Magic: "I hope the Lakers lose every game"

[Chris]

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/12005550/magic-johnson-says-hopes-los-angeles-lakers-lose-every-game?ex_cid=sportscenterFB

http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2014/0312/nba_a_magic-kobe01jr_300x200.jpg

Magic Johnson thinks that the Los Angeles Lakers should get serious about losing.

Magic Johnson thinks that Kobe Bryant and the Lakers would be better off losing every game in order to land a better draft pick.

Johnson, speaking at a promotional event Tuesday in New York City, said he wants his former team to lose enough games to contend for a high lottery pick in next year's NBA draft.

"I hope the Lakers lose every game," Johnson said, according to Newsday. "Because if you're going to lose, lose. I'm serious."

The Lakers (5-16) enter Tuesday's game against the Kings with the second-worst record in the Western Conference and the fifth-worst in the NBA.

Los Angeles' poor start comes on the heels of last season's 27-55 record -- the worst 82-game record in Lakers franchise history.

The Lakers landed the seventh overall pick -- used to select Julius Randle -- in this year's draft, and Johnson is hoping for another high pick after this season.

"If you're going to lose, you have to lose because you can't be in the middle of the pack," Johnson said. "You either have to be great or you have to be bad to get a good pick."

The Lakers are expected to have substantial salary-cap space this upcoming offseason. Aging superstar Kobe Bryant, who will make $25 million next season, swingman Nick Young, Randle and second-year forward Ryan Kelly are the only Lakers who have guaranteed contracts beyond this season.

Johnson thinks that the Lakers could turn around their fortunes quickly with the right moves in the offseason -- and another high lottery pick.

"The Lakers are in a good space, too, next summer if they can sign or trade for a talented guy," he said. "I'd rather be all the way bad than be in the middle."

[Thread]

You guys set the template for tanking. You've nary room. Everything you have, every single thing you've accomplished and put in that trophy case (save 5) was begotten by your tank.

Congratulations.

[DPG21920]

Wrong ^ and that's that.

[Thread]

Wrong ^ and that's that.

Stings, don't it?

Tough.

[midnightpulp]

You guys set the template for tanking. You've nary room. Everything you have, every single thing you've accomplished and put in that trophy case (save 5) was begotten by your tank.

Congratulations.

And great drafting, scouting, coaching, and a front office that stays ahead of the curve.

Meanwhile, Kupchak is over there in El Segundo taking two hours to get through Cat in the Hat.

[DPG21920]

We now have lodged proof of lakers tanking. Plus the contract.

[djohn2oo8]

I thought they don't tank and everyone wants to play for them?

[Thread]

And great drafting, scouting, coaching, and a front office that stays ahead of the curve.

All predicated on your tank.

Congratulations.

[elmanutres]

The Curse

[Thread]

I thought they don't tank and everyone wants to play for them?

& this SOB,,,can't care enough to start 0-0...has to, absolutely HAS TO wait for 0-2,,,then, THEN.

Get out, motherfucker, OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Killakobe81]

Magic on board with Team tank and that is why he is the GOAT Laker

[Koolaid_Man]

Magic is Moron....Kobe will never subscribe to his way and as a player Magic would never do it himself....He's being disrespectful to Kobe....there's no college player good enough to make an impact....


"I don't see teams tanking. It doesn't happen. Maybe there are certain teams in the league -- and this is not one of them -- where ownership sits up there in their office and they're crossing their fingers quietly and hoping," Bryant said. "But the players themselves? Never. Players play. Players play and players try to win every single game. That's just what we do." - Kobe



Nick Young (http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/3243/nick-young), who had 12 points and four rebounds Tuesday, also made light of the remarks.
"I'm going to have to tell Magic to stay at Dodgers Stadium for awhile," he joked. "Don't bring that smile around here. I'll do all the smiling for now!"




Lakers coach Byron Scott didn't agree with Johnson's stance.
"That really is easy to say, but when you're behind the scenes and you're in the trenches and you're coaching, that's not something that you want to do," Scott said prior to the game. "And I don't think our players look at it that way. We've got to go out here and try to win every game possible. If you lose games, it's one thing, but to go out and try to lose, that's a different story. I think that sends a message to those guys in there."

