Many individuals view Magic Johnson’s quick tenure because the Los Angeles Lakers» president of basketball operations from 2017 to 2019 is a disappointment, even a failure. It does not matter that he introduced in LeBron James as a free agent – he made some questionable or dangerous strikes throughout that point within the minds of many.
One of many dangerous selections he made was the choice to take Lonzo Ball with the No. 2 decide within the 2017 NBA Draft as a substitute of Boston Celtics star ahead Jayson Tatum or Sacramento Kings star guard De’Aaron Fox. Johnson he not too long ago mentioned he did as a result of the Lakers had a glut of forwards and Tatum’s agent did not even need him to work for the Lakers, however that agent considerably refuted this story.
Late final week, Johnson went on Fox Sports activities 1’s “Communicate” and mentioned the workforce had reached offers for DeMar DeRozan and Buddy Hield. He mentioned this in response to a query from former NFL star huge receiver Keyