Magic Johnson, current president of basketball operation for the Los Angeles Lakers has given himself two summers to make a substantial difference to the roster per Tania Ganguli of the Los Angeles Times. He went on to say that he would even step down himself, without Lakers owner Jeanie Buss “needing to fire him”.
Magic Johnson says he’s got two summers to remake the roster. “If I fail I shouldn’t be in this position.”
— Tania Ganguli (@taniaganguli) June 26, 2018
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
It’s hard for one not to make the comparison to when Jim Buss gave himself a deadline to make the Lakers a championship caliber team just four years prior. Magic was quite critical of the previous Lakers regime, from criticizing his hiring of Mike D’Antoni to how the Lakers were playing in general. As someone who seems to have an idea of how he wants to reshape the Lakers, Magic’s finally in the driver’s seat, giving himself a time frame for when he expects the purple and gold to contend once again.
Was this a good idea? Probably not as we know that there’s no telling with how free agency plays out and given how the Lakers have struck out the past few summers, albeit under the Mitch Kupchak and Jim Buss duo.
Although this is a new challenge for Magic, it still seems as though he’s approaching it with the confidence that Magic’s been known for his entire career.
Plaschke asks Magic if he feels pressure.
"No pressure on me. I’m gonna do my job. I’ve always done that. You know how many Finals I’ve been in? You think I’m worried about this?…"@BillPlaschke: But this is a different job.
"I’m Magic Johnson I’m still the same dude."
— Tania Ganguli (@taniaganguli) June 26, 2018
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
The questioned decision to trade a young piece in D’Angelo Russell and Timofey Mozgov’s contract/corpse did open up cap space to set the Lakers up for marquee signings with many star players becoming free agents this summer and the summer of 2019. Magic has been given a lot to work with, and we will see how it all plays out when free agency starts July 1st.
4 thoughts