The Los Angeles Lakers are once again at the forefront of the NBA world as they have officially named Magic Johnson as president of basketball operations, relieving both Jim Buss and Mitch Kupchak of all duties.
Just days ago, the Lakers were a big part of rumors about a potential trade for center DeMarcus Cousins. The Lakers refused to part with prized rookie Brandon Ingram in a deal and Cousins was ultimately traded to the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Lakers attempts to get Cousins was no accident as, according to Sam Amick of USA Today, Buss and Kupchak viewed it as a last-ditch effort to save their jobs:
Going after DeMarcus Cousins was Jim & Mitch's last-ditch attempt to save their jobs, I'm told. Jim really wanted him, Mitch handled talks
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) February 21, 2017
Amick also noted that the failure to bring in Cousins, or any other star for that matter, was something that bothered Jeanie Buss:
Jeanie is done w/ Lakers' inability to get stars in Laker Land, & she had always seemed convinced Cousins could calm down in their setting.
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) February 21, 2017
It says a lot about Kupchak and Jim Buss that even though they felt their jobs were on the line, they refused to part with Ingram in a Cousins trade. Plenty would have pulled the trigger on that deal, whether right or wrong, especially if they felt it could save their job.
The Lakers have always been a franchise built on stars. From Elgin Baylor and Jerry West to Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, to Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal, this franchise has always had star power, and that is far from the case right now.
Magic will be looking to change that now that he is in control of everything. How long that process takes remains to be seen.
