Lakers Hire Coach, and Don't Even Consult Kobe? WTF

[ How the hell does this happen? ]


Jim Buss, Los Angeles Lakers executive and son of owner Dr. Jerry Buss, says he regrets not talking to Kobe Bryant about the decision to hire Mike Brown as Phil Jackson's successor.
"Looking back on it, we should have contacted Kobe," Jim Buss said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times that ran Saturday night. "Kobe said it was management's job to pick a coach. He just said, 'Defense first.' That's what we were doing, but we should have reached out to him."
Bryant had previously endorsed longtime Jackson assistant Brian Shaw to be promoted to the head-coaching job. The Lakers struck an agreement with Brown on Wednesday, and sources told ESPNLosAngeles.com's Dave McMenamin that Bryant has great respect for Brown and is on board with the hiring, despite not being consulted about the choice.
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During an interview on ESPN during halftime of Game 5 of the Western Conference finals on Wednesday, Brown said he already had exchanged text messages with Bryant. Brown also said he's "looking forward to getting to know Kobe and being able to work with him to go and get us a championship."
Jim Buss, Lakers executive VP of player personnel, expressed confidence that Bryant would mesh well with Brown, according to the Times report
"The way Mike impressed the three of us, I would think Kobe would be impressed as well," Buss said. "Mike is a workaholic and Kobe is the workaholic."
Buss was unconcerned about the possibility that Brown wouldn't be able to corral Bryant's talents for the good of the team.
"I've seen Kobe go off the place a few times, but I'm sure the coach will know how to handle it," Buss told the newspaper. "My dad loves Kobe and so do I; we think he has a lot left. And I know Mike has some ideas on how to elongate Kobe's career."
The Lakers' bid for a three-peat ended unceremoniously when the Dallas Mavericks swept them in the Western Conference semifinals.

I know, that doesn't sound right..

Cleveland did not tell Lebron about hiring Byron Scott.

How did that work out?

I'll simplify this.

Kobe works for Buss.
Buss owns the team.
Buss is the boss, Kobe is Buss's employee.

Since when does an employee tell the owner of a company you must go through me before you hire a new boss?

Reason #115 why I dislike him.

billhill999 said:

Since when does an employee tell the owner of a company you must go through me before you hire a new boss?

Click to expand...

When the employee is more important to the employer then the employer is to the employee.
Thats when
It happens everyday in the business world.
Its called leverage

billhill999 said:

I'll simplify this.

Kobe works for Buss.
Buss owns the team.
Buss is the boss, Kobe is Buss's employee.

Since when does an employee tell the owner of a company you must go through me before you hire a new boss?

Reason #115 why I dislike him.

Click to expand...

I'm not a Kobe fan, as most on here know. You'd think a player of Kobe's caliber would get more respect than this. Can
you picture something like this happening to a player like Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson? I can't.

I think it's a slap in the face to Kobe, and I'm kind of surprised, but sure do get a chuckle out of it.

surprising, I will say that. How many good years do you think Kobe has left?!

Lakers have won there last title with Kobe.
The championship run under this group of players is done.
Phil Jackson did not leave because he was burned out. He left because he knew it was over in L.A
The Lakers did not hire Mike Brown because they thought he was the best coach around.
They hired him because everyone else in the know also knows that the Laker run is over.
Why would anyone want to go coach a team full of ego's who has a fan base with false expectations?
Not a single coach worth a damm.
Brown has just walked into an unwinnable situation. A team with false high expectations that cannot achieve nearly what there perceived talent can achieve.
Its the same reason Phil left Chicago. He knew it was over.
Its the same reason Phil will go somewhere else in the future IF a super great job ever comes up again.

this is surprising - especially given, well, what the f has mike brown done?! Coach of the Year - I understand, but the two years his team had the best record in the league, they failed to make the Finals. I'm not saying it's a bad move, or that it's not a good fit - but unless you're re-signing Phil Jackson, you should probably ask Kobe what his thoughts are.

The move IMO was calculated by management. If the Lakers start out 30-8 next season they can say the move was great...if they start out 19-19 they can put all the blame on Brown and then eventually move a more ideal coach into the role. They know their reign is coming to an end soon if not already.

the reason that seems to be most popular in so cal for the mike brown hiring
and the way it was done, is that this was jim buss's way of showing how much
influence he has over the team now rather than kobe and to some extent his father, jerry.
jim never liked phil and phil certainly did not respect jim's knowledge or work ethic,
so bypassing brian shaw, phil's choice and kobe's friend, for the head coaching position
sends a very strong message to the players and orginization. whether it's the right
message and how it will work out will be seen shortly.