Kiki Vandeweghe A Suitable Replacement For Mitch Kupchak As L.A. Lakers’ GM?
September 06 07
Multiple Choice Question
Pick Laker GM Mitch Kupchak’s biggest problem:
A) Kobe Bryant doesn’t respect him.
B) Purple-and-gold fans want him fired.
C) Jerry Buss, the team’s owner, and Phil Jackson, the team’s coach, use him as a scapegoat.
D) Andrew Bynum is still a Laker. And Jason Kidd is still a Net.
E) All of the above.
The correct answer is E. Kupchak probably spent his summer popping copious amounts of aspirin because his summer has been one big headache.
But Aspirin, Advil, and Tylenol won’t help. Right now, he’s in a no-win position. The Lakers won’t give him the power to overhaul the roster. But the club won’t fire him because they’ll be seen as catering to Bryant’s wishes.
Nobody wins with Kupchak in no mans land. So here’s a solution. The Lakers need to hire a real GM. They need to bring in a true front executive, call him a ’mentor’, and excommunicate Kupchak to some back office in the basement of Staples Center.
Why not? After all, Kurt Rambis used to be the team’s head coach and now he’s an assistant coach. Why can’t Kupchak get demoted?
Most Laker fans are hoping Jerry West pulls a Superman. They are praying The Logo jumps out of a phone booth and returns to the front office sporting a cape and tights.
West isn’t coming back. What about Kiki Vandeweghe? The former ESPN analyst possesses the qualities to lead the Lakers. Vandeweghe has people skills and could build a relationship with Bryant. He is from outside the organization, so Laker fans may give him a chance. He has the smarts and experience to navigate through the maze of front office politics. And he turned the Denver Nuggets around quickly.
Best of all, he had nothing to do with the club turning down a straight Bynum for Kidd trade. And he’s a former Rhode Scholar finalist. But that could also be the problem. Vandeweghe may be too smart to take the job.
What do you think of the L.A.’s front office? Get at us in the comment box below with your thoughts.
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