[Spurs9]

His son also tanked and became one with the fur.

[ambchang]

Magic is Moron....Kobe will never subscribe to his way and as a player Magic would never do it himself....He's being disrespectful to Kobe....there's no college player good enough to make an impact....

Kobe doesn't tank. He's just this bad.

[Thread]

This has been the prescribed protocol since the Spurs struck the template. Now, NOW they huddle around the old tin can with stoic eyes, set chins & pear shaped tones. Now.

[Arcadian]

:facepalm

Really? Magic is promoting tanking, a "strategy" that almost never pays off? I know he's just desperate and butthurt about the status of the Lakers right now, but fucking wake up. Even if you end up with the worst record, you have to be lucky enough to RANDOMLY win the draft lottery in order to secure the #1 pick - and even if that happens, you have to be even luckier for there to be a franchise player available in that particular draft, a truly rare occurrence.

Sorry Lakers fags, you're not getting the next Tim Duncan, and you're not getting bailed out by the draft. You suck now, and you will for a long time. Now shut up and fuck off.

[ambchang]

:facepalm

Really? Magic is promoting tanking, a "strategy" that almost never pays off? I know he's just desperate and butthurt about the status of the Lakers right now, but fucking wake up. Even if you end up with the worst record, you have to be lucky enough to RANDOMLY win the draft lottery in order to secure the #1 pick - and even if that happens, you have to be even luckier for there to be a franchise player available in that particular draft, a truly rare occurrence.

Sorry Lakers fags, you're not getting the next Tim Duncan, and you're not getting bailed out by the draft. You suck now, and you will for a long time. Now shut up and fuck off.

It's actually not that bad of a strategy for the Lakers.

Yes, it almost never works out (see the mid 90s Mavs, the Nets, Philly, Nuggets, Wiz), but when it does, it pays off handsomely (Hakeem and to a degree Jordan, Ewing, LeBron, Duncan, Shaq). The rewards this year may not be worth tanking, but in the case of the Lakers, they are currently high-jacked by 48.5 and his rabid fans, no players of any choice would want to join that garbage pile, and the only way for them to move up is to stock up on young talent, wait for -30 to retire, and be an attractive destination once again.

Since they are waiting around for the all time leader in bricks to retire, they might as well shore up on draft picks, and giving it away to Phoenix is not the way to go.

[lefty]

:facepalm

Really? Magic is promoting tanking, a "strategy" that almost never pays off? I know he's just desperate and butthurt about the status of the Lakers right now, but fucking wake up. Even if you end up with the worst record, you have to be lucky enough to RANDOMLY win the draft lottery in order to secure the #1 pick - and even if that happens, you have to be even luckier for there to be a franchise player available in that particular draft, a truly rare occurrence.

Sorry Lakers fags, you're not getting the next Tim Duncan, and you're not getting bailed out by the draft. You suck now, and you will for a long time. Now shut up and fuck off.
That's Magic

He likes the EASY way



:cry "If Chicago drafts me I'm gonna play 1 more year in college, cuz I want to play with Kareem Abdul Jabbar and win titles "

[ambchang]

More perspective:

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/an-nba-detective-story-who-in-the-lakers-organization-knows-theyre-tanking/

[Spur-Addict]

And great drafting, scouting, coaching, and a front office that stays ahead of the curve.

Meanwhile, Kupchak is over there in El Segundo taking two hours to get through Cat in the Hat.

He left his wallet in El Segundo

[Chris]

This has been the prescribed protocol since the Spurs struck the template. Now, NOW they huddle around the old tin can with stoic eyes, set chins & pear shaped tones. Now.

Your Phil started this tanking business. It's beautiful irony that you embrace it now.

[Franklin]

it's just what Kobe is trying to do with this team tbh.

