Post#11 » by NPZ » Mon Sep 18, 2017 6:56 pm
Pharaoh wrote:ImHeisenberg wrote:Dirtgrain wrote:What is the value of having Magic Johnson working for your team, other than his celebrity? Has he shown insight/talent in management, player evaluation, making deals? I'm not sure, as I have only noticed him as a commenter.
Just about every NBA player respects Magic, and from everything I've read about the people who have worked with him, he's an amazing communicator and logically can be a terrific recruiter of FA's for a team. Jackie Mac was on Zach Lowe's podcast this week, and went into detail about how amazing he is with people.
THIS!
Plus there's the fact he's carved out a successful life after basketball as a businessman
There's no downside to having Magic as a part owner, except paying tampering fines lol
A lot of stupid people think him stupid, but diction isn't intelligence. Besides what you posted, which I agree with, I think he has the ability to know what he doesn't know and to seek those who do. Not everyone has that ability or an ego accepting such a truth. He surrounds himself with people who can help him where he lacks. His main reason for being there is to talk to FAs. There are a lot of Laker fans who talk sh about him and his promise in that regard. However, I think there are players who'd choose to work for him as opposed to some equally unproven empty suit hired by a new billionaire owner. Players know Magic is about winning and that he's been there. His rep is tight in that regard. Perception is important. It's not everything, but when you clean house that consisted of Mich Kupchak (who had just signed Mozgov at 12:01AM) and Jim Buss (idiot son of a great man), you get automatic points no matter who you are. Plus, Pelinka/Rob Lowe is a slickster/former agent. Players are used to dealing with agents. Rob already knows all the lines to tell them about how they're all about THEIR success, yada yada. It doesn't have the same ring as some new twit rich guy who bought the team and put in some other suit that players instinctively know is there to please ownership.
NPZ's Definitive Magic Johnson highlight reel49, 50, 52, 53, 54, 72, 80, 82, 85, 87, 88, 00, 01, 02, 09, 10, 20