To say that this season was ‘tough’ would be an understatement for the LA Lakers.
And as a Laker fan, I am honestly not used to seeing exit interviews in April instead of June.
Yesterday, the Lakers began holding their exit interviews – the year-end reports with each respective player to assess how the season went from their perspective, and to discuss possible contract negotiations or free agency statuses. Highlights from the day were interviews done with star point guard Steve Nash, the former Ron Artest (now Metta World Peace), and the very candid sophomore center Robert Sacre.
Among today’s live exits (which can be seen here) are for Pau Gasol, Dwight Howard, Steve Blake, Head Coach Mike D’Antoni, Kobe Bryant and Laker GM Mitch Kupchak.
It will be interesting to see how these guys respond to how they thought the season went, especially Dwight, who again holds his current team ‘hostage’ with the speculations in regards to his free agency. He is set to receive a max offer from the Lakers, who would be the only team to give him a five year contract with $30 Million guaranteed money more than any other NBA team can offer him.
But in light of his performance the entire season, with injuries and rust taken into account, it was his lack of mental fortitude that again prevailed, highlighted in the very last game the Lakers played this season. Howard picked up a second technical foul in game four of the first round series against the San Antonio Spurs, which is an automatic ejection. And as he went through the tunnel to exit the arena floor, he exchanged some words with Kupchak, and the moment did not seem very friendly.
It was a catastrophic season, to say the least. Injuries after injuries to key personnel piled up, only to be capped off by a season-ending Achilles tear to the iron man himself, Kobe Bryant. Bryant is expected to be sidelined for up to nine months, and with the future of the team in such dysfunction and disarray, who knows how things will shake out?
(A little side note, though: On the Jalen Rose report last Thursday, Bill Simmons joined the two-man pod of Jalen Rose and David Jacoby to talk about, among other things, the Lakers and possible future moves. But what was a little interesting was the small item Simmons mentioned in regards to the official transfer of ownership by the NBA board of Governors for the LA Laker franchise… to Jeannie Buss, and not Jim Buss, who has been running the team since the end of the 2011 season, and after his father, the legendary Dr. Jerry Buss passed away. Click here to listen how Simmons broke the news down.)
Again, for the LIVE EXIT INTERVIEWS GOING ON NOW, Click Here.
Up first, Pau Gasol.
(Pau, I hope you stay.)
