NBA 2K14: MyGM - The Greatest Dynasty in History

It seems like yesterday when I stepped into Lakers HQ to stake my claim on the franchise. I promised them a dynasty and that was exactly what they got.

Funny how my career started, with a big loss against our cross town rivals the Clippers. We reeled off three straight wins after that, including a key victory against the Spurs.

The acquisition of Bledsoe made an immediate impact on our team chemistry. With a young athletic guy in the backcourt, he really opened the opportunities for old veterans Gasol and Kobe. He revitalized our team and we started rolling the competition. Nobody had any expectations for us at the beginning of the season, especially with a rookie GM at the helm, but we proved everyone wrong.

I made some mild moves during the season and traded Kent Bazemore to the Clippers for a first round pick and Ryan Hollins. We started off strong and consistent and ended the season with a 53-29 record, good enough for 3rd seed in the Western Conference.

For the end of season awards, LeBron won MVP. Rookie of the Year went to Michael Carter-Williams. Sixth Man of the Year was Andre Miller. Defensive player of the year was Anthony Davis. Most improved player was Lance Stephenson. But the most surprising nod was Pau Gasol on the All-NBA 2nd team and All-Defensive 1st team. Eric Bledsoe was on the All-NBA 3rd team. I credit Bledsoe for allowing Gasol to play the best defense of his career.

It was a tough series against the Rockets but we squeaked by in seven games in the first round. After that, we cruised passed the Grizzlies 4-1. We had our backs against the wall and survived the Trailblazers in seven in the Western Conference Finals.

We reached the Finals but our joy was short-lived. We were up against the Heat and the losses came hard and furious. They were too much for us. We were outmatched and on the verge of a sweep. With the odds against us, we were forced to accomplish what no other team had done in NBA history, and that was to come back and win. Down three, we rattled off four straight victories for the championship. They didn’t think it was possible, but we did it and achieved the impossible.

My first year was a success but my job wasn’t done. My biggest acquisition in the off-season was undoubtedly the signing of LeBron. That ensured our title contention for the next few years. Coupled with my excellent scouting, I was able to surround him with exciting young talent.

Scouting was critical to my success. I relentless watched film with the scouts to determine the best draft prospects and I traded our assets for picks. In the ensuing years, the team never had a player older than 33.

Eventually, I stumbled upon a formula that didn’t require such in depth scouting. The Sports Institute that was created at the start of my tenure was lynchpin for my success. It allowed me to accurately pinpoint the quality of each player in the league. I knew without a doubt whether I came away a winner or loser in a trade. If anyone ever asked you who was responsible for winning a championship, the front office or the players, here was the answer: the front office.

After three years of back-to-back titles, I was able to accrue enough influence to essentially take ownership of the team. It wasn’t until a decade later that true ownership was transferred to me. As owner-GM, I called the shots and put together an organization that would win everything all the time.

It starts with the staff. You can’t compromise with coaching, the athletic trainers, or the medical staff. I hired only the best to attend to organizational matters and the players.

Thanks to the Sports Institute, players on our team were rendered almost impervious to injury. The worst they ever experienced were minor tweaks that they would heal in days. Our developmental program was phenomenal, allowing even the worst players to improve by leaps and bounds. Any draft players we picked up would routinely become quality rotation players, but I concentrated heavily on high potential talent and turned them into superstars.

Our players frequently played above their ceilings, allowing us to trade them with inflated values for better prospects. I regularly fleeced the market with my overvalued assets.

The Lakers became known as a superstar farm, churning out amazing players and squeezing their talent at the peak of their abilities. Once they had reached their primes, we let them walk. Another team would sign them to huge contracts, hamstringing their ability to put together a good team at a reasonable price. It didn’t matter to us because we groomed a backup star and allowed them to take center stage next season. We did this for every position and rarely did we hold onto a player for more than ten years. If you look at the Hall of Fame, almost all of them were Lakers.

