Given RambisвЂ™ track record as a coach and general basketball decision-maker in his post-playing career, itвЂ™s stunning to many he continues to find himself in such a prominent role, even if only unofficially so. One executive even called him the LakersвЂ™ вЂњshadow president.вЂќ Multiple executives, when polled, suggested the Lakers should make sure they have their front-office hierarchy established before hiring a coach, and it appears they have, with Rambis stepping into that role. He also made the move for Jason Kidd, who will serve on the bench as an assistant coach. Rambis reportedly shut down the Lue hire, pushing back on LueвЂ™s demands which ultimately led talks to fall apart, and according to Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report, Rambis has effectively become a вЂњshadow presidentвЂќ in Los Angeles.ДЄccording to a person familiar with the negotiations, it wasnвЂ™t general manager Rob Pelinka but senior basketball adviser Kurt Rambis who orchestrated the Vogel hiring. Instead, they pressed forward with Pelinka heading things up, or at least thatвЂ™s how they made it seem.ДЇor months weвЂ™ve heard of the influence Kurt and Linda Rambis, friends of owner Jeanie Buss, have in the Lakers organization, but during this coaching search it seems KurtвЂ™s power has been expanded. GM Rob Pelinka was thought to have been given added power, but given how enticing the position could be to top names in the sport, it would have made sense for the Lakers to at least try and find someone to take on that role before signing a coach. There have been many questions about the Lakers coaching search, chief among them the fact that they never addressed the team president position after Magic Johnson stepped down. Vogel will be joined by Jason Kidd on the bench as a top assistant, something that was among the reported sticking points with Lue - as was the three-year contract length, which Vogel was also willing to accept. The Lakers finally found their new coach as the team hired former Pacers and Magic coach Frank Vogel on Saturday after failing to come to an agreement with Tyronn Lue earlier in the week as talks fell apart.

Shadow president online