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NBA Breaking News: Lakers fire front office, Magic Johnson to take over

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The Albatross said:
I don't think there are many examples of former star players becoming GMs/front-office to say whether it's a success or a failure. Thinking of the major American sports, I'd immediately think of Larry Bird taking the Pacers and John Elway taking the Broncos, and although I don't follow the Pacers, I think Elway has had a lot of success.

Classically, of course, we could look at Bill Russel being a player/coach/practically GM and winning championships, but that was a long time ago.
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Jordan and the Wiz, Bird and the Pacers, Divac and the Kings, Phil and the Knicks, Mchale and the Wolves off the top of my head. And those have all been varying degrees of dumpster fires. Theres alot more examples of players being terrible GMs im sure.
 
The Albatross said:
I don't think there are many examples of former star players becoming GMs/front-office to say whether it's a success or a failure. Thinking of the major American sports, I'd immediately think of Larry Bird taking the Pacers and John Elway taking the Broncos, and although I don't follow the Pacers, I think Elway has had a lot of success.

Classically, of course, we could look at Bill Russel being a player/coach/practically GM and winning championships, but that was a long time ago.
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Jerry West is probably the best example, having played a huge part in the success the Lakers had and the current success that Golden State is having.
 
Magic's twitter account and his time as an analyst on TV doesn't paint a great picture as far as his knowledge and understanding of modern basketball. Also pretty terrible timing by the Lakers to do this.

But maybe his legend status will help lure free agents?
 
Nice that Jim is out. Kuchak caught in the crossfire but whatever works
Bronx-Man said:
As bad as the Laker's front office was, firing your GM two days before the trade deadline ain't exactly smart.
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Signals to me they had no prospective trades of any value in the works
 
Bronx-Man said:
As bad as the Laker's front office was, firing your GM two days before the trade deadline ain't exactly smart.
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Maybe the top brass was upset that the Laker's GM didn't pull the trigger on a Demarcus Cousins for two hot dogs and a towel from the Clippers locker room trade
 
Not sure getting rid of Mitch Kupchak is a good move. His hands were tied due to the micro-managing of Jim Buss. But, for sure having Magic as president of operations is a dumb move.
 
Besides the questionable Deng and Mozgod signing, Mitch's batting average is pretty great compared to the other clowns floating around the league. Jury is out on how Magic will do, but I'm cautiously pessimistic he'll be able to swing GOD tier trades like CP3 + Dwight. Outside of trading Sweet Lou (which they're in talks to), what more could have Mitch done with the roster right now?

I wonder if this is about the botched DMC deal at all.
 
I tend to think it's a huge mistake to hire one of your franchise's most beloved players to a position of power. It just makes it that much harder to fire them if/when they suck.
 
what are you guys talking about, magic has some great ideas for the lakers lmfao

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dude's a genius. as a laker hater, i love this game
 
Sho_Nuff82 said:
Yikes. Reading some of Magic's hot takes he might be Divac-bad at evaluating talent.
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Is the situation in Sacramento the fault of Divac, or is it Vivek? I mean, not that Divac is the most competent ("We had a better offer two days ago" - paraphrased).
 
Terrible idea replacing Mitch with Magic. Magic was talking about, in some newspaper interview a few weeks back, about bringING in kobe for ideas. I love Kobe, but the reason no free agent was coming to LA was because they didn't want to work with Kobe.
 
henhowc said:
What did you guys expect out of the Lakers at the trade deadline?
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Right now I expect Magic to trade Randle, Russell and Ingram for Buddy Hield. I heard that he's as good as Steph Curry and I'm sure someone with the attention span of Magic Johnson have heard the same thing as well.
 
norm9 said:
Terrible idea replacing Mitch with Magic. Magic was talking about, in some newspaper interview a few weeks back, about bringING in kobe for ideas. I love Kobe, but the reason no free agent was coming to LA was because they didn't want to work with Kobe.
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They replaced Jim Buss with Magic. Mitch's replacement hasn't been named yet.
 
norm9 said:
Terrible idea replacing Mitch with Magic. Magic was talking about, in some newspaper interview a few weeks back, about bringING in kobe for ideas. I love Kobe, but the reason no free agent was coming to LA was because they didn't want to work with Kobe.
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The team couldn't even sell LaMarcus Aldridge on being the face of the team after Kobe retired. It was all about the allure of Hollywood instead of basketball.

I don't have a lot of faith in Magic to bring the team back to the greatness it once was but the main reason I'm happy is because Jim Buss is gone. At the very least I can expect free agent negotiations not to become a laughing stock.

I'm not a fan of losing Mitch though. Should've kept him around for one more year just to see if Jim was keeping him down the entire time.
 
Sandfox said:
Him and Dolan sure found a way. The only reason people aren't talking about them is because of the Cousins trade and now this.
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Phil hasn't traded away draft picks and drafted a potential superstar in Porzingis. Phil is the best gm the Knicks have had in a decade.
 
Apparently the last straw for Mitch and Jim was the Cousins trade. Jeanie Buss believed Cousins would fit well on the Lakers and when Mitch refused to add Ingram to the potential trade, the Kings balked.

Mitch was good talent wise but he was horrible with free agents. Still, I think Jeanie and Magic are about to fuck up the Lakers rebuild hardcore.
 
48 hours to find a GM and also do something before the deadline, somehow i think the lakers aren't making any big deals in the next couple days

Frozenprince said:
Dude owns the Dodgers and is gonna start running the Lakers.

Damn, Magic made it big big big time.
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he has like a 2% share of the dodgers
 
The Albatross said:
I don't think there are many examples of former star players becoming GMs/front-office to say whether it's a success or a failure. Thinking of the major American sports, I'd immediately think of Larry Bird taking the Pacers and John Elway taking the Broncos, and although I don't follow the Pacers, I think Elway has had a lot of success.

Classically, of course, we could look at Bill Russel being a player/coach/practically GM and winning championships, but that was a long time ago.
Click to expand...


Ozzie Newsome and the Ravens.
 
OozingZen said:
Apparently the last straw for Mitch and Jim was the Cousins trade. Jeanie Buss believed Cousins would fit well on the Lakers and when Mitch refused to add Ingram to the potential trade, the Kings balked.

Mitch was good talent wise but he was horrible with free agents. Still, I think Jeanie and Magic are about to fuck up the Lakers rebuild hardcore.
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Who else would they have lost? I wouldn't have done that trade if it gutted the young roster.
 
OozingZen said:
Apparently the last straw for Mitch and Jim was the Cousins trade. Jeanie Buss believed Cousins would fit well on the Lakers and when Mitch refused to add Ingram to the potential trade, the Kings balked.

Mitch was good talent wise but he was horrible with free agents. Still, I think Jeanie and Magic are about to fuck up the Lakers rebuild hardcore.
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I'm high on Ingram, though. Kid will be special in two years (max). I don't think Boogie takes us to the promised land, especially with Randle and Clarkson also involved.
 
As a Lakers fan, I'm super excited about this. So long, Jim Buss!
I'll miss Mitch Kupchak, though. He did some good things in his time here, but some new blood could be good.
 
Will reserve judgement depending on who Magic and JEanie bring in as GM. That's the key. I've heard some promising names thrown out there from a purely speculation standpoint that Jeanie might be interested in (Sam Hinkie, one of Danny's assistants in Boston). I just want someone progressive who understands modern NBA basketball and the CBA. If Magic hires Robert Horry or James Worthy, then we are fucked. Hopefully he's being brought in as more of a figurehead than anything. My dream scenario would be to just promote Jerry West's kid and bring in Jerry as a consultant to help bring him along.

As for Mitch, I kind of feel bad to see him go out like this. He's been around for so long, and for the most part, he was a good soldier during a lot of ups and downs with the Lakers. The Deng and Mozgov signings somehow being worse than anybody could have ever imagined probably did him in, along with the need to remove anything associated with the stench of Jimmy Buss.

Don't fuck this up, Earvin and Jeanie.
 
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kupchak is the true goat. goddamn it magic get your shit together. i don't see you turning kwame brown and unknown future superstar marc gasol into 2 rings best gasol

edit: wait wait wait jeannie is upset because mitch didn't want to throw in Ingram in a trade for mister I haven't accomplished shit in my entire career Boogie Cousins? gtfo with that shit
I'm fine with Jimmy being cut off. About time for that shit. But getting rid of Mitch? SMH
 
Ninja Scooter said:
As for Mitch, I kind of feel bad to see him go out like this. He's been around for so long, and for the most part, he was a good soldier during a lot of ups and downs with the Lakers. The Deng and Mozgov signings somehow being worse than anybody could have ever imagined probably did him in,
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dont forget steve nash
 
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