Not only were our teams regularly stacked at every position; we also never had to pay the luxury tax with the exception of three years. Thanks to my hard work, the Lakers dominated for more than half a century.

I fear my time is coming to an end. I must relinquish control to my successors. I can rest easy though. Nobody can take away from my legacy. In my 67 years as the Lakers GM, I won 65 championships, bringing our franchise total to a cool 80. Only two teams managed to best me: the Knicks and the Trailblazers.

They are mere blips in what has been the greatest run in professional sports in any league in the history of the world. Regardless of whether we win from now on until 2100, there is no question that the century belonged to us. I once proposed that the NBA be renamed to the Lakers League, and the vote almost passed thanks to our ridiculous run of consecutive championships.

It’s the year 2079. I’ve set the template and created the formula for success. Let’s hope my successor can do what I’ve always done:

WIN.

NBA 2K14: MyGM - The Demands

Erick Boenisch examined me closely. A laptop was open and the screen reflected off his eyes. I couldn’t tell what he was thinking.

“As you know, the Buss’s own this franchise. I’m here as their representative. You can take my word as their word.”

“I look forward to working with you.”

“Likewise.”

The room was well lit with a big window. My eyes wandered, observing impressive upholstery and furniture. It was bigger than my office.

“Let’s get down to business, shall we? As you know, we lost Dwight Howard to the Rockets, and with Kobe in decline, we have to look towards the future. We need young talent.” He leaned forward, the soft glow of the laptop tinting his face. “But this doesn’t mean we’re tanking. You were hired because you made a promise to bring us into title contention. Can I still trust you on that?”

“I don’t intend to break that promise,” I said. He seemed satisfied.

“Next year’s draft may be the deepest in ages. There is potential franchise changing talent in there.”

“Like a new Kobe Bryant?”

“There’s no one quite like Kobe, but if we can continue the Laker’s legacy of incredible players, this is the time to do it. We’ve extended the contract on Kobe, so I know your salary cap situation is less than ideal. We might not be able to make a free agent splash, so it’s imperative to get a good draft pick.”

“While still contending for the title?”

“Do whatever you have to. Make some trades. I don’t care. We need a good pick.” It was an unreasonable demand, but the Lakers were known for pulling off the impossible.

“That’s a tough sell, but I’ll see what I can do.”

“For the next goal, I know you can’t do much about this since it’s up to the coaching staff and players, but we need wins. We may be the most profitable franchise in the league, but the only profit we recognize are wins.  Put together a roster that can do that for us. I want at least twenty W’s at Staple Center.”

“I’ll see what I can do.”

“I don’t expect much trouble with this one, but sell out at least fourteen home games.”

“No problem. We have the best fans in the world. Anything else?”

“You’re new, so that’s all I got for now. Don’t worry though; I’ll be sure to think up new goals as we advance in the season. Now it’s my turn to ask what you want.”

This was my moment. I cleared my throat and ran things through my head. “We need to invest in our players. Can I trust that no expense will be spared?”

“That depends. What are you thinking?”

“Today’s NBA is a different league. Stats dominate the discussion. We need better equipment and software to analyze the potential and effectiveness of players.”

“Spoken like a true product of the numbers generation. You have something specific in mind?”

“I don’t think we’ll be able to build all of it by the end of this year, but the investment will put us ahead of the competition by years. It will also make our franchise more attractive to prospective agents. First, we should have a player lounge to keep up morale. A recovery facility should help prevent injuries. Last season was plagued by injuries. I think injury prevention is absolutely vital to our success going forward.”

“Players aren’t as durable as they used to be.”

“I want our players to be stronger, faster, and smarter. We should put together a new center using the latest research in sports science. It won’t just be for our athletes, it could be for anyone. I’m talking about a state of the art facility for maximizing player potential.”

“Sounds like you’ve already planned for this.”

“I’ve put together building designs, prospective staff—all experts in their field, along with the projected budget.”

