The story of LeBron James's first season with the Los Angeles Lakers took an unexpected turn on Tuesday, just one day before the end of the regular season. Not only did they miss out on the playoffs after a hot start up until Christmas Day, but they failed to acquire Anthony Davis at the Trade Deadline, lost LeBron to injury, and have rumors of head coach Luke Walton getting fired. All of that will take a back seat for now, as Magic Johnson called an impromptu press conference on Tuesday to announce that he is stepping down as the team's president of basketball operations. This news comes just over two years after he took over the team, which was the second Los Angeles team he runs, along with the Dodgers in Major League Baseball.
An emotional Johnson made this announcement right before the Lakers' season finale against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Staples Center Tuesday night. He claimed that this move had nothing to do with the job status of coach Walton. Although, just hours before this announcement was made, an ESPN report went out that Walton and Johnson were "not on speaking terms," stating that the two had not had a real conversation in weeks.
The 59-year-old former Lakers Hall of Famer accepted the president job in February of 2017, with the biggest move being him landing James in free agency last July. LeBron signed a four-year deal, with a big off-season of free agents coming this summer, and the Lakers expected to be heavy spenders to give their star support for a title run in the coming years.
Unfortunately for them, Johnson will not be a part of those potential runs, as he had replaced Mitch Kupchack, who was fired as the team's general manager, and Jim Buss, who was removed as the executive vice president of basketball operations.
According to numerous sources close to the team, nobody within the organization had any indication that this news was coming. Johnson reportedly met with LeBron and his agent Rich Paul last Saturday, and there was no talk of him possibly leaving. The now former Lakers president admitted that he feels like there is a monkey off his back after this decision, but he refused to answer on whether Walton and general manager Rob Pelinka should keep their jobs.
In his two seasons with the team, the Lakers went 35-47, and were 37-44 entering Tuesday's contest. They have not made the playoffs since 2013, which was expected to end once James came to town, but this process has gotten off to a strange, lackluster beginning.
An emotional Johnson made this announcement right before the Lakers' season finale against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Staples Center Tuesday night. He claimed that this move had nothing to do with the job status of coach Walton. Although, just hours before this announcement was made, an ESPN report went out that Walton and Johnson were "not on speaking terms," stating that the two had not had a real conversation in weeks.
The 59-year-old former Lakers Hall of Famer accepted the president job in February of 2017, with the biggest move being him landing James in free agency last July. LeBron signed a four-year deal, with a big off-season of free agents coming this summer, and the Lakers expected to be heavy spenders to give their star support for a title run in the coming years.
Unfortunately for them, Johnson will not be a part of those potential runs, as he had replaced Mitch Kupchack, who was fired as the team's general manager, and Jim Buss, who was removed as the executive vice president of basketball operations.
According to numerous sources close to the team, nobody within the organization had any indication that this news was coming. Johnson reportedly met with LeBron and his agent Rich Paul last Saturday, and there was no talk of him possibly leaving. The now former Lakers president admitted that he feels like there is a monkey off his back after this decision, but he refused to answer on whether Walton and general manager Rob Pelinka should keep their jobs.
In his two seasons with the team, the Lakers went 35-47, and were 37-44 entering Tuesday's contest. They have not made the playoffs since 2013, which was expected to end once James came to town, but this process has gotten off to a strange, lackluster beginning.
