Los Angeles Lakers Offseason 2011: Jim Buss Needs to Be Put in Timeout

The Lakers are between a rock and a hard place. They have just been eliminated from the 2011 NBA Playoffs after a string of below par performances in a series that lasted just seven days. They no longer have a head coach, and there seems to be no apparent camaraderie, let alone chemistry, among the members of the roster. The organization is in need of strong and decisive leadership.

In recent years, it has been quite apparent that owner Jerry Buss isn’t the one calling the shots at the Lakers front office. It seems as though his son Jim has already inherited the most expensive franchise in basketball. Jim has had substantial involvement in recent moves the Lakers have made including the decision not to trade Andrew Bynum for Carmelo Anthony.

No one in LA really knows much about Jim. He has absolutely no past involvement in professional basketball, and although he may know a thing or two about ownership, he is in no way qualified to make general management decisions. 

In early February, Jim decided not to swap Andrew Bynum for Carmelo Anthony. In the 2005 NBA Draft, the Lakers selected Bynum with the 10th pick in the first round and Jim is believed to be the mastermind behind that move. If statistics are anything to go by, there is no doubt that Andrew Bynum has turned out to be a big bust.

During his six years in the league, the 7-footer has only once played a full 82-game season. His career has been plagued with injuries and multiples knee surgeries making him the biggest liability on the roster. One of these injuries may very well have cost the Lakers a championship in 2008.

OK, so maybe that’s just speculation. But why? Why is he always injured?

The answer is quite obvious. Bynum was 17 years old when he was drafted. He didn’t have the strength to go head to head with the elite centers of the NBA. He has an incredible amoun...

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