Larry Bird could be the next President of Basketball Operations for the Los Angeles Lakers. He is regarded by most as a top ten NBA player of all time, by some a top five. He is one of only a few players to win three consecutive MVPs. I recently watched a episode of First Take where Max Kellerman and Steven A. Smith talked about how Larry Bird shouldn’t be so easily disregarded as the greatest ever; and that they could only think of on person, Michael Jordan, more clutch than Larry Legend. On top of his NBA playing career, he has was Coach of the Year 97-98 and Executive of the Year in 2012 in the Pacer’s organization. He has a decent resume.
Even with his success Bird has had some missteps. Notably fired Coach Carlisle who went on to win a title with the Mavericks and is still coaching. He also made a trade that sent Kawhi Leonard to the Spurs, in return for George Hill. We all know how that worked out. He won executive of the year after all this happened, so he eventually got it together and it was rumored that he was pursued by the Magic to run their franchise. Making the case that he still has the respect of other executives.
One thing he would bring to the Lakers is toughness! Most people do not think of the Lakers are a tough franchise or even a tough team for that matter, they think of Hollywood flash and Showtime. I disagree, when I think of the Lakers I think of the highlights of Kareem yelling, Kobe playing hurt and the old highlights of Pat Riley getting in everyone’s face. The Lakers are not traditionally a soft franchise, but in recent years I have not seen any of that type of fire. That would change with Bird.
Another area he is familiar with is hiring a coach, he hired a few at Indiana and his last hire Nate McMillan is most likely going to be Coach of the Year this year. Oh if you haven’t heard, the Laker’s need a coach, so having someone with experience going through this process would be a good idea LA.
The Lakers also need someone at the helm with some thick skin and isn’t afraid to make decisions that may hurt someone’s feelings. Bird once told a reporter he can write whatever he wants because he doesn’t read it. This mentality for the Lakers next President of Basketball operations should be a high priority because this summer, or at least by the trade deadline, a decision will have to be made whether or not to keep LeBron James. Love the king or hate him, if the Lakers do not get a top free agent this summer trading him should be on the table. That’s if winning a championship is your primary goal. The timing is just off, he is at the end of his career and the Lakers are in a rebuilding phase, not the “we just need a superstar” phase. Larry Bird could handle this decision and I doubt the backlash whether LeBron is or isn’t traded will impact Bird one way or the other.
This will not be the first time Larry Legend has had to deal with a drama or disarray, which is what the Lakers are in now. He had to reconstruct the Pacers after the famous fight in Detroit. Compared to that, the current LA situation should be a walk in the park.
Finally though the Lakers should hire him for the theatrics of it all, for the simple enjoyment it will give sports pundits, sports analysts and NBA fans alike. Seeing the beloved Celtic leading the Purple and Gold would be better reality television than anything Bravo could produce. Larry Bird on one side of the country, Danny Ainge on the other. It would be a great narrative for years to come!
Do we think this is going to happen? No, but if he isn’t on the Laker’s radar
he should be or they might be in for mediocre basketball for years to come in
LA.
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