**Magic to assist Jeannie in basketball and business

[Wavy Q]

i'm hoping his role is like his role with the Dodgers, mostly a face for the organization not making huge decisions

[ak7]

Dang, the Lakers bring in a well-respected basketball figure into their organization and people still complain. Who do you want then, because a 40 year old Jerry West isn't walking through that door.

[myersia]

I actually think Magic could be an amazing mentor for Russell as well.

[ALL HAIL]

So, according to some of you, Magic has more business insight to offer than basketball insight? Ridiculous. Y'all just hate him because he's beyond passionate about his Lakers and is guilty of being willing to share his passion, usually criticism over the last few years (for good reason), with anyone who will listen.

[ALL HAIL]

And when you thought things could not get worse, you go and ask Magic for help. Im really hoping that his involvement on the basketball side of things will be minimal or this will end in disaster.

Why exactly?

[Edrees]

I think it's a good decision because I'm desperate for any shake up. Whatever we are doing now ISNT WORKING. You can't get worse from being the 2nd worst team in the NBA two years in a row, losing our flexibility by signing useless veterans eating up our cap space, with a bunch of young talent that may or may not pan out. (Ingram and Randle are hopeful, Russell isn't looking so good...)

What are you guys worried about, that we'll drop from 2nd worst to 1st worse? Re-sign mozgov and deng for another 5 years? I don't mind this, lets see what happens at least

[dockingsched]

Dang, the Lakers bring in a well-respected basketball figure into their organization and people still complain. Who do you want then, because a 40 year old Jerry West isn't walking through that door.

I guess I don't see how the timing of this announcement helps basketball operations at all as the trade deadline approaches. The only effect I can predict is that the front office is pressured to make moves with short term in mind cause they're looking over their shoulder. Why announce this now? What's the benefit?

[danfantastk32]

Dang, the Lakers bring in a well-respected basketball figure into their organization and people still complain. Who do you want then, because a 40 year old Jerry West isn't walking through that door.

I guess I don't see how the timing of this announcement helps basketball operations at all as the trade deadline approaches. The only effect I can predict is that the front office is pressured to make moves with short term in mind cause they're looking over their shoulder. Why announce this now? What's the benefit?

I agree. Unless perhaps Jim has already talked to Jeanie, and told her he plans to step down? Otherwise, if Jim goes out and does some stupid, desperate trade.....you have to put some of that on Jeanie now.

I have to reserve my judgment on Magic. Firstly...thanks for helping. I know he loves the Lakers. I have my doubts about him "running the team" very well....but right now I have no idea how much help he intends to give. Right now we need help. That's for sure.

At the same time, I don't want him getting too involved and becoming this "push-back" against some new President of operations, should we get one. This team needs some stability, and Magic can help that. But if he starts power-playing and publicly 2nd-guessing management (as he's been want to do) then that just mucks everything up more.

[Danny Darko]

from December:

"I'm going to say it again: I love Jim Buss. He should just be the owner, like his dad was just the owner," Johnson said. "Let's go back with facts, so I can back this up with facts: 27 wins a couple years ago, 21 wins last year. Three summers now, we haven't signed anybody. I am backing this up with facts. We haven't signed any superstar. We've had cap space. We had cap space last summer. We're going to have more this summer."
"You've got to get somebody to help [Buss] out," said Johnson, an unpaid Lakers vice president. "Just play your role. There's nothing wrong with being a great owner.

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/magic-johnson-has-some-advice-for-jim-buss-just-be-an-owner/

[TylersLakers]

Now -- This is interesting.

At first when I saw the tweet, I just fluffed it off as a public relations move where Magic and his Twitter account will chant "Go Lakers! Luke Walton is doing a heck of a job!" for the next couple years as he collects a cheque to do so.

But then, I looked at the title and his "job duties" that are included:

Johnson's duties will include, but not be limited to, 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 will spend time at Lakers offices in El Segundo and will report directly to Jeanie Buss.

Evaluating players, business and basketball matters, collaborating with coaches? That sounds like someone who's going to be far more involved than publicly helping the image of the Lakers. Also, reporting directly to Jeanie Buss? To me, this sounds like he's going to be the appointed snitch for Jeanie Buss. Jeanie has willingly mentioned that she's completely out of the basketball operations picture and "empowers" basketball operations to do their job. Well, not any longer. He's the bridge (and evidently, the snitch) to watch over Jim & Mitch these next couple months and report to Jeanie whether the franchise needs a change or not.

Should be interesting.

[Dr Aki]

Reading between the lines, this is the first move by Jeanie to fire Jim and Mitch.

It's one thing to hire a basketball mind, it's another when you trot out an ex-legend, more known for his smile than his ability to produce meaningful basketball insight.