“Intriguing. Send it to me when you get the chance. If it’s as great as you say, it might become an alternate revenue source. I’ll have the Buss’s look over the proposal. Ultimately, they control the purse strings. Anything else?”

“That’s all.”

“Good meeting. Update me by the end of the month. I’ll let you know if they’ll green light the projects.”

“Thank you.”

Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant had been a potent combination for the last few years, but it was clear that wasn’t enough anymore. Our scouting department had gotten lazy since they weren’t critical to our success. The departure of Dwight Howard was a big blow for our franchise. We needed to show the league that the Lakers are still the prime spot for the best players. If we couldn’t make a splash during free agency, then we’d do it in the draft.

Head of our scouting department was Ronald Hamlin. Although he did his best with our low draft picks, it was time for someone hungrier with something to prove. I let him go and replaced him with Ryan Lantz, an up and coming scout with an exceptional eye for talent, and signed him to a three-year contract.

“Ryan, I want to know who the superstars are going to be before the world does. Can I trust you to find the best prospects?”

“Just leave it to me, Jo.”

“Your department’s going to be a huge part of our success in the coming years. That’s why I signed you for three of them. I’m looking forward to the results.”

To maximize our profit, I made minor changes to the pricing of parking, concessions, and souvenirs.

We couldn’t tank this year, which meant we had to trade for a draft pick. I made some bold moves before the season started. I traded Wesley Johnson for the Jazz’s first round pick.

Next, I sent Kendall Marshall and Steve Nash to the Suns for Eric Bledsoe and their 2015 second round pick. Normally, they would never accept it, but I convinced them that a player as great as Nash should retire in Phoenix. I’m sure their medical staff could squeeze out a miraculous final season from him too.

I was going all in for this next transaction. I gave up my first round picks for both 2014 and 2015 for the Piston’s 2014 first rounder. For this season, I hope to god that the Pistons and Jazz fail spectacularly. If worse comes to worse, I’m putting Bledsoe on the trading block for picks. Thankfully, none of the picks are lottery protected.

With a dynamic young player like Bledsoe in our starting lineup, I hoped to squeeze just a little more juice out of the Gasol-Kobe combo. What I really wanted was a big man to control the paint, but this should be enough for now.

NBA 2K14: MyGM - The Dynasty

It was a surprisingly modest office. For a room that spawned numerous championship teams, I expected something a little more...

Glamorous.

This was the Los Angeles Lakers, a storied and proud franchise. Winning was a matter of course, and there was no reason to flaunt it. Quietly, in plain sight, was a row of championship trophies in the main office, proof of our legacy, and one I hoped to add to.

“If you ask me what our goal is, it’s to surpass the Celtic’s trophy count,” Mitch Kupchak said to me.

Mitch Kupchak, former General Manager of the Los Angeles Lakers, stood tall behind his desk. It was obvious he was a former player from his height. He bore a marked resemblance to John Malkovich, not that I’d ever say it out loud.

He had recently announced his resignation and I was chosen to succeed him. It would be a tough act to follow, considering the Lakers won five championships under his tenure.

He was in the process of clearing out his office. The room was mostly bare, having been emptied out. A plastic bin sat on his desk, filled with knick knacks. It was just me and him.

“Any advice for me?” I asked.

“You have to trust the people around you. That’s the key. It takes a lot of pressure off your shoulders. The best we can do is providee the organization the best opportunity to do one thing: win. This is the Lakers. Money doesn’t matter. Win no matter the cost.”

That was what I was brought here to do, to build championship teams and stake out a dynasty in this league.

“Good luck, Jo, you’re going to need it. Erick wants to see you after this. You should hurry.”

Erick Boenisch, representative for the Buss family, was going to be the person I’d report to for the foreseeable future.

“Thanks,” I said as I left the room. I entered a narrow hallway that led to Erick’s office. A set of double doors waited me.

This was where it begins.

The new Lakers Dynasty.