LakeShow
02-11-2008, 12:33 PM
http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketball/nba/lakers/la-spw-lakers12feb12,1,6374554.story?ctrack=2&cset=true
Magic Johnson continues working behind the scenes
Lynne Sladky / Associated Press
http://www.latimes.com/media/photo/2008-02/35494443.jpg
Magic Johnson, who was on hand to see the Lakers' 104-94 victory over the Heat in Miami on Sunday, agreed with General Manager Mitch Kupchak's assessments to keep Andrew Bynum and trade for Pau Gasol, although he admits to telling Kobe Bryant to air his grievances last summer.
He agreed with Kupchak to keep the developing Bynum and knew trading for Gasol was the right move.
By Steve Springer, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
8:40 AM PST, February 11, 2008
MIAMI -- When he played, Magic Johnson was the great facilitator, making sure everybody else in purple and gold on the court was involved and in sync before worrying about himself.
So it is these days, although Johnson is now doing his facilitating off court, behind the scenes.
It is well known that Johnson owns a little under 5% of the Lakers. What is not generally known is that he is not a silent partner. While everybody else was in the headlines during a stormy summer and heated preseason -- Kobe Bryant with his on-again, off-again trade demands, owner Jerry Buss saying he'd entertain trade offers, General Manager Mitch Kupchak doing just that -- Johnson was pleading for calm.
"I was on the phone with Mitch every day, every day," said Johnson after watching the Lakers beat the Miami Heat, 104-94, on Sunday at AmericanAirlines Arena. "Everyone needed to calm down. Nobody needed to overreact. We needed to speak with one voice."
Johnson's voice echoed that of Kupchak, cautioning against trading center Andrew Bynum, a move advocated by Bryant in an infamous amateur video.
"Andrew is the best young big man in the game," Johnson said.
While Johnson didn't support Bryant's opinion on a Bynum trade, he did support Bryant's decision to publicly air his frustrations over the Lakers' failure to upgrade his supporting cast.
"He did what he is supposed to as the leader of the team," Johnson. "He wanted to win and he expressed himself."
Although he also was frustrated, Johnson, drawing on nearly three decades with the Lakers, was able to take the long view.
"We needed to make a basketball decision, not an emotional decision," Johnson said.
When, nearly three months later, the opportunity presented itself to make a basketball decision, to obtain center/forward Pau Gasol in a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies, Johnson had no doubt it was the right decision.
"I'm happy," he said. "We got a big man who is smart, who can score inside, who score outside, who can pass and rebound."
At the start of the season, many perceived Kupchak as incompetent and Buss as out of touch. Johnson feels an apology is in order.
"If you're going to crucify Mitch, crucify Dr. Buss," Johnson said, "then now you have to give them credit. They did a super job."
[email protected]
Magic Johnson continues working behind the scenes
Lynne Sladky / Associated Press
http://www.latimes.com/media/photo/2008-02/35494443.jpg
Magic Johnson, who was on hand to see the Lakers' 104-94 victory over the Heat in Miami on Sunday, agreed with General Manager Mitch Kupchak's assessments to keep Andrew Bynum and trade for Pau Gasol, although he admits to telling Kobe Bryant to air his grievances last summer.
He agreed with Kupchak to keep the developing Bynum and knew trading for Gasol was the right move.
By Steve Springer, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
8:40 AM PST, February 11, 2008
MIAMI -- When he played, Magic Johnson was the great facilitator, making sure everybody else in purple and gold on the court was involved and in sync before worrying about himself.
So it is these days, although Johnson is now doing his facilitating off court, behind the scenes.
It is well known that Johnson owns a little under 5% of the Lakers. What is not generally known is that he is not a silent partner. While everybody else was in the headlines during a stormy summer and heated preseason -- Kobe Bryant with his on-again, off-again trade demands, owner Jerry Buss saying he'd entertain trade offers, General Manager Mitch Kupchak doing just that -- Johnson was pleading for calm.
"I was on the phone with Mitch every day, every day," said Johnson after watching the Lakers beat the Miami Heat, 104-94, on Sunday at AmericanAirlines Arena. "Everyone needed to calm down. Nobody needed to overreact. We needed to speak with one voice."
Johnson's voice echoed that of Kupchak, cautioning against trading center Andrew Bynum, a move advocated by Bryant in an infamous amateur video.
"Andrew is the best young big man in the game," Johnson said.
While Johnson didn't support Bryant's opinion on a Bynum trade, he did support Bryant's decision to publicly air his frustrations over the Lakers' failure to upgrade his supporting cast.
"He did what he is supposed to as the leader of the team," Johnson. "He wanted to win and he expressed himself."
Although he also was frustrated, Johnson, drawing on nearly three decades with the Lakers, was able to take the long view.
"We needed to make a basketball decision, not an emotional decision," Johnson said.
When, nearly three months later, the opportunity presented itself to make a basketball decision, to obtain center/forward Pau Gasol in a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies, Johnson had no doubt it was the right decision.
"I'm happy," he said. "We got a big man who is smart, who can score inside, who score outside, who can pass and rebound."
At the start of the season, many perceived Kupchak as incompetent and Buss as out of touch. Johnson feels an apology is in order.
"If you're going to crucify Mitch, crucify Dr. Buss," Johnson said, "then now you have to give them credit. They did a super job."
[email protected]