Jim and Mitch have assembled a pretty good young core in the shadow of the process, which is finally paying dividends in Philly and now Jeanie wants control, based on a vague promise of playoffs a few years ago.

If you want to fire Jim and Mitch, you'd trust Jeanie even less with the direction of the franchise

I sent this from a potato using a penny and strips of copper attached to an antenna and half a coke can

[BEazy]

I like it. Getting Magic involved means free agents will be more than willing to listen to what we have to offer. I mean, lets face it, Mitch and Jim showing their presentations to top free agents wasn't all that enticing to begin with. Magic being more involved and as a successful businessman will definitely help with the allure of being a Laker.

I 100% support this decision Jeanie made. Hope this is the first foot out the door for Jim. I hope Mitch decides to stay. We need his patience as opposed to sometimes Magic's impatience. Sort of like a Ying Yang combo with the two.

[milesfides]

Writing is on the wall for Jim, but the question is what happens with Mitch.

I can see how Magic would take on the VP role while Mitch stays on as GM, just logistically speaking. Unless Magic has a operational team ready and infrastructure in place (doubt it)

[TylersLakers]

Writing is on the wall for Jim, but the question is what happens with Mitch.

I can see how Magic would take on the VP role while Mitch stays on as GM, just logistically speaking. Unless Magic has a operational team ready and infrastructure in place (doubt it)

Yup, Mitch is the one I'm curious about. Personally, I hope he stays.

[Pointgod]

As long as he's not making personnel decisions this is a good thing if Mitch and Jim are out.

[DS17]

And when you thought things could not get worse, you go and ask Magic for help. Im really hoping that his involvement on the basketball side of things will be minimal or this will end in disaster.

Why exactly?

Yeah Michael....why would you complain when you got MAGIC JOHNSON helping out? He has the respect of everyone.. alot more than Jim esp. when it will come to reqruiting players

[Kilroy]

Just going to say it again... Magic is NOT going to be satisfied "Advising" the Buss family... He wants to own the Lakers. If he's doing this, it's because he see's a way to become the owner...
I mean based on his quotes, it's clear he already thinks of himself as the GM.

[danfantastk32]

Just going to say it again... Magic is NOT going to be satisfied "Advising" the Buss family... He wants to own the Lakers. If he's doing this, it's because he see's a way to become the owner...
I mean based on his quotes, it's clear he already thinks of himself as the GM.

I think your right.

I have to look up the "job description" part. Whoever posted that.....can you drop the link? I'd appreciate.

The description is pretty vague, and allows alot of power....and yet kinda make it sound like a fly on the wall. The part that gets me worried is the "report directly to Jeanie" part. Who wrote that? And WHY would you add that? Just to freak Jim out? You immediately undermine Magic. Everyone's gonna watch their a**s around him. You can just picture Magic walking out one door, and Jim/Mitch walking in the other....."hey so what did Magic ask you about?"

Does this have the feel of a harmonious "Team"?? Very worrisome. IF IT'S TRUE. I'd like to research those comments and who actually made them. It could be media blah, blah, blah.

Either way.....this is clearly Jeanie making her first public "Jim is out" move. I really want the Lakers to go completely off the reservation with the next pick. No ex-Lakers....no promotions...nothing. Get someone completely FRESH. New Lakers. New voices, new ideas...all that jazz. That's my personal wish. But no matter what, I certainly will be happy when Jim is ousted.

[Kilroy]

I think I need to clarify what I said about Magic... In a vacuum... With nothing else going on, Magic is probably my favorite person in Basketball. He's primarily responsible for me being a Laker fan today. If a fan could ever approach actual love for a sports figure, I 'loved' Magic as a player... That talent, that personality, and his entire approach to the game is probably never going to be replicated... He was pure joy on the basketball court and he was so incredibly talented, he made 'Magic' look pedestrian, so that even every white kid from the suburbs, thought he could be the next showtime point guard...

So maybe Magic injects some of that joie de vivre back into this organization, that it's been lacking these last years... If anything Dr Buss LOVED this team... Like Magic personified... Like a lot of us did... Not sure the kids do.

That said, with all the dysfunction and politicking that's going on right now around this team, it's hard to accept Magic in the old way with this new effort. It smacks of opportunism on both sides...
And like Magic says... He LIKES this young team... So what exactly has Mitch and Jim done wrong then, Mage?

So I find myself wanting really badly to embrace Magic's return to the team on face value and get excited about the Lakers getting that old 'Magic' back... But my brain is having a hard time letting go of pretty obvious logic to the contrary.

[Hellcrooner]

I wonder why magic gets all this oportunities with the Lakers and KAreem does not get ANY.