Since Magic Johnson was resigned as the team president of the Los Angeles Lakers, rumors have swarmed surrounding the reason for his departure. Monday, Johnson answered those questions in a live interview with ESPN’s First Take. The entire interview focused solely on his recent stint with the team as an executive, including the criticisms he faced when it came to picking players or letting them go. He was also asked about the other front office figureheads such as CEO Jeanie Buss, and General Manager Rob Pelinka. While Magic had his share of criticism and admiration for Buss, it was Pelinka at whom he took a big shot at. Here are some of the highlights of his interview:
On the rumors about Rob Pelinka operating behind his back:
“Then I start hearing ‘Magic you not working hard enough.’ ‘Magic’s not in the office.’ So people around the Lakers office was telling me Rob was saying things and I didn’t like those things being said behind my back. I started getting calls from my friends outside of basketball saying those things were said to them outside of basketball.”
On the decision to trade D’Angelo Russell:
“First year in, it was tremendous. I wanted our strategies to be let’s get under the salary cap, because we were way over the salary cap. And I said let’s trade some people, get some draft picks…D’Angelo…great guard but had a problem when Shaggy P (Swaggy P aka Nick Young) and that whole thing went down, so I knew I had to get him out. We made some moves; that draft pick turned into Kyle Kuzma.”
Says that the “straw that broke the camel’s back” was when he attempted to fire then head coach Luke Walton. Magic says that they he went back and froth with Buss over the decision, then it was another figurehead – Tim Harris – who was brought in for his input but wanted to keep Walton.
On not telling Lebron James – his prize free agent signing from last summer – that he was leaving the Lakers:
“I could have done it a different way, but I did it my way.”
The man who many have considered the greatest Laker ever, finds himself in the greatest mess in Lakers’ history. When Magic Johnson took this job in 2017, the team was in full on rebuilding mode, in the wake of Kobe Bryant’s retirement. While they have shown flashes of potential it has not amounted to any real success. They have missed the postseason in the 2 and a half seasons he has been the team president. They were close to reaching it this year. But injuries seemed to have taken on toll on quite a few players including James. Decisions to let go of players such as Russell and forward Julius Randle, have only been met with criticism and distrust that the front office knows what they are doing. The biggest blunder of Johnson’s tenure might be the infamous Anthony Davis trade that fell apart and many NBA fans have criticized as a deal in which too much is given up from one side.
Despite the mess between the 2 parties, it seems both sides have moved on. The Lakers have found a new head coach to replace Walton, with former Indiana Pacers and Orlando Magic coach Frank Vogel. Magic himself appears to be happy with running his multiple businesses and tweeting about the game and its players whenever he gets the chance. He still wishes the Lakers much success and plans to attend to every game and has even alluded to owning the team, should Jeanie decide to sell. Listen to the full interview below: