Speaking to reporters this week, new Lakers president of basketball operations Magic Johnson reiterated that he’d like to bring Kobe Bryant aboard. Johnson has no specific role in mind for the future Hall-of-Famer, suggesting that Bryant could do “whatever he wants to do,” per Baxter Holmes of ESPN.com. Johnson also said he’s looking forward to trying to lure free agents to L.A., despite the club’s lack of success with top targets in recent years.
“Players today, whether they’re coming to us or any other team, have got to buy into that vision and have got to say, ‘Look, I can see it. This organization is about winning,'” Johnson said. “We’ve always been about winning. And you’ve got the right coach, you’ve got the right management team, you’ve got the right ownership, and so we’re looking forward to going out and pitching to free agents.”
Here’s more on the Lakers:
- As Mark Medina of The Los Angeles Daily News details, D’Angelo Russell and Brandon Ingram were comforted by Johnson’s recent assertions that the team’s young core is untouchable. “That’s good to hear, honestly,” Russell said. “With everybody getting traded and everything happening, you’re walking around looking over your shoulder because you don’t have a clue what’s going on. Some things you can’t control. So that’s good to hear.” Still, the second-year guard added that no one should feel entirely “untouchable” around the trade deadline.
- After being fired by the Lakers earlier this week, former GM Mitch Kupchak issued a statement on Wednesday thanking the Buss family and wishing Johnson and the organization good luck going forward. Baxter Holmes has the full statement from Kupchak.
- For the Lakers to contend again, they can’t be content to rely on Johnson’s celebrity, writes Tim Dahlberg of The Associated Press.
- The Lakers are reportedly seeking a second-round pick in a deal for Nick Young today. Be sure to keep tabs on all are latest Lakers notes using their team page.
I think Magic is going to find out that being a GM is harder than he thought, the same way he found out coaching was.
We’ll see tho. Good luck to him.
He is not the GM
Sorry wrong title.. same message
Consider Magic being the Kasten for the Lakers
Kupchak, you forgot to apologize for giving $64 million to Mozgov and the $72 million to Deng.
@fettichico… you could be right on your comment.. but Magic’s successful record as a player might be the key for the FA (good FA)to come to LA…
You could be right. As long as he doesn’t rely too heavily on the “we’re the lakers” approach like Mitch did.
I think Magic will kind of have the same pitch, but Magic is well liked around the league and players on the roster can learn from him as well. So same pitch (I think) but it becomes a more attractive pitch.
Yeah I could see that. Would definitely hold more weight coming out of Magic’s mouth.
If u keep Russell and Ingram. Then get someone like Lonzo Ball in the draft that’s the skinniest 1-3 in league history since the 70s
I’m Rollin Hahahaha, you’re right though