Jeanie Buss Was ‘Concerned’ But Maintained Confidence When Magic Johnson Promised To Step Down If Lakers Didn’t Sign Marquee Free Agents

Matthew Moreno
2 Min Read
Andrew D. Bernstein-NBAE

Less than one week before 2018 NBA free agency began, Los Angeles Lakers president of basketball operations Magic Johnson made a jarring promise. Aware of the expectations the Lakers faced this summer and next, Johnson said he would step down instead of Jeanie Buss needing to fire him, if he failed to sign at least one marquee free agent.

SHOP NOW: CHECK OUT THE LATEST MERCH ????????????

The Lakers had of course been down that path before. In April 2014, Jim Buss, then in charge of the team’s front office, said he would re-sign if the Lakers were not a championship contender within four years.

Buss didn’t get to see his entire timeline through, as Jeanie fired her brother and then-general manager Mitch Kupchak in February 2017. Johnson and new general manager Rob Pelinka were hired to turn the franchise around, hence Johnson’s remark.

In an interview with Jim Hill on CBS 2 Los Angeles, Jeanie shared her reaction upon learning of Johnson’s declaration:

“I was concerned when he said that. But I also knew that whether it was through free agency, the draft, through trades, that the team that Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka were building, was going to be a good team.”

While free agency began on a negative note because Paul George, long viewed as a heavy Lakers lean, immediately announced he was re-signing with the Oklahoma City Thunder, any concern or disappointment was quickly erased.

On the same night George’s intentions became official, LeBron James announced he would sign with the Lakers. Johnson and Pelinka went on to fill out their roster with gritty veterans, and have drawn plenty of praise from Buss for the quick turnaround since they took over.

Are you following us on Instagram? We’ve changed our handle to @LakersNationOfficial! Find us on Facebook at @LakersNation, and on Twitter @LakersNation.

Matthew Moreno is a journalist from Whittier, Calif., who is a credentialed reporter and is currently the Managing Editor of DodgerBlue.com and LakersNation.com. In addition to covering Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angels Lakers games, Matthew has a strong passion for keeping up to date with the sneakerhead culture. It began with Michael Jordan and Air Jordan shoes, and has carried over to Kobe Bryant's signature line with Nike. Matthew previously was the lead editor and digital strategist at Dodgers Nation, and the co-editor and lead writer at Reign of Troy, where he covered USC Trojans Football. Matthew graduated from California State Long Beach University with a major in journalism and minor in communications. Contact: matt@mediumlargela.com
Exit mobile version