The Los Angeles Lakers, for the primary time since 1979, are underneath new possession, however they’re anticipated to convey again a well-recognized face to assist run day-to-day operations.
Jerry Buss purchased the Los Angeles Lakers in 1979, and underneath him and his household, received 11 NBA Finals between “Showtime,” the Shaq and Kobe period, Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol, and the LeBron James expertise.
This summer time, the Buss household bought their stake within the Lakers to billionaire Mark Walter for $10 billion. Walter additionally owns the Los Angeles Dodgers and is anticipated to spend, spend, and spend to maintain the Lakers aggressive as they pivot to Luka Doncic because the face of the franchise.
Since Buss purchased the group, his household, the Lakers, and Magic Johnson have all been linked. Magic has since taken a step again, after feuding with Jeanie Buss, though his relationship with Walter may see him come again into the fold.
For 2 years between 2017 and 2019, Johnson served as president of basketball operations for the Lakers. Below his steerage, they signed James however didn’t make the playoffs, and it wasn’t till after he stepped down that the Lakers received the 2020 Finals.
Johnson is likely one of the finest gamers within the Lakers’ storied franchise, though he has since develop into extra concerned with MLB, proudly owning a stake within the Dodgers and a minor-league group in Ohio.
Johnson cited the “backstabbing and whispering” for his departure from the Lakers’ entrance workplace. Whereas Buss remains to be going to function group governor even after the sale, Walter could have extra of a say, and if he desires Johnson to interchange Rob Pelinka, Magic is anticipated to take the job.
“He is likely to be Mark’s man that he places in there to verify it goes the way in which it ought to go,” predicted Byron Scott.
“And Mark can be the one man he studies to.
“One of many issues had that when he was with the Lakers was he wished full autonomy, and what I heard, Jeanie had given him that. After which he wished to make a change within the entrance workplace and Jeanie mentioned, “No you’ll be able to’t try this.’”
Johnson wished to make choices for the Lakers throughout his tenure that Pelinka, who was GM, and the Buss household weren’t snug with, though the legend might return with Walter backing him and giving him the religion to make basketball choices.
He added, referencing Johnson’s ties to Walter, “Now you with the possession, you don’t should ask no one.”
Whereas LeBron and Magic are mates, Walter and Johnson perceive that Luka Doncic is the current and way forward for the Lakers, which is why he was knowledgeable earlier than James that the Buss household had bought the group.
James remains to be an elite participant, however he’ll flip 41 this season. Doncic is simply beginning to enter his prime and is a megastar in his personal proper, the kind of participant the Lakers can construct round for ten years.
Johnson has lengthy been a fan of Doncic and was elated when the Lakers traded for him.
Walter and Magic have a significantly better relationship than Magic and the Buss household, particularly Jeanie, so with new possession, Johnson returning to the Lakers shouldn’t be an enormous attain.
