LOS ANGELES -- When the Los Angeles Lakers struggled early this season and failed to make a blockbuster trade, much of the criticism was directed toward Jim Buss, the team's executive vice president of player personnel who is being groomed to replace his father, Lakers owner Jerry Buss.

Jim Buss was given more of the reigns of the team last year and was blamed for the Lakers cutting ties with Phil Jackson in the offseason and his entire staff and hiring Mike Brown as coach.

The last time the Lakers went through such an organizational upheaval six years ago, Jim Buss was again a lightning rod for criticism, and Kobe Bryant demanded a trade.