FanPost

Defining Lakers' exceptionalism -- why free agents will sign with us next summer

exceptionalism

noun

the belief that something is exceptional, especially the theory that the peaceful capitalism of the US constitutes an except to the general economic laws governing national historical development.

Now... what is Lakers’ exceptionalism?

Is it championships? Well, I hate to say this (but it’s all right since it won’t be true much longer), but the Celtics have more championships. 17 to our 16 – five of which, purists argue, don’t count because they were won in Minneapolis.

Is it three-peats? We do have the latest one with Shaq and Kobe, but the Bulls probably have the more famous ones with Jordan in 1991-1993 and 1996-1998.

Is it being a major market? New York is called the greatest city in the world. Their basketball team right now is kind of a joke. They’ve only won two championships in their whole franchise history.

Is it for being synonymous with basketball? Michael Jordan has, for many years, been the uncontested Greatest Of All Time (GOAT). I haven’t really heard the term "Bulls’ exceptionalism."

However, we do have two contenders for the GOAT throne with Magic Johnson in the past and LeBron James right now. Jerry West, who played his whole career with the Lakers, is the NBA’s logo. And Kobe Bryant has the highest scoring NBA game for a guard with 81.

So… it’s the fact that we have stars (or superstars)?

Yes and no. More no than yes, actually. Hear me out.

It’s not just about HAVING stars. It’s about how you can attract them. How you keep them. The Oklahoma City Thunder had three MVPs on their team at one time with Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden. They traded one away, one left them and there’s still the one left who is defiantly fighting a losing battle. I’d put money down that he’s going to leave them before the end of his career – especially if he wants to ever win a championship.

The Lakers’ secret weapon in what has become a players’ league is this: loyalty. This is why LeBron James chose the Lakers. We have it. We show it. In deeds, not words. In an era where people keep saying "it’s just business," the Lakers try to run their franchise like a family. A sometimes dysfunctional one, to be sure, but one where your needs, wants and goals are catered to rather than ignored.

The Lakers have a long-standing tradition of standing behind their stars, their champions, and generally doing the best for their players rather than operating "just as a business". We build statues for our superstars. We bring "the family" back in prominent positions. Byron Scott really had no business being our coach, but we brought him back then because he was family.

In recent years, we railed against the Lakers front office when they gave that HUGE US$48.5 million contract extension to Kobe, pointing to Tim Duncan and Dirk Nowitzki as examples of how modern stars give their teams a discount so that they can build a stronger team around them that can contend in the playoffs.

So how did these teams do? In the past five years, the Mavericks made the playoffs three times and lost in the first round. In the past three years, the Spurs made the playoffs, lost in the first round once and lost in the second round the other two times. Oh, and they recently traded away their unhappy 2013-2014 Finals MVP to the Raptors.

Speaking of the Raptors, they just traded half of their dynamic duo, a basketball star who was drafted to their team, has always wanted to stay with their team, has been a great ambassador for the city… after constantly assuring him that nothing was happening, there were no truth to the basketball rumors, he was going to be there for the long haul.

We also have the Celtics. Oh, the Celtics. Their 2017 MVP candidate, the diminutive Isaiah Thomas, played his heart out for them and got traded to the Cavaliers (against his wishes) for his efforts.

I’m not gonna lie and say that we didn’t make our own share of mistakes. "Basketball reasons" is a term that will forever live in infamy in the minds of Lakers fans for David Stern’s rejection of our attempted trade of Gasol/Odom for Chris Paul. The trade so devastated Lamar that he basically lost his purpose in life and pretty much became a bum. Pau was so hurt that he flat out refused the front office’s offer to bring him back when he entered free agency.

But we learnt from our mistakes. (Jeanie cleaned house). Clarkson wanted to play for a contender. Larry probably would’ve given an arm to go to the team that his father played on for seven seasons. It would have been in our best interests to keep Randle with the qualifying offer, but knowing that minutes would be low and that we wouldn’t give anything longer than a short-term contract, he asked to be let out and WE DID IT even if we didn’t have to.

Players know. It shows. And now that we look like we’re ready to climb the mountain of destiny again, it’s gonna be great if you’re leading the pack. That’s why LeBron James is here. That’s why we’re gonna get the second superstar next year. And that’s why we’re gonna beat those hated Celtics again to tie (then surpass) their championship total.

Count on it.