Dwight Howard’s gone. Phil Jackson is no longer at the helm. And the greatest owner ever in sports history, Dr. Jerry Buss, has passed away, leaving his beloved franchise to his inexperienced children, Jim and Jeanie Buss. Kobe Bryant is recovering from a season-ending injury at the age of 35. And, sadly, no rational human being really expects the Lakers to get past the first round in the playoffs this season, let alone even make the playoffs.

These are the unfortunate but true facts. The question now is, what happens next? When are the sixteen-time champion Lakers going to win their next championship? Are they hoping to sign a superstar free agent in the summer? Why is Mike D’antoni still the head coach of the Lakers?

Longtime Laker fan, junior Kevork Anouchian says, “The Lakers are going nowhere and fast, until they fire that sorry excuse of a head coach in Mike D’antoini and hire Phil Jackson.” While this is the opinion of many Laker fans, the real problem is not figuring out who the coach and owner should be, it is the non-existent locker room chemistry between the players. The awkward relationship between the two superstars on the team, Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard, left fans angry and frustrated.

But the loudest chants of Clark Magnet Lakers fans are about the incompetence of Lakers owner Jim Buss. “It’s all Jim Buss’s fault,” said senior Arthur Gharabkhanyan. “They were in the midst of a three-peat until he took over.” And others just simply trashed Buss: “He sucks! He doesn’t know basketball!” said junior Walter Malkhasyan.

Contrary to popular belief, Jim Buss is a very good owner. Although no one, even him, will ever be as good as his father, Dr. Jerry Buss, Jim is still a very good owner. After all, he was the one who brought Chris Paul to LakerLand, until the tyrant David Stern shot the trade down. He was the one who drafted and took a chance on the oft-injured center Andrew Bynum, which in turn brought Dwight Howard to the Lakers.

And also not known by much of the public, but it was later revealed that Dr. Jerry Buss was the one who authorized the Mike D’antoni head coach signing . Like all people with no experience in their job, Jim Buss still has a lot of learning to do, yet Lakers fans are not letting him. The sooner Lakers fans accept him as the new owner, the sooner Jim Buss will become better.

The plan of the current Lakers team is similar to the one of the Dallas Mavericks two years ago: build a team that has a chance to make the playoffs, and then, more importantly, try to sign a free super-star agent in the summer.

And now look at the Mavericks; two summers have passed, and there is still only one legitimate All-Star on the team. Not mentioning that they missed the playoffs last season. Is this what the Laker fans really want?

The Lakers should begin thinking for the future and not only for ticket sales. They should trade Pau Gasol, and the old and injury-prone Steve Nash for some draft picks in next year’s strong draft. Then maybe consider tanking (losing games purposefully) for this season as an option to get better for the future.

“I feel we should tank this season, or get as many draft picks we can for next season, because it is obvious the Lakers aren’t gonna do anything this year anyway,” said junior Robert Agajanian. But other optimistic, delusional Lakers fans still believe the LakeShow has a chance to win the championship. “We’re the Lakers! No matter what we are the best. I don’t care who is in the playoffs we’re gonna win. This team is amazing,” said Junior Artur Arzrunyan.

“The Lakers strength is shown through their fans! And we are as strong as ever! I believe…Do you believe? Lets go Lakers!” said junior Khatchig Papisian.

No matter what owner Jim Buss and General Manager Mitch Kupchak decide, we will be watching them with a very close eye.