Shams: Magic Johnson steps down as Lakers President of Basketball Operations

[dlts20]

Ernie Grunfield is available

[spikeslovechild]

All Magic had to do was trade Lonzo for George and he could have had George, Lebron, Dlo, Ingram, and Randle.

[HEKTOR]

You guys think Luke stays on as coach? I think he's next out the door.

[INKtastic]

The offseason hasn't even started, so how would he know that? Sure you could guess that some big names probably won't go there, but someone might.

Magic gave his reasons for leaving and I believe him. He wasn't having fun and wanted to do other things.

I don't get what is confusing here. The guy came in touting that he would bring big FAs to the Lakers with LeBron or he would quit, he quit. Am I the only person not having trouble drawing the line between A and B?

It's not confusion. He didn't even try to sign FA's this offseason. Yes things don't look good, but we don't know 100% where everyone will sign.

He gave up before he tried to do it.

Magic already knows where the guys he wanted are going, none of them were going to the lakers.

[eagereyez]

Watch on YouTube

[ThumbsUpBaby]

Damn it, so you're telling me the Lakers have a chance to make a turnaround now?

[An Unbiased Fan]

All Magic had to do was trade Lonzo for George and he could have had George, Lebron, Dlo, Ingram, and Randle.

What?

[mg]

Damn it, so you're telling me the Lakers have a chance to make a turnaround now?

Naw Jeanie Buss still owns the team.

[INKtastic]

I don't know how much of this is applicable to Magic specifically, but hearing him talk about how nice is his life without this crap makes me think what a huge shock to the system it must be for all these guys when they get an actual real job LOL
Even if to all of us it's just a fun job that is probably the dream of every middle aged American.

I think it's the Klutch camp behind the scenes stuff. One thing to run a young group of Lakers. Another to deal with trade demands, and a star expecting miracles int eh offseason, all while wanting the coach fired.

Magic promised he'd get LeBron a star. He publicly said he'd resign if he couldn't turn the team around.

[Crives]

What a crazy season

[KDS91]

Accurate look at Magic's potential successor walking in tomorrow:

[StringerBell]

I think it went down like this:
- Jeanie has a meeting with Magic and tells him he needs to go, time to shake things up
- to save face, Magic is told to announce that he's leaving on his own
- Magic gives a half assed press conference for which he clearly wasn't prepared/didn't care
- Magic makes a fool out of himself during the press conference

A lot of this has to be correct... I mean, if Jeanie really is a "sister" to you, do you really blindside her like this? Hell no.

Now, the question is what caused item #1? Did Jeanie get the sense that nobody wanted to come to LA? Was she upset about the AD fiasco? Was Magic getting tired of looking stupid to the public while Jeanie was?

So many questions... I can't help but wonder about the tampering stuff too. Maybe that isn't quite over and magic wanted no part of it...

This really is a fascinating story. I don't think Jeanie pushed Magic out. He said during the interview with Rachel Nichols, Jeanie gave him the power to make whatever moves needed to be made, including firing Luke.
He didn't tell Jeanie because essentially he was afraid she'd talk him out of leaving. According to him she'd understand why he had to do it this way.

[spikeslovechild]

I don't know how much of this is applicable to Magic specifically, but hearing him talk about how nice is his life without this crap makes me think what a huge shock to the system it must be for all these guys when they get an actual real job LOL
Even if to all of us it's just a fun job that is probably the dream of every middle aged American.

I think it's the Klutch camp behind the scenes stuff. One thing to run a young group of Lakers. Another to deal with trade demands, and a star expecting miracles int eh offseason, all while wanting the coach fired.

Magic promised he'd get LeBron a star. He publicly said he'd resign if he couldn't turn the team around.

Right? This tells me no saviour is coming to play with Lebron in the offseason which is why he bailed now.

[DusterBuster]

What a crazy season

Truly a magical one for the Lakers.

[An Unbiased Fan]

I don't know how much of this is applicable to Magic specifically, but hearing him talk about how nice is his life without this crap makes me think what a huge shock to the system it must be for all these guys when they get an actual real job LOL
Even if to all of us it's just a fun job that is probably the dream of every middle aged American.

I think it's the Klutch camp behind the scenes stuff. One thing to run a young group of Lakers. Another to deal with trade demands, and a star expecting miracles int eh offseason, all while wanting the coach fired.

Magic promised he'd get LeBron a star. He publicly said he'd resign if he couldn't turn the team around.

The ability for La to get another star was crushed by the AD debacle. Soured other players from wanting to play with Lebron after they saw what he did to his teammates. If he was 27 it would be one thing, but what star wants to team up with a 34-35 year old Lebron who gets all the credit, while you get all the blame?

Magic saw the writing on the wall. Again, had Klutch not pulled tricks, LA could have actually made a AD deal this offseason.

[Tracymcgoaty]

I think it's the Klutch camp behind the scenes stuff. One thing to run a young group of Lakers. Another to deal with trade demands, and a star expecting miracles int eh offseason, all while wanting the coach fired.

Magic promised he'd get LeBron a star. He publicly said he'd resign if he couldn't turn the team around.

The ability for La to get another star was crushed by the AD debacle. Soured other players from wanting to play with Lebron after they saw what he did to his teammates. If he was 27 it would be one thing, but what star wants to team up with a 34-35 year old Lebron who gets all the credit, while you get all the blame?

Magic saw the writing on the wall. Again, had Klutch not pulled tricks, LA could have actually made a AD deal this offseason.

I just love the way you masterfully absolve Magic of all the problems whilst giving it to the guy you hate.

[phx#7]

"We want to thank him for what he did for us. But what I needed was a leader."

[LightTheBeam]

Paul George spurns LA
The mid season AD attempt
Lavar ball/Lonzo drama
Lebron more concerned with space jam 2 than NBA
Luke Walton out with ty Lue and Jkidd rumored to replace
Magic steps down

Silver must be somewhere crying. Cant wait for game of zones!

Sent from my SM-N950U1 using RealGM mobile app

[Lalouie]

This is neither a good or bad thing. The lakers are in a hole deeper than the one that leads to China at the other end.

Therfore from where they've been to where they are now without their one notable celebrity, and since no one wants to play with Lebron, this team is now in the worst position they've ever been. "shambles" is the word that comes to mind

But,,,,,,,, Magic kept his word

[_Game7_]

Accurate look at Magic's potential successor walking in tomorrow: