Magic promoted to GM and Mitch fired

[Boston_PuppyDawg]

OFFICIAL: @MagicJohnson named President of Basketball Operations in front office restructuring. https://t.co/Zyz3HMbosr 1/2 https://t.co/b8HezpW3Uc

[big_j_NY]

Apparently at the same time, they announced that Jimmy Buss got demoted from his VP of Lakers management as well.................Jeanie Buss has taken over and she's brought Magic along with her

[Boston_PuppyDawg]

Also, Magic wants Kobe Bryant to come back on board with some sort of player relations role. He recently intimated as much publicly.

[StevoStarks]

LA is buzzing.

[shakespeare]

Has anyone checked on Phil Jackson, today?

Seriously, I'd read that Cousins was about to be a Laker if Los Angeles had included Brandon Ingram in the potential trade. Here's an article that mentions the Cousins trade discussions (but not the specifics) as being one of the reasons why Jeannie Buss dropped the hammer https://www.google.com/amp/nba.nbcsport ... sions/amp/

In hindsight, Lakers definitely had everything it took to acquire Cousins.

[spree#8]

Apparently at the same time, they announced that Jimmy Buss got demoted from his VP of Lakers management as well.................Jeanie Buss has taken over and she's brought Magic along with her

Jeanie was already the boss in LA since her dad died. So she was the boss of her brother the last few years.

Anyways, what I take from this: if Phil Jackson is clever, he brings some more Lakers championship experience over and replaces Mills with Kupchak.

Kupchak did a fine job all those years. In the end his only problem in LA was that he had to ride out Kobe's career.

[Boston_PuppyDawg]

Lakers are finalizing a multi-year agreement with agent Rob Pelinka as general manager, league sources tell @TheVertical. He'll start soon.

[StevoStarks]

Has anyone checked on Phil Jackson, today?

Seriously, I'd read that Cousins was about to be a Laker if Los Angeles had included Brandon Ingram in the potential trade. Here's an article that mentions the Cousins trade discussions (but not the specifics) as being one of the reasons why Jeannie Buss dropped the hammer https://www.google.com/amp/nba.nbcsport ... sions/amp/

In hindsight, Lakers definitely had everything it took to acquire Cousins.

I think that non-move helped push today's decision. Can't imagine my team not trading Ingram for Cousins.

[big_j_NY]

Jeanie was already the boss in LA since her dad died. So she was the boss of her brother the last few years.

Anyways, what I take from this: if Phil Jackson is clever, he brings some more Lakers championship experience over and replaces Mills with Kupchak.

Kupchak did a fine job all those years. In the end his only problem in LA was that he had to ride out Kobe's career.

True, but during the years after her dad died......Jeanie gave Jim full control of the Lakers' overall operations while she was in the background in an advisory role saying things here and there.

Jeanie still had final say like you said, but Jeanie let Jim have full control on decisions in the organization for the most part UNTIL NOW. Granted we all knew this, there were reports during these past few off-seasons ago saying that reported that Jeanie wasn't satisfied with the decisions Jim was making for the Lakers organization (D'Antoni hiring, the Steve Nash signing, etc.).

So we knew this was coming, we just did not know how Jeanie was going to implement taking brother Jimmy out of power from the Lakers organization. It is unfortunate that Mitch had to go along with Jim because Mitch has been a true professional for the organization even dating back when Dr. Buss was still around.

Lakers are finalizing a multi-year agreement with agent Rob Pelinka as general manager, league sources tell @TheVertical. He'll start soon.

I read this b4 you posted it here, D (I think your posted it on FB too LOL). FYI to some of you guys who Rob is, that is Kobe Bryant's (soon-to-be former) agent.

[shakespeare]

Can't imagine my team not trading Ingram for Cousins.

[cragganmor]

i think laker fans are about to get a dose of what we had with zeke; a bad situation getting worse.

[shakespeare]

i think laker fans are about to get a dose of what we had with zeke; a bad situation getting worse.

Check out this surprising move; hiring Rob Pelinka as GM https://www.google.com/amp/www.cbssport ... hnson/amp/

As a Michigan college basketball fan, I remember Pelinka when he played with the "Fab Five," he was the perimeter threat. Not sure what he brings to the table for the Lakers, but it's amazing to think that "Rob Pelinka" would one day become General Manager for the Los Angeles Lakers.

UPDATE: Pelinka is the agent of Kobe and other NBA players. Chad Ford tweeted a favorable response, for what it's worth

[gradyandrew]

It just blows my mind that 25 years ago when Magic announced he was HIV positive, everyone assumed he'd be gone in a few years. Now, 25 years later, he's talking about working hard for years. I'm not a doctor so I don't know how but it blows my mind how HIV has gone from a death sentence to a condition like diabetes. BRAVO medical science!

[shakespeare]

Does anyone here believe Karl Anthony Towns will be able to say "no" to the pitch that Magic Johnson and Kobe will throw at him in 2 years?

[gradyandrew]

It's just so much more money to stay with the team that drafts you.

[spree#8]

Does anyone here believe Karl Anthony Towns will be able to say "no" to the pitch that Magic Johnson and Kobe will throw at him in 2 years?

Luckily we have restricted free agency.

[shakespeare]

Nevermind me, I was just trying to come up with the one big-time signing that might define Magic's executive era with the Lakers. It's the old school nostalgia of wanting to see the Knicks, Lakers, Sixers and Celtics once again rise to prominence.

I was thinking of a way to get Towns out of Minnesota and somewhere known for NBA championships. I had him accepting the Timberwolves qualifying offer and becoming unrestricted the next season. Is that even possible?

Probably take some collusion, though.

[big_j_NY]

The Lakers family drama continues......................... http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/1881 ... 60001372=1

[spree#8]

[n8 the gr8]

I was thinking of a way to get Towns out of Minnesota and somewhere known for NBA championships. I had him accepting the Timberwolves qualifying offer and becoming unrestricted the next season. Is that even possible?

I think the way that it works is that Minnesota can match any offer he gets (and signs) from another team and Towns would play with the wolves for that amount. But Towns could get every zany offer you can think of but choose to sign a 1-year deal on the assumption that Minnesota would match any deal. I think the QO is kind of like a caphold, it's the amount that the Wolves can't spend (if they're under the cap) until Towns signs an offer or they relinquish his rights. If he wants to play for the Lakers then they should offer Towns a 1-year max on day 1 of his RFA and give him the "options" pitch.