2. Nurse joins a dysfunctional team
The Lakers might have the name recognition, but they are being run like a small-market also-ran thanks to boundless nepotism and short-sighted moves. Bereft of draft picks, LA’s three best players are a player who will be 39 next year in James, the struggling Russell Westbrook, and the perpetually hurt Anthony Davis.
The front office isn’t much better. Rob Pelinka has underwhelmed as a GM, but owner Jeanie Buss has come under fire lately. With best friend Linda Rambis in some unknown position of prominence as well as strife between ownership and Klutch Sports, the Lakers aren’t being organized like how Buss’ late father set things up.
Nick Nurse has stability with the Toronto Raptors.
Contrast this with Toronto for a second. Nurse still has a majority of his draft capital while all of his star players are younger than 30 and have shown to fit well alongside one another. From Larry Tannenbaum at the top to Masai Ujiri and Bobby Webster in the front office, Toronto has uncommon organizational stability.
Nurse is at his best hunkered down in the film room coming up with new wrinkles in his attack. Does he sound like the kind of guy who wants to potentially deal with another season of Westbrook or listen to seven other opinions shouted at him from the front office?