Pick Westbrook

Chapter 280 You Still Can't Become the Owner of This Team
Los Angeles.

Magic Johnson, who is a development consultant for the Lakers, mentioned at the team meeting: "We should invite Lee to join."

"The Lakers formed the Big Three lineup of Kobe + Gasol + Garnett last season, but they still fell short in the Western Conference Finals."

"Since the Lakers successfully won the championship in 2009, we have not been able to continue the championship will."

"One loss in the Finals, one loss in the Western Conference Finals, we seem to be getting farther and farther away from the championship."

Since Magic Johnson saw Li Lai's coaching ability in this year's finals, he has been full of praise for Li Lai's ability.

In his opinion, Li Lai is definitely the most suitable and powerful one among the head coaches who can still come to the Lakers to coach in the league.

"Zen Phil Jackson has submitted his resignation to the team and stated that he will officially announce his retirement in the future."

"In other words, we have to face the problem of coach selection for next season. Erwin mentioned Li Lai. What do you think?"

Old Bass was sitting in a wheelchair, and said angrily.

As early as 2009, Old Bath began to cultivate his son and daughter intentionally.

The youngest son, Jim Buss, officially became the vice president of the Lakers. He has been working with the Lakers since 1998, and has made decisions on major matters such as the exchange of O'Neal, the hiring of Jackson as the head coach, and the selection of rookies.

And Jim Buss' sister Jenny Buss became the Lakers' vice president of business development. In terms of business and economy, Jenny Buss is the most capable of all the children of Old Buss.

Another son, Johnny Buss, is the president of the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA.

Old Bass couldn't help heaving a long sigh at this moment.

He originally wanted to hand over the Lakers to his eldest son Johnny Buss. If Johnny Buss was willing, the old Buss would probably choose to let go in 09. Johnny Buss is also the most suitable to take over Candidate for the Lakers president.

After all, Johnny Bass led the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA league to win two league championships alone, and he is undoubtedly the strongest among the children in terms of ability.

But it just so happens that Johnny Buss has no intention of taking over the Lakers.

There are naturally many reasons, the biggest reason being the blocking of Jim Buss and Jenny Buss.

"I don't think there's a problem."

Jim Bass said sincerely.

"Although Li Lai defeated us in the finals and ruined our two consecutive championships, his coaching ability has already been tested."

"Even Popovich and Mayfair Jackson praised Li Lai's coaching ability, and Larry Brown even bluntly said that the other party created the small ball era."

"So Li Lai has the championship gene, and we coincide with us on this point."

Jim Buss has been working in the NBA for 13 years. Although he is still far behind his brother Johnny Buss in terms of ability, Jim Buss can confidently say that he is The strongest of all brothers and sisters.

Because he started as a scout for the Lakers, step by step he got to his current position.

Unlike Jenny Buss, who was directly the manager of the Lakers' business department from the very beginning.

Although the Lakers are now at a critical juncture in their struggle for power, and every word they say and stand on the team will have more or less influence on themselves, but when it comes to the development and future of the team, Jim Buss is still willing to talk about it from a practical point of view. Go ahead and dare to stand up and say what you think is the right answer.

Old Buss is extremely satisfied with Jim Buss' attitude and rhetoric, and he also likes the other party's attitude of daring to take responsibility.

There were whispers from the other corner of the round table.

Jenny Buss' best friend Linda Rambis and her husband are talking to Jenny Buss with their heads down.

Although everyone here is extremely disgusted with the existence of Linda Rambis and her husband, Jenny Buss and Jim Buss are siblings after all.

This is also a sentence that Old Bath often said to all the children.

Brothers and sisters should cuddle tightly to each other.

"I don't think so."

After a while, Jenny Buss said aloud.

Jim Buss had expected the other party to be this answer, because no matter what suggestions he made on team decision-making, he would be opposed by the other party.

In this way, if future results prove that Jenny Buss' objections are wrong, then she can use the excuse that she has little involvement in team decision-making to get past it.

But if future results prove Jenny Buss is right, then she will question Jim Buss' ability in the meeting.

That's why Jenny Buss chooses to always stand on the opposite side of Jim Buss. This is the trick of strategists.

Seeing the familiar scene again, Magic Johnson frowned and sighed.

Since the old Buss gave Jim Buss and Jenny Buss a lot of power in 09, the two often fought in meetings, and even in private, they hadn't spoken for a long time.

Originally, the old Buss hoped that Jim Buss, who was good at managing team affairs, would be in charge of the team's operations, and Jenny Buss, who was good at controlling the economy, would handle the team's financial issues.

But in the end, Jenny Buss seemed dissatisfied with her responsibility of only being in charge of the team's economy, so she often criticized Jim Buss in team meetings.

The internal contradictions of the Lakers came from this.

In fact, Magic Johnson already knew Jenny Buss' ambition very well.

Otherwise, when Rodman joined the Lakers for the first time, why did Jenny Buss allow the other party to enter her boudoir at will?

And after the Zen master Mayfair Jackson came to the Lakers, Jenny Buss would not immediately invite Mayfair Jackson to have dinner with her.

Jerry Buss didn't find out that his daughter was often with the coach he hired for $3000 million until after Jenny Buss dated Jackson several times, so he accused Jenny Buss of saying: The other party already has Family room!
As for why Jenny Buss insists on doing this, Magic Johnson believes that she wants to have more say in the Lakers, so she needs some supporters in the team.

This is the practice of camping and winning people's hearts.

"What's your reason?"

Old Bath always knew that his daughter was not a fuel-efficient lamp, so he asked curiously at this time.

Jenny Buss hesitated for a while, and then said: "Li Lai is not a pure Laker, he was originally the owner of the Bucks."

"If the opponent is allowed to come to the Lakers this time, maybe there will be some ulterior motives."

"It's absolutely not safe for the Lakers."

Hearing this reason, Jim Bass was very angry. He stood up angrily and glared at his sister, saying, "According to what you said, is there anyone in the world we can use?"

"Even if you want to fight against me, you should find a decent reason, and you should not point fingers at issues related to the future of the team."

Jenny Buss stood up angrily and said, "Are you talking to your own sister?"

"Dad is still here, you dare to talk to me like that, if dad is not here today, I don't know how you will bully me."

After speaking, Jenny Buss sat back in her seat and covered her face and burst into tears.

Good girlfriend Linda Rambis and her husband hurried over to persuade her.

The scenes at the scene were extremely embarrassing, and Old Buss didn't know where to start.

A good meeting to agree on the head coach of the Lakers next season turned into a crying drama inexplicably.

In the past three years, Jim Buss has long been used to such scenes. At this time, he didn't care about Jenny Buss' actions, looking at his father and said sternly.

"Li Lai will definitely suit us, definitely."

Old Bath was silent for a while.

Jenny Buss quickly recovered her emotions at this time, she stood up again and said very seriously: "Then do you dare to bet, dare to make an oath in front of all the management of the Lakers?"

"If Li Lai is not suitable for us or he messes things up when he becomes the head coach, then you take the blame and resign!"

Jim Buss, who was so provoked by the opponent, said without hesitation: "Of course! If Li Lai is not suitable for the Lakers, then I will leave here immediately and never ask about the Lakers again."

Jenny Buss, who got the desired result, is extremely satisfied, and then she just needs to keep her mouth shut and wait for the future results of the Lakers.

Old Buss looked at the scheming Jenny Buss, and then at the innocent Jim Buss, shaking his head continuously.

Jenny Buss has no knowledge or ability related to basketball, but she is smart and good at managing the economy.

Jim Buss has solid basketball-related abilities, but he doesn't know how to recruit helpers like her sister in terms of scheming and management.

Old Buss sees everything in his eyes, which is why he hopes that the siblings can work together to manage the Lakers in a friendly manner.

Otherwise, handing over the Lakers to either of the two is prone to major troubles.

Of course, giving the Lakers to Jenny Buss has a greater chance of something going wrong.

That's why Buss Sr. made Jim Buss the vice president of basketball for the Lakers.

"Do we have anyone else?"

The old Bass didn't want Jim Bass to lose even his clothes and pants in this contest, so he planned to find a way out for him.

Magic Johnson replied: "Except for Li Lai, Mike Brown should be the best head coach we can get."

Old Buss nodded and said, "Go and contact Li Lai. As for Mike Brown, he will be our backup candidate."

"At the same time, regardless of the labor negotiations that are currently in dispute, our team plan to trade and strengthen should continue."

"Contact with the Hornets in advance, regardless of whether the labor negotiations are finalized or not, we should seize the opportunity."

new York.

NBA headquarters.

This is the second time that 29 owners have participated in the NBA decision-making meeting, and Stern emphasized that if there is nothing very important, then everyone must attend this meeting.

Of course, each team often has more than one owner, so for the main owners of these teams, even if they have very important things to do, they can also send another team owner or senior team management to participate. .

For example, the Lakers sent Philip Ansfields, the second largest shareholder, to attend the meeting because Bass was unwell.

Celtics owner Grosbeck said very dissatisfied at the meeting: "David, why do you always hold on to the management? Shouldn't you have a good talk with the representatives of the labor at this time?"

Because of the collapse of labor negotiations again, David Stern originally communicated with all the bosses on the phone yesterday, and now it is a bit inappropriate to call them together urgently.

Adam Silver said decisively at this time: "Although convening everyone has something to do with labor negotiations, this is not the main topic tonight."

The faces of the bosses who heard this sentence were very puzzled.

For the league and the team owners, what is more important than labor negotiations?

Spurs boss Holt directly questioned at this time: "I don't think there is anything else worth bringing together the bosses of all the teams."

"Adam, you should be more reliable in doing things."

Although the rest of the bosses didn't speak, they had the same emotions as Holt.

If they had been told earlier that the meeting at the headquarters had nothing to do with the labor agreement, they would most likely have refused to participate in the meeting.

"Then why did you call us all here?"

Rockets owner Leslie Alexander said with anger on his face.

Adam Silver first calmed down his mood, and after thinking about what that guy in New Orleans had repeatedly confirmed to him, he finally spoke.

"Someone in the New Orleans Hornets is willing to take over!"

The entire conference hall was suddenly quiet.

The bosses looked at each other, each of them didn't know what they were thinking.

Of course, Spurs owner Holt and Celtics owner Grossback are the happiest. After all, some people are willing to accept the Hornets, which means that when they share the profits of the league in the future, they can get a lot more money. .

Because the Hornets' gap was plugged.

"Which idiot is going to take over the Hornets team, or at this point in the CBA negotiations?"

Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen said lightly.

In his view, the only ones who are likely to make such a move are most likely local businessmen in New Orleans, intending to use this to enhance their local reputation.

Other than that, no other possibility is possible.

"it's me."

Suddenly other voices appeared in the venue.

Li Lai came out from a certain corner of the venue and walked directly towards the No. 30 seat.

He sat down on that seat unceremoniously, and then looked at Paul Allen who had just made a slight sarcasm.

Seeing this scene, Adam Xiao Hua couldn't help covering his face, thinking: I've never seen this kid so arrogant.

Because Li Lai has been concentrating on handling team affairs before, he has not participated in the boss-level meeting of the NBA headquarters.

This is also the first time he has met with everyone.

Of course, it is not uncommon among the bosses to know him.

Cuban looked at Li Lai's figure and first smiled, and then thought that the Mavericks were defeated by the Bucks this season and lost the chance to win the championship. He gritted his teeth and looked at Li Lai again.

"This bastard is going to do something."

Blazers owner Paul Allen snorted. He happened to watch a game between the Bucks and the Trail Blazers at some point, so he happened to have some impressions of Li Lai.

Paul Allen said jokingly: "Mr. Li Lai, according to regulations, the transfer of any NBA team must be approved by the board of directors, and at least 22 owners must vote in favor before the team can trade. "

"That is to say, even if you want to get the Hornets, the Hornets are very anxious to sell, but without the consent of 22 owners, you still can't become the owner of this team."

(End of this chapter)