The Los Angeles Lakers currently have one of the worst records in the NBA. Byron Scott’s squad is sitting near the bottom of the Western Conference standings at 5-16 with little hope of turning things around this season.
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With the Lakers continuing to struggle, a lot of people have started to speculate on whether the team should tank for a high draft pick. Although the franchise has no intention of doing so, one Laker legend insists they need to go that route moving forward.
Five-time NBA champion Magic Johnson had this to say about his former team’s current situation, according to Neil Best of Newsday:
The iconic Lakers star went so far Tuesday as to say this: “I hope the Lakers lose every game, because if you’re going to lose, lose. I’m serious.
“If you’re going to lose, you have to lose, because you can’t be in the middle of the pack. You either have to be great or you have to be bad, to get a good [draft] pick.”
The Lakers have won 16 NBA titles and are arguably one of the most successful franchises in professional sports in this country. Only the Boston Celtics have more banners hanging in their rafters with 17.
With that being said, it is hard for the fans, players and front office personnel to swallow the fact that losing may benefit the team long-term. Tanking has never been a tactic the the franchise has used in the past and won’t likely be used in the future, but the debate will rage as the team continues to struggle.
Regardless of a 27-win season last year, the Lakers still brought in $100 million in revenue. The team continues to be highly profitable despite all the uncertainty moving forward.
[divide]Boozer, Scott Don’t See Eye-To-Eye On Benching
