No NBA team projects to have more cap room next week than the Lakers, who have long been considered the club most likely to make a splash during the 2018 free agent period. Speaking today to reporters though, Lakers president of basketball operations Magic Johnson dismissed the idea that he’s stressing his ability to deliver star free agents to Los Angeles in the coming days.
“I’m Magic Johnson,” Johnson said, per Bill Oram of The Athletic (Twitter link). “You know how many Finals I’ve been in? So you think I’m worried about this? I played against Larry Bird in the Finals. I played in nine Finals.”
As Johnson explains, he feels “no pressure” to land a marquee free agent or two next week, since he and the Lakers’ front office don’t consider 2018 the team’s only chance to make a major free agent addition. According to Johnson, the Lakers will remain “disciplined” and are prepared to retain their cap room for 2019 if free agency doesn’t play out like they hope this time around.
“We’re excited about free agency,” Johnson said, according to Mike Bresnahan of Spectrum SportsNet (Twitter link). “We know we had two summers to deal with. We have the cap space and flexibility. We’re looking forward to July but we’re not putting all our marbles into one summer.”
Here’s more on the Lakers:
- Johnson may not be putting any pressure on himself during 2018’s free agent period, but he sounds like he fully expects the Lakers to make impact moves in at least one of the next two summers. Speaking to reporters today, the Lakers legend suggested he may even resign if the Lakers strike out in back-to-back summers in 2018 and 2019. “It’s going to be a two-summer thing for the Lakers,” Johnson said, per Oram (Twitter link). “This summer and next summer. That’s it. If I can’t deliver, I’m going to step down myself. [Lakers co-owner Jeanie Buss] won’t have to fire me, I’ll step away from it, because I can’t do this job.”
- Buss said on Monday that she has “complete faith” in Johnson and GM Rob Pelinka as free agency nears, adding that she’d “really like” to see the Lakers in the playoffs next season. Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.com has the story, including more quotes from Buss.
- Robin Lundberg of Sports Illustrated obtained a portion of an apparent Lakers recruiting pitch to Paul George. The leak includes a script for a voice-over that will seemingly be used in a video presentation to a free agent from Palmdale, George’s hometown.
they still need to find a way to get rid of Luol Deng. The contract every fan knew was bad but not the GM
Is Lebron going to trust Magic or the man who coached him Riley? That’s why I think Lebron is going back to Miami. I think there is a 90 percent chance Lebron is in Miami next season.
Miami is 30 million OVER THE CAP
Ahaha
Can we ban Dionis from commenting again? He has 0 NBA knowledge and proves it every post. Hey there bud I don’t know if you realize this but there’s this thing called cap space and the Heat don’t have any so the moves they’d have to make to get him would be too big of a headache. Maybe you meant -90% but forgot the -.
Imho the only place he has a chance of winning another title is Houston. Even with him and say PG, LA is still 2 years away from being legit threats to Houston and Golden st
It’s pretty comical though at this point
It’s so hilarious though.
We love him. Dionis is not a person, is a parallel universe where life is a true joy.
Can WE ban him? What, are you part owner of this site? Let a guy have his fun. If you don’t care for what he says then just ignore and shut up.
LA is two years away? James, George and Leonard or Paul doesn’t make them instant contenders?
I think “rony” and “jogo” are burner accounts for Dionis.
Didn’t you say Lebron to the Lakers is 100% confirmed last week?
LMAO every day its somehwere new for lebron according to you
Must be a heat fan…. He would never go back to Miami… his sons will be going to school in Los Angeles. His movie business is out of Los Angeles… you can dream…. Pat Riley even came out against LeBron after he left.
Can we please stop with the “his businesses are in LA”? HE doesn’t attend these meeting during the season. He has employees and partners for that. If he goes to LA it’s because of his family and the idea that he can win there.
Think we can all agree there are a couple variables to factor. First George could stay in OKC, they can offer more money and he seems to be thinking about it. Secondly the spurs seem to want to wait this out to screw the Lakers or not help them I should say and could get a better offer from another team since magic seems tight fisted on trades. LeBron won’t go there if they can’t get one of them and I think he wants to see what some of these teams do. So I honestly think he is open. Miami has no shot I feel.
Why would the worst team in the league be on the spurs radar? Spurs didn’t get to he the spurs by caring about has been teams.
Cannot see LBJ in Miami, they have a very average & mediocre team, they have no stars, closest thing to a star is Whiteside so no comment on that… Miami would need at least 1-2 more stars to come as well, no way their little useful FO could pull off LBJ + 2 more stars, no way.
Lebron, just go to LA! (lakers) And bring your whole family.
Phil Jackson coached 11 NBA Championship teams. He was one of the worst GMs ever. Being a great player or coach does not make you a great GM.
LeBron to the Clippers! Lol
seems to me the lakers make the most sense. even if they don’t get pg13 .. they could still get cp3 and wade maybe even trade deng for melo.
I mean we already saw that LeBron got rolled up by golden state twice I just don’t think he wants to do that again waste the last few prime years left.