Basketball from a fan’s perspective

What he said

Laker GM Rod Pelinka made his first public statement on Saturday since the team was eliminated from the playoff picture. Pelinka said, “The goal is to keep Lakers’ core together.”    Exactly what that indicates is a mystery, we can guess and that’s exactly what we shall do. LeBron is signed for at least 3 more years, so he remains in place as does AD. An off-season training regiment might be suggested for AD which might be in the plans anyway.

Other than LeBron and AD who else might be included in Pelinka’s core group? It’s possible KCP might be a member along with Kyle Kuzma and certainly along Talen Horton-Tucker. We know LeBron likes Alex Caruso, our guess he is re-signed and becomes part of the core. The 2021-22 team contains 6 members off the present roster and maybe 7 if we include Wesley Matthews Jr. He might be included more for his defense which the coach loves over his offense. We begin this study by serving notice in advance we have no idea what Pelinka considers his core, this is simply a guess which it could be just that apart from LeBron and AD being members.

The Kidd

Former point guard and Laker assistant coach Jason Kidd is the name. He appears to be the hot commodity for two franchises requiring a head coach the Celtics and Blazers. Dame Lillard moved ahead of this process by campaigning for Kidd to be hired in a Yahoo Sports interview.  He made the leap from player to coach in a single move, the Nets hired Kidd with 0 experience as a head coach. It’s unclear what occurred in Brooklyn, within a year Kidd was headed to Milwaukee in 2014. He remained with the Bucks until the 2017-18 season when he was fired. Since 2019 Kidd’s been an assistant coach with the Lakers. In the case of Jazz coach Quin Snyder he paid his dues after failing early and is now successful, we shall wait to see how this story on Kidd continues to develop. 

My hometown

There have been several basketball teams with Kansas City on the front of their jersey, the majority have been semi-pro teams. You are familiar with our former team the Kings, they called Kansas City home for 13 years the other pro teams are lesser known. In 1961 the late Abe Saperstein owner of the Globetrotters was the founder of the American Basketball League. History indicates Saperstein had been promised an NBA franchise in Los Angeles. The Lakers were allowed to move from Minneapolis to Los Angeles which upset Saperstein. He managed to convinced several others to join him in forming an 8-team league. The Kansas City team was named the Steers, this was a nod to the cities stockyards (long since closed). The Steers and the Cleveland Pipers were the two best teams in this startup league. The 1961-62 season witnessed the Pipers beating the Steers for the ABL championship.

The owner of that Cleveland franchise was George Steinbrenner, years later he would go on to purchase the baseball Yankees. The ABL with no television contract and poor attendance for some teams hemorrhaged money. They managed to open for play for the 1962-63 season but shut down operations December 31 with the Steers declared ABL champions. It should also be noteworthy the ABL not the NBA hired the first black coach, the late John McClendon was coach of the Piper franchise. When the league folded the Steers Bill Bridges and several others went on to play in the NBA. The second Kansas City team never played one minute of basketball in the city. In 1967 came another startup the American Basketball Association. Prior to that first season with no arena success the franchise was awarded to Denver. The team was named the Rockets but would later change their name to the Nuggets. In 1976 when the merger occurred the Denver franchise would become one of those moving into the NBA. The brief history of Kansas City’s association with professional basketball.  

Wishing and hoping

It’s interesting, we continue to read letters from Laker fans desiring the Clippers to move to Seattle, Kansas City, Timbuktu or anywhere other than Los Angeles. Despite its population and size Laker fans believe the town ain’t big enough for two NBA teams. I’m sorry to disappointment these fans but the Clippers are not moving anywhere except out of Staples Center. By now you are aware Steve Ballmer owner is building his own arena in Inglewood near the Forum former home of the Lakers.

This arena is projected to cost at least $1.8 billion and will seat 18,000 for basketball. Groundbreaking is to take place this year and its hoped construction will be complete by 2024 when the Staples lease expires. Despite what several Laker fans want all it amounts to are wishing and hoping. As this was completed an announcement came from the Lakers indicating they signed a 20-year lease to remain at Staples Center. There is good news, no more sharing the same arena with the Clippers which should at least be pleasing to Laker fans. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcRTCRwXOLs