Lakers' offer to Tyronn Lue was 'disrespectful' and 'pitiful,' according to Chauncey Billups
The Los Angeles Lakers are still dealing with the fallout of failing to come to an agreement with Tyronn Lue. The team has been ripped for its handling of the situation, with a number of ex-players and analysts questioning the team’s thinking.
One of the harshest criticisms comes from former Detroit Pistons guard Chauncey Billups. The 42-year-old Billups called the Lakers’ offer “disrespectful” and “pitiful” during an impassioned speech on ESPN.
Billups’ analysis begins around the 2:40 mark.
Billups begins by saying he’s going to be nice before launching into a harsh critique of the team.
“The disrespect is unbelievable that they’ve given to Ty Lue. He’s a championship coach. This is an organization with 16 championships. You would think that they would value a champion, but they haven’t. But the dysfunction obviously starts at the top anywhere. Period. Anywhere.
“But to offer this dude three years when you’re just coming off offering Luke [Walton] five, and to try to pick his staff — you didn’t pick Luke’s staff — is disrespectful. Monty Williams just got a five-year deal. So did Luke, got another five-year deal*. Congratulations to those dudes. And that’s, like, the standard. You offer this dude three years. He’s a champion. It’s pitiful, man. I don’t know what they’re doing. I don’t know where they are going.”
*Walton signed a four-year deal with the Sacramento Kings.
Whether or not you agree with Lue being a good coach, Billups makes some fair points. The Lakers gave Luke Walton a five-year deal in 2016 despite a limited track record. The team also didn’t try to handpick Walton’s assistants.
Lue has a much longer history and has won a championship. Even if you want to give LeBron James the credit for that championship, it’s still pretty disrespectful to treat Lue like a total unknown.
With Lue now out of the picture, the Lakers will have to find another coach who fits what they are looking to do. When the time comes to make that coach an offer, the Lakers better figure out a contract that won’t result in them getting roasted again.
(Yahoo Sports NBA H/N: FTW)
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Chris Cwik is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at christophercwik@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Chris_Cwik
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