Former Lakers player, minority owner, and vice president Magic Johnson has rejoined the franchise, the team announced today in a press release. According to the Lakers’ announcement, Johnson will serve as an advisor to team ownership consulting with the Buss family on basketball operations and business matters.
“Everyone knows my love for the Lakers,” Johnson said in a statement. “Over the years, I have considered other management opportunities, however my devotion to the game and Los Angeles make the Lakers my first and only choice. I will do everything in my power to help return the Lakers to their rightful place among the elite teams of the NBA.”
According to the team, Johnson will report directly to Lakers governor Jeanie Buss. His duties will include, but won’t be limited to, the following: “Advising ownership on all business and basketball matters, collaborating with coaches, evaluating and mentoring players, assessing future franchise needs, and helping ownership to determine the best path for growth and success.”
Johnson’s role with the Lakers will be interesting to monitor, since he has been critical in recent years of some of the team’s basketball operations decisions, led by Jim Buss. As Mike Bresnahan of Spectrum SportsNet notes again today (via Twitter), Buss said in April 2014 that he’d step down from his position with the franchise if the Lakers weren’t contending for a title within “three or four” years.
Johnson was part of the Lakers’ ownership group for more than 15 years and served as a vice president for the team before selling his share of the organization in 2010.
Jeanie setting up the braintrust/power structure after Jim Buss’s inevitable stepping aside. Regardless of whether or not they keep the bottom three pick this year, I can’t wait for the next chapter after the Jim and Mitch Show.
Magic is a draw no doubt about it. He will get the lakers more interest from free agents. I think Mitch is very underrated and actually good. He had the pau trade and clarkson and zubac drafts. Randle will be very good. Russel too I think. Ingram big question mark. They need Lonzo ball. Move russel to SG. Trade clarkson for Nerlens Noel. Lou Williams for a number 1 pick. A core of Zubac, Ingram, russel, ball, randle, Noel could be a championship team.
The Sixers won’t make any deals with the Lakers this season if they think that the move will improve LA. Sixers have the Lakers 1st rounder (top 3 protected) which they could really use in a loaded draft.
Any first rounder for Lou is going to be a late first rounder. He’s a volume scorer and teams can get that from anywhere for cheaper than that price.
Sounds like Jim just lost everything to do with his job except the title. Good to see a winner in with a good sense for the game. Now that Phil will not be back they are finally moving on from the Jim wreck a franchise show. Hopefully a future for the lakers with a good coach and someone in charge of talent that knows what to look for.
I like Mitch, he did good with the pau trade. Don’t forget the Chris Paul trade that David Stern wouldn’t allow, but was agreed to. Dwight and Nash didn’t work out but at the time most thought it would work and maybe if Jimmy didn’t force them to go D’Antoni over Phil it might have been different, maybe it’s the same. Then his picks, larry end of round 1, Clarkson and zubac in round 2. I like our high picks of Julius. ingram, D’Angelo. He managed most of that with having to deal with jimmy buss slowing down this process. Jimmy flops in free agent presentations. Let magic and Mitch handle stuff from now on….Please
Bring back Jerry West!!!