Los Angeles Lakers all-time great Magic Johnson, who was recently hired as the team’s adviser, is set to meet with executive vice president of basketball operations Jim Buss and GM Mitch Kupchak to assess the team’s current state and its strategy heading into the Feb 23 NBA trade deadline. On Monday, Lakers beat writer Kevin Ding revealed a number of instances in the Lakers’ recent history that could lead to the departure of the two front office executives.
The lengthy piece detailed a number of instances that showed Jim Buss and Mitch Kupchak’s lack of foresight, starting with 2011’s failed trade for Chris Paul. According to the Bleacher Report article by Kevin Ding, citing sources close to Los Angeles Lakers late owner Jerry Buss, had the team offered Andrew Bynum instead of a package that included Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom to the New Orleans Hornets, the NBA would have likely approved of the deal. The Hornets, then owned by the NBA, was reportedly looking for a collection of young talent and draft picks for Chris Paul. Former NBA commissioner David Stern vetoed the deal. Ding points out that Magic Johnson’s meeting with the two could eventually lead to a change in leadership this summer.
The article blames Jim Buss’ fixation on Andrew Bynum, whom he drafted, as the main reason for the failed trade. He also cites a similar fixation for former Los Angeles Lakers center Robert Sacre cost the team another star, when Hassan Whiteside – who worked out for the team in 2014 and did well – was bypassed in favor of Sacre. Magic Johnson has been quoted recently as saying he would like to call the shots in the future.
“Everybody has to be on the same page right now,” Magic Johnson told ESPN. “What we should be concerned about is not just right now, but how it will affect the future of the [Los Angeles] Lakers.” As noted by ESPN, Johnson’s full capacity with the team is as an adviser to Lakers president and co-owner Jeannie Buss.
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