[DMC]

994–95 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1994%E2%80%9395_San_Antonio_Spurs_season)
NBA (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Basketball_Association)
Western (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Conference_(NBA))
1st
Midwest (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midwest_Division_(NBA))
1st
62
20
.756
—
Won First Round (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1995_NBA_Playoffs) (Nuggets (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1994%E2%80%9395_Denver_Nuggets_season)) 3–0
Won Conference Semifinals (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1995_NBA_Playoffs) (Lakers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1994%E2%80%9395_Los_Angeles_Lakers_season)) 4–2
Lost Conference Finals (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1995_NBA_Playoffs) (Rockets (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1994%E2%80%9395_Houston_Rockets_season)) 4–2 [31] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_San_Antonio_Spurs_seasons#cite_note-31)
David Robinson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Robinson_(basketball)) (MVP (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBA_Most_Valuable_Player_Award))
Bob Hill (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Hill)


1995–96 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1995%E2%80%9396_San_Antonio_Spurs_season)
NBA (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Basketball_Association)
Western (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Conference_(NBA))
2nd
Midwest (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midwest_Division_(NBA))
1st
59
23
.720
—
Won First Round (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1996_NBA_Playoffs) (Suns (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1995%E2%80%9396_Phoenix_Suns_season)) 3–1
Lost Conference Semifinals (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1996_NBA_Playoffs) (Jazz (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1995%E2%80%9396_Utah_Jazz_season)) 4–2 [32] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_San_Antonio_Spurs_seasons#cite_note-32)
—
Bob Hill


1996–97 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1996%E2%80%9397_San_Antonio_Spurs_season)
NBA (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Basketball_Association)
Western (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Conference_(NBA))
13th
Midwest (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midwest_Division_(NBA))
6th
20
62
.244
44
—[33] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_San_Antonio_Spurs_seasons#cite_note-33)
—
Bob Hill
Gregg Popovich (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregg_Popovich)


1997–98 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1997%E2%80%9398_San_Antonio_Spurs_season)
NBA (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Basketball_Association)
Western (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Conference_(NBA))
5th
Midwest (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midwest_Division_(NBA))
2nd
56
26
.683
6
Won First Round (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1998_NBA_Playoffs) (Suns (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1997%E2%80%9398_Phoenix_Suns_season)) 3–1
Lost Conference Semifinals (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1998_NBA_Playoffs) (Jazz (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1997%E2%80%9398_Utah_Jazz_season)) 4–1[34] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_San_Antonio_Spurs_seasons#cite_note-34)
Tim Duncan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Duncan) (RoY (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBA_Rookie_of_the_Year_Award))
Avery Johnson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avery_Johnson) (SPOR (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBA_Sportsmanship_Award))
Gregg Popovich


1998–99 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1998%E2%80%9399_San_Antonio_Spurs_season)
NBA (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Basketball_Association)
Western (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Conference_(NBA))
1st
Midwest (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midwest_Division_(NBA))
1st
37
13
.740
—
Won First Round (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1999_NBA_Playoffs) (Timberwolves (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1998%E2%80%9399_Minnesota_Timberwolves_season)) 3–1
Won Conference Semifinals (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1999_NBA_Playoffs) (Lakers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1998%E2%80%9399_Los_Angeles_Lakers_season)) 4–0
Won Conference Finals (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1999_NBA_Playoffs) (Trail Blazers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1998%E2%80%9399_Portland_Trail_Blazers_season)) 4–0
Won NBA Finals (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1999_NBA_Finals) (Knicks (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1998%E2%80%9399_New_York_Knicks_season)) 4–1 [35] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_San_Antonio_Spurs_seasons#cite_note-35)
Tim Duncan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Duncan) (FMVP (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Russell_NBA_Finals_Most_Valuable_Player_Award ))
Gregg Popovich


That's how you tank properly. You don't shit the bed 3 or 4 seasons for a Julius Randle.

However, tanking teams rarely fire their head coaches.

[mkurts]

Well Lakers are used to losing now, so no biggie there.

They need to out tank Philly somehow, it is a race to the shitty bottom for sewer glory ...

[Thread]

... you got nary room. Every single thing you've accomplished & attained is owed to your tank.