Jim Buss told his family before the 2014-15 season that he would return the Lakers to prominence within three years or step down as executive vice president of basketball operations.
Jeannie Buss, the Lakers' CEO, has said she is holding her brother to that time frame, but she should go back on her word and fire him right now.
Byron Scott Admits Lakers Made Mistake About Their Evaluation Of Kristaps Porzingis
Strike one for Jim Buss was producing the worst record in Lakers franchise history last year with a 21-61 mark.
Strike two was basing the team's draft on the fact that Los Angeles was going to lure free agent LaMarcus Aldridge and didn't need a big man in the NBA Draft. It's not that D'Angelo Russell is a horrible pick; but it's evident that he's a project that is going to require years of seasoning before the Lakers find out how good he is.
LaMarcus Aldridge Says Kobe Bryant Was Best Part Of Lakers' Free-Agency Pitch
Strike three is passing on Kristaps Porzingis because the Lakers didn't think he was ready.
Buss defenders will say that Porzingis was projected as a project by most teams as well as draft analysts. But that's exactly why Buss - or general manager Mitch Kupchak or coach Byron Scott - are in the positions they're in.
They needed to bring in a home-run draft pick that would quickly turn the downtrodden franchise's fortunes around. They did not take the safe pick in Jahlil Okafor, but they took a swing with the wrong prospect in Russell.
Porzingis is averaging 13.2 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks a game for the surging Knicks, who won their fourth game in row after beating the Rockets on Sunday to move to 8-6 on the season and near the midway point of the total number of wins they had all of last season (17).
Porzingis had 24 points, 14 rebounds and two assists.
What makes the Lakers' error even worse is the fact that the man Buss rejected in 2012 - Phil Jackson - was the beneficiary of Buss' error.
''I know for a fact that that was one thing that jumped out to management and to Phil (Jackson) that was really impressive about his game on the defensive end,'' coach Derek Fisher (another former Laker) said, according to Yahoo Sports. ''Everybody, of course, was fascinated by the shot-making, but we thought the activity on the defensive end was one thing that would really give him a chance to be good.''
Which should be enough for Jeanie Buss to see that she needs someone else in charge right now to resurrect the Lakers.
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