Vogel enters LA drama
Frank Vogel’s goal to build “organizational togetherness” within the Los Angeles Lakers met the reality of the team’s current dysfunction yesterday.
Vogel’s introduction as the Lakers’ latest coach was almost overshadowed by comments made earlier by Magic Johnson. The former Lakers great appeared on ESPN’s “First Take” and said general manager Rob Pelinka was largely responsible for his resignation as president of basketball operations and that Pelinka was talking behind his back, putting the GM in the position of using the Vogel news conference to respond.
Pelinka said he has talked to Johnson several times since his resignation April 9 and said Johnson’s comments surprised him. Pelinka said the last time the two had talked was over the weekend.
“It’s saddening and disheartening to think he believes things are a misperception,” Pelinka said. “I think all of us in life probably have been through things where maybe there’s third party whispers or ‘he said, she said’ things that aren’t true.”
Vogel, who replaced Luke Walton, said the news conference took on a different tone than he imagined at the start of the day.
“It was definitely different than I expected and different than I’ve ever been a part of,” he said. “But I understand the line of questioning in light of the events of this morning. So you just roll with the punches.”
LeBron James watched the news conference from the back of the gym at the team’s facility, but did not shake hands with Vogel and declined interview requests. He shot baskets on another court while Vogel did oneon-one interviews with television reporters.
Vogel takes over a team that has been in turmoil on and off the court. The Lakers have missed the playoffs for six straight seasons, a drought that was expected to end in James’ first season. But injuries to James, Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram, as well as the internal discord, resulted in a 37-45 record. Vogel will be the Lakers’ sixth coach since Phil Jackson stepped down after the 2010-11 season.
The 45-year old Vogel worked for the organization before as an advance scout during the 2005-06 season. He did not coach last season following two years with the Orlando Magic. Vogel went to Orlando following fiveplus seasons leading the Indiana Pacers, including trips to the Eastern Conference finals in 2013 and ’14.
Elsewhere in the NBA — The Minnesota Timberwolves announced that Ryan Saunders will stay in the post he held on an interim basis during the second half of this past season, the role long held by his father. The widely expected decision was made by new president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas.
Rosas was hired earlier this month without a mandate to retain the 33-year-old Saunders, who is the son of the late Flip Saunders. The Timberwolves finished just 17-25 under Saunders, but players unabashedly endorsed his leadership and owner Glen Taylor made clear he was the favorite . ...
The Cavaliers have given new coach John Beilein a seasoned right-hand man. Former Grizzlies coach J.B. Bickerstaff is joining Beilein’s staff as an associate head coach, and potentially as his replacement in a few years.