Magic Johnson will have the freedom to do whatever he wants in his new role as an advisor to the Lakers, writes Tim Bontemps of The Washington Post. A news release issued by the team listed Johnson’s duties as “advising ownership on all business and basketball matters,” and Bontemps believes he will have a significant role in crafting the team’s future. That could include an ouster of executive vice president of basketball operations Jim Buss, whom Johnson has frequently criticized in the past. Johnson offered an olive branch to Buss on Thursday, saying, “Jim is calling the shots, and I want him to understand, I’m just here to lend advice,” but Bontemps says no one in the organization believes that.
There’s more news from Los Angeles:
- Johnson’s hiring signals a major shakeup and the likely end of Jim Buss’ time with the team, according to Bill Plaschke of The Los Angeles Times. Plaschke predicts the Lakers will become more attractive to free agents as Johnson brings in someone new to run the organization. The writer also expects Luke Walton to be kept as head coach and Mitch Kupchak to be replaced as general manager, but remain with the team as an advisor.
- Walton hopes to build the Lakers in the image of a team that was once their greatest rival, relays Baxter Holmes of ESPN.com. Growing up, the first-year head coach was greatly influenced by the 1985/86 champion Celtics that his father Bill was part of. “Everything that I’ve seen of basketball I thought should be played the way that Celtics team played,” Luke Walton said. “That was the standard of how basketball should be played — fast-paced, free-flowing, passing, high-scoring type of basketball. It was beautiful and historic.”
- The Lakers shouldn’t hesitate to take an elite point guard in this year’s draft even though they already have D’Angelo Russell, according to Chad Ford and Kevin Pelton of ESPN.com [Insider account]. Ford sees either Washington’s Markelle Fultz or UCLA’s Lonzo Ball as an upgrade, while Pelton notes Russell’s ability as a shooter and suggests that he could be moved to the two guard position.
I would love to see Jim buss gone but would like to keep Mitch as gm, he’s done a good job even though Jim buss gets the final say(like hiring Antoni over Phill).
I would love to see the lakers keep their pick and get Lonzo Ball this year, try to trade Russell and Randle for butler maybe bring in a third team to get Randle and the other team gives a pick to the Bulls or another young prospect. Lakers could roll with Ball-Butler-Ingram-Nance-Zubac
Nice thoughts you got there… But I don’t think the bulls will give butler for russel and randle. Both are great players but Jimmy is a star and a franchise-face player, so the lakers will need a better offer.
The problem with D’Angelo Russell as a point guard is that he couldn’t beat defenders going to his right in college and a year and a half later he can’t do it against NBA defenders. If he goes right for one dribble, he’s either coming back to the left or he’s going to pick it up and pass or shoot.
Draft a point guard and reverse the 2015 draft by trading Russell for Okafor. Both are offensive talents with major flaws on teams that have depth at their position. Squeeze something out of the Sixers to sweeten the deal.
Fair, but a 20yr old cannot learn. Again, how many years took KIrving?
Mike Conley too
LONZO BALL RUN THE FLOOR, he has the range , the basketball IQ , the court vision, and always a team player to get teammate involve, lakers please get this next magic johnson ;-)