The Lakers are now truly Magic's team; Kupchak, Jim Buss out!

[True Dough]

Well, Magic and co-owner Jeannie Buss are running the show. Magic overseeing the day-to-day operations.

The Los Angeles Lakers have named Hall of Famer Magic Johnson as their new president of basketball operations while firing both longtime general manager Mitch Kupchak and executive vice president of basketball operations Jim Buss.

"Today I took a series of actions I believe will return the Lakers to the heights Dr. Jerry Buss demanded and our fans rightly expect," Lakers president and co-owner Jeanie Buss, Jim's sister, said in a statement Tuesday. "Effective immediately, Earvin Johnson will be in charge of all basketball operations and will report directly to me. Our search for a new General Manager to work with Earvin and Coach Luke Walton is well underway and we hope to announce a new General Manager in short order. Together, Earvin, Luke and our new General Manager will establish the foundation for the next generation of Los Angeles Lakers greatness."

At 19-39, the rebuilding Lakers have the NBA's third-worst record and the second-worst record in the Western Conference. They're coming off a franchise-worst 17-65 season and have missed the playoffs for three straight seasons, the longest postseason drought in franchise history.

Johnson was drafted by the Lakers in 1979, won five titles with the franchise during the 1980s and recently re-joined the Lakers in an advisory role. Johnson has held titles with the Lakers in the past, including honorary vice president, which he resigned from in June. He has also previously owned shares in the team, which he sold to Dr. Patrick Soon Shiong in 2011.

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/18734012/los-angeles-lakers-put-magic-johnson-charge-fire-mitch-kupchak-jim-buss

[rurallib]

1. Always interesting to see if the superstar can do well in the front office

my feeling is that it usually doesn't work out well, but that is only a feeling.

I wish Magic the best.

[True Dough]

2. He's taking over during a rough period

The Lakers are 19-39 so far this season. They were 17-56 last year and 21-61 the year before that. Magic certainly has his work cut out for him. I don't want to say there's nowhere to go but up because the team could languish near the bottom of the standings for the next several seasons, depending on the talent pool and coaching.

I wish him luck as well.

[rurallib]

3. may be the best time for him

Lakers should get some good draft choices in a sport where talent is so important.
So if he can evaluate, plan and lead he will be a hero in a few years. There is literally nowhere to go but up.

What I have always heard is that superstars have some difficulty evaluating folks who don't have the talent or drive that they themselves do.

But, especially in basketball, there are exceptions like Joe Dumars, Larry Bird and others.

[brush]

4. Jerry West did very well in the Lakers' front office, and then with Golden State's

It just depends on the person. I think Magic will do well as he's kept up with the game and won't try to install the triangle offense in this era's space and pace game, unlike Phil Jackson who's still trying to use the triangle in New York.

Also Magic can attract free agents which wasn't happening under the old Laker front office, nor in Phil's disastrous regime in New York.

[JonLP24]

6. I think the person Phil Jackson is missing is Tex Winter

He brought him over to teach the triangle offense and he would start the off season working on basic fundamentals progressing to more difficult steps. It is a very complex offense which is why most teams don't run it. The offense is about reads and is dictated by what the defense does. I don't think the Knicks need to blow anything up especially now that they have Porzingis.

[brush]

7. The Knicks' situation is frustrating. Porzingus is the future but Melo is now and together the two..

just aren't enough to pull the franchise out of Phil's moribund front office leadership, which includes his uninspired coaching hires.

Then there's Dolan and his antics which, let's face it, will keep away any marquee free agents (It was horrible the way Oakley was treated) and you can't compete nowadays in the NBA without at least three stars.

We've seen that over and over, most recently with OKC's pair of Durant and Westbrook who could never quite get over the top.

I don't know, the Knicks might be better off without Phil, get whatever they can for Melo and build around Porzingus. That is if Melo will agreed to a trade.

[JonLP24]

5. Larry Bird is the only person to win MVP

MVP of the All Star Game, NBA Finals MVP, Coach of the year, and executive of the year. I think a lot of times Superstars can do well but most go into broadcasting.

[bluedigger]

8. Firing your brother must be fun.

[True Dough]

9. Awkward family holiday dinners, for sure...

"So Jim, what have you been up to since, uh, since that Lakers gig I relieved you of?"