Jim Buss stands by promise to step down if Lakers aren't competitive by 2017

Coming off the worst season in franchise history, and two of the bottom three, Los Angeles Lakers part-owner and executive vice president of basketball operations Jim Buss has a lot on the line.

While nobody can strip him of his ownership, and he and sister Jeannie Buss are surely free to change course, Jim could stand to lose his basketball operations title if the Lakers don't turn things around soon. At the end of the 2013-14 season, Jim said that he will step down if the team didn't become a contender in three-to-four years, a bold promise he's sticking by.

He admitted that how the new elements of the franchise's core look this season could go a long way in determining his future, according to The Los Angeles Times:

I don't mind that I said that, and I live by it. If we're not back contending in two years from now, then really I haven't done a good job. To me, the barometer of success at the end of next year ... is if we have eight core players that are going to be Lakers for the next five years.

It's not a number of wins. It's not if we make the playoffs. It's not how far we go in the playoffs. It matters that we have core players, and that these guys are our future.

Jim highlighted Jordan Clarkson, Julius Randle, D'Angelo Russell, and Roy Hibbert as core pieces moving forward, admitting that attracting the team's next superstar may require the current group to improve together and make the Lakers an attractive destination again. The Lakers didn't make a major splash this summer, but they maintained financial flexibility and have the salary cap space and market desirability to get in the conversation with top free agents next summer.

As the young players develop, most of the focus during the 2015-16 season will be on superstar Kobe Bryant, who may or may not be playing in his final NBA season. Jim said that Bryant is welcome to stay longer, but that doing so may mean accepting a different role.

"He just has to know, at that age, and that many miles on you, what is your role?" Jim said. "We'll explain the role, and if he still wants to do that and that's how he wants to go out, that's fine with me."

Bryant recently returned to shooting following season-ending shoulder surgery in January. The 17-time All-Star has been limited to 41 games over the past two seasons due to several major injuries but still managed to average 22.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.6 assists at age 36 last season.

Whether or not he's willing to play beyond this year is something Bryant has remained noncommittal on.