Jimmy to leave purple and gold behind if the team can’t garner a championship-ready team in 4 years.
For the last 3 consecutive seasons, Jim Buss has been the blame for much of Lakers struggles. With the unfortunate passing of team owner and father, Dr. Jerry Buss, the organization has seem turmoil with the non-hiring of Phil Jackson as head coach, Dwight Howard leaving last year in free agency and having their worst season to date in the Kobe Bryant-era (also 3rd lowest winning record in franchise history). While the Mamba’s been battling injuries and Steve Nash still under contract presumably for another season, the Lakers off-season began last Wednesday when they didn’t make the playoffs for the first time in 9 years.
Jim Buss revealed at a recent boardroom meeting at the team’s El Segundo training facility, pledging to resign in a few years if the franchise wasn’t a legitimate title contender. Check after the jump to view comments about the situation from Jim Buss.
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“I was laying myself on the line by saying, if this doesn’t work in three to four years, if we’re not back on the top — and the definition of top means contending for the Western Conference, contending for a championship — then I will step down because that means I have failed. I don’t know if you can fire yourself if you own the team … but what I would say is I’d walk away and you guys figure out who’s going to run basketball operations because I obviously couldn’t do the job. There’s no question in my mind we will accomplish success. I’m not worried about putting myself on the line.”
Last November, the team gave 35-year-old, Kobe Bryant a two-year, $48.5M extension as an honoring gift for the years. Aside from Kobe Bryant and an aging Steve Nash, the team doesn’t have much to offer for a superstar who wants to win right now. With coaching issues still plaguing the team for defensive responsibilities, we’re not sure if 4 years will be enough for the team to get a facelift, especially if Kentucky Wildcats men’s coach John Calipari even turned down the job. Still unsure whether Pau Gasol will return, Los Angeles will have money to spend this summer in free agency to potentially pair Kobe Bryant with another superstar.
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