L.A. Magic

Magic Johnson is stepping down as the President of Basketball Operations for the Lakers, and it feels…lacrymose?

 

Johnson’s was the President of the Lakers from February 21, 2017, to well, yesterday. He made a lot of moves, and will always be the guy that brought LeBron to LA, because it’s not like he was already planning on signing anyway, as it would mean his future in Hollywood would be set, and he wouldn’t have to worry about recruiting stars, no, that was all Magic’s doing.

Enough niceties let’s get down to the nitty-gritty, to the meat and potatoes of Magic’s time as the President of the Lakers.

February 23, 2017: Traded Lou Williams to the Rockets for Corey Brewer and a 2017 1st-Round Pick (Tony Bradley)

After just two days in power, Earvin was already making moves for the betterment of the Lakers future. Not much happens during his first season, so lets fast-forward to the 2017 draft.

June 22, 2017: Selected Lonzo Ball with the 2nd-overall pick. Also picks Tony Bradley with the 28th pick.

June 22, 2017: Traded Tony Bradley to the Jazz for Thomas Bryant and Josh Hart.

June 22, 2017: Traded Timofey Mozgov and D’Angelo Russel to the Nets for Kyle Kuzma and Brook Lopez.

WOW! I KNOW! drafting the UCLA PG Lonzo Ball was a no-brainer, and is definitely going to work out! In all seriousness, we can look back on these moves and laugh. Drafting Lonzo has turned into nothing but off-and-on defense and injuries. The Josh Hart trade was actually solid, but the Russel trade is something the Lakers will most likely regret for a long time, as Russel has become close to a lock for MIP, and is leading the Nets to a playoff spot.

July 3, 2017: Signs Kuzma, Ball, and Hart to multi-year contracts.

July 13, 2017: Signs Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (1yr/$17.75 million)

KCP was supposed to be the young 3-and-D that the Lakers have always wanted but he didn’t really turn out that way, as we all know

February 8, 2018: Traded Jordan Clarkson, Larry Nance Jr. to the Cavs for Channing Frye, Isaiah Thomas, and a 2018 1st-round pick (Moritz Wagner)

After finishing the 2017-18 season 35-47 and failing to make the playoffs with a young squad, the Lakers entered the 2018 draft.

June 21, 2018: Selected Moritz Wagner with the 25th overall pick. Also selected Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, one of the greatest shooters of all time, with the 47th overall pick.

July 6, 2018: Traded cash and a 2019 2nd-round pick to the Sixers for German legend Isaac Bonga.

July 6, 2018: Re-signed Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (1yr/$12 million)

July 6, 2018: Signed Rajon Rondo (1yr/$9 million).

July 9, 2018: Signed LeBon James (4yr/$153 million)

Yes, that’s right, the King has arrived! They can do this, they can make it back to the promise lands after five damn years! Well, unless injuries, locker room tension, and poor shooting has anything to say about it.

July 10, 2018: Signed Lance Stephenson (1yr/$4.45 million)

July 10, 2018: Signed JaVale McGee (1yr/$2.4 million)

July 23, 2018: Signed Michael Beasley (1yr/$3.5 million)

The Lakers were ready for 2018-19, with a meme-team, nay, a DREAM-team, they were ready to take on the 2018-19 season.

Actually, no, no they weren’t. At the trade deadline, the Lakers were 28-27 and were comfortable, but nowhere near what they were expecting. So they hit the panic button and began poking and prodding the Pelicans like a kid poking the carcass of a squirrel. No, they weren’t trying to see if the Pelicans were still alive, because come on, we all know they’re not. They were trying to see if they could give up their ENTIRE future for one man, Anthony Davis. Did it happen? No, the Pelicans, rather interestingly, said no to the offer(s) and the Lakers failed to acquire any big players during the deadline.

February 6, 2019: Traded Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk and a 2021 2nd-round pick to the Pistons for Reggie Bullock.

February 7, 2019: Traded Michael Beasly and Ivica Zubac to the Clippers for Mike Muscala.

The Lakers would go on to win nine more games and lose eighteen on their way to missing the playoffs. They would only win two more games than last year. Johnson began his time as President well, making smart, beneficial moves for the present and the future. But as soon as LeBron signed, it’s like he forgot how to think logically, and surrounded the ball-centric, weak shooting LeBron with fringe starters and poor shooters. The Lakers move on from the Magic ‘era’ with a shaky locker room and a real lack of interest from big-name FA’s.

At least Space Jam 2 is coming out.