 2000).]

 

Are you sure that trade was made the day before? It may have been, I really don't know but if you remember Kobe said he wouldn't play in Charlotte and demanded to be traded, the saga went on days and days. Maybe he knew where he was going and was just trying to get it done faster.

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From the article linked above:
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"The deal was actually done a day ahead of time, and it was Vlade for a player to be named," said Bill Branch, the Hornets' head scout at the time and now a scout with the Denver Nuggets. "If I remember right, they didn't even tell us who they wanted us to pick until about five minutes before the pick was made. So it was never a matter of us actually drafting Kobe."

[. . .] Then Divac changed his mind after the draft and said that he planned to retire rather than leave Los Angeles.

[. . .] Finally, after a week of recruiting pitches and trans-Atlantic telephone calls, Cowens succeeded in talking Divac into coming to Charlotte, and the trade was officially back on July 11.

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