The rumors continue to swirl about the future of the Los Angeles Lakers franchise. Since rejoining the team in an adviser to team president Jeanie Buss, Magic Johnson has been vocal about wanting a bigger role with the team.
On Monday, Johnson will sit down with the principal decision-makers in the front office, Jim Buss and Mitch Kupchak, to discuss strategy moving forward, according to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne:
Magic Johnson will meet with Los Angeles Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak and co-owner and executive vice president of basketball operations, Jim Buss on Monday to discuss the construction of the current team and the team’s strategy heading into the Feb. 23 trade deadline.
Recently, Johnson made some comments that seemed to shed light on his intentions to play a larger role in the team’s front office. Magic was quoted as saying he’d want to “call the shots” for the Lakers if given the opportunity. Johnson clarified those comments saying the following to Shelburne, via ESPN:
“When I say calling the shots, it’s more, ‘Somebody has to be the final decision-maker.’ I would love that to be me. Everybody has their input and then somebody has to make the final call. Once we gather all the facts, I’d love to be the person making the final call.”
It appears that Johnson wants to the current front office intact, but would prefer to be the leader in the room that has the final say in moves made by the team. Magic wants the general manager, Kupchak, to report to him in his ideal scenario for his role with the Lakers.
At this point, changes appear to be on the horizon and elevating Magic’s role to the man with the “final call,” as he says, might be the direction the Buss family are headed in if Johnson’s comments are any indication.
