Talking with: Aaron McKie

March 19, 2009 | 5:14 pm

After the unfortunate loss to the Sixers on Tuesday, I caught up with ex-Laker Aaron McKie for a few minutes. As someone who played with the Lakers right before their rapid rise, I was curious to get his take on that transformation, plus topics like Kobe Bryant, coaching and being "traded" for Pau Gasol. Here's what he had to say.

On the seamless addition of Pau Gasol last season
"For them to go out and get Pau midway through and make all the proper adjustments to get him involved, to get their team moving in the right direction. It's a credit to their system that they run and the guys that they have playing with them out there on the court."

On whether he was surprised to see the team play so well even before acquiring Gasol, given how poorly the 2007 season ended
"No, it takes time for guys to get the triangle down. I'm sure if you talk to a lot of guys who played in the system, they'll tell you it took them a couple of years to really understand what it is that you need to do. This is not just something you can throw somebody in and say to learn this right away and be ready to go. That's why, if you look at most of Phil Jackson's teams, the guys that he had played together for a long time. Not like a lot of teams now, where you're shuttling guys in and out. You knew eventually it was going to turn around for them. You have Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom, all these pieces that they have. And then you put a guy like Pau into the mix..."

On whether this team needing time to gel was typical for the NBA, or about the triangle
"It's more the triangle than anything else, because there's so many things you have to learn. Most other teams run basic basketball. You have normal pick and rolls. You run your three-down stuff. The triangle is a little different to that.

(When I asked if Gasol picking up the system in what felt lie be about ten minutes was the exception that proved the rule, McKie agreed.)

If it was weird being included in the Gasol-Kwame Brown trade, despite being out of the league at the time.
"Absolutely. I had no idea what it was about when my agent was telling me. I'm back in Philadelphia doing volunteer coaching, so it was weird for me. Even now, when I try to explain it, it's still weird to me."

On being an assistant coach, a career path he talked about during his 2007 exit interview
"It's been good. I really enjoy it, because I enjoy being around the game. Sharing the wealth of knowledge that I received during my playing career. That's ideal for me (too), to be able to be home in Philadelphia and play for the Sixers, and then coach for them. That's a dream come true."

(I've said it before and I'll say it again. Should McKie decide to pursue it, I think he has the potential to be an outstanding coach. Between his game smarts and ability to relate to players, I could see him doing quite well. Ronny Turiaf also agrees.)

If, having known Kobe for a long time, McKie talked to him when Bryant began making his displeasure with the Lakers public in 2007.
"Just try to be a little conscious of your teammates and the things you say in the paper, because people read and they listen. And sometimes you need to get stuff out and say how you feel. But I think it was a thing with him and management. I don't think it was so much of the players, you know."

As I started to ask a question about the trade demand, McKie laughed and interrupted me...
"No way. You knew that wasn't gonna happen. C'mon, man."