Breaking news - Johnson is returning to the Lakers as an advisor to Jeannie Buss. Johnson still owns a small share of the Lakers and will not have to give up his share for this role. This is a huge step for the Lakers that makes me well...
GROSS.
I believe that the general problem with rebuilding the Lakers through free agency is that that the players in the NBA do not know who or what Jeannie Buss or Jim Buss are. The history of the Lakers belongs to Jerry Buss who was the vision and his decision making process. By bringing in Magic Johnson into talking to free agents, the players are more likely to be open minded about signing with the Lakers. That's all the Lakers want - is that opportunity. Magic isn't thinking about Phil Jackson and neither is the Buss family. Phil is the Knicks headache
the new CBA is going to have the effect of pretty much seeing the best of the best free agents staying put---- but i def. think Magic being in the room can only help things.
Yes, but keep in mind that Magic Johnson in the past has been openly critical of the decisions made by the front office. To have a highly successful former player who won five championships, went to the finals 8 out of ten times and led the team to victory in the finals as a rookie, giving approval and support - I think that improves on everything they do.
i think thats good though- you want contrarian voices in there - a good system of checks and balances instead of just deferring and having a group-think mentality... (i think thats how you get sigings like Mozgov and Deng- groupthink and no one stepping up and telling Jimmy to slow his roll).
Seems like to me that there has already been a trend with teams building through the draft over time and less movement, but I watch and pay attention mostly to the Lakers and am a long ways from being the sharpest observer. If the Lakers, however could pick up some one like Cousins in the free agency in the next two years, well damn, that would change it but I like what the Lakers have.
Oh absolutely and think about it. If your name is Porzingis for example, you just became an elite player and you are free agent and you want out of town for a change. Jeannie and Jim shows off the trophies and makes the pitch, and you know enough to know they didn't do that - and it was Pappa Buss, you walk away saying to yourself - they are full shit. To a young kid like Porzingis, Jeannie looks too old to have romantic dreams about - that's for old farts like me -
. Magic Johnson, however is a man that everyone is going to note and when Magic says "Look man, this team is going to be a contender with you on board. We are going to build around you" Magic Johnson's success is going to be taken more seriously.
1. Def a trend towards teams building through the draft- free agency is just way to unpredicatable- and every successive CBA has limited the likelihood of free agents moving- and this last one REALLY did that to the very high level free agents.
I would DEF take Magic Johnson a LOT MORE seriously then wittle Jimmy thats for sure. lol....Oh absolutely and think about it. If your name is Porzingis for example, you just became an elite player and you are free agent and you want out of town for a change. Jeannie and Jim shows off the trophies and makes the pitch, and you know enough to know they didn't do that - and it was Pappa Buss, you walk away saying to yourself - they are full shit. To a young kid like Porzingis, Jeannie looks too old to have romantic dreams about - that's for old farts like me -
A lot of teams have tried rebuilding through the draft and it took them more than a decade. The Clippers was one, and they still aren't contenders if you ask me. I do think, however that I would have given the Knicks Rivers for Carmelo. The Clippers would be short a point guard to back up Chris Paul who has totally fucked up one of my fantasy teams, but their front court would once healthy would be Carmelo-Griffin-Jordan-Chris Paul and what's his name. That would be a huge improvement and the reserves will get less minutes in the playoffs any way.
i can remember shaq as a big time free agent.....other than that?
Pau Gaol was traded, but then he stayed and signed. The Lakers resigned Kobe as a free agent, they signed Karl Malone, but he was already old. They had Jerry West, Kareem, Wilt Chamberlain, and others. Some of the others in here would actually remember all of them. I would have research it. Magic as I recall was a draft that the Lakers got for Elgin Baylor who then was injured with a season ending career with Utah. I wonder if Utah has ever felt resentment that they gave Magic Johnson to the Lakers for nothing. Can you imagine what Malone, Magic Johnson and I think it was Stocton at the time could have done?
the Cavs traded the 1st round pick to the Lakers that became James Worthy for a basically bullshit.
Makes you wonder why any one would trust the Lakers in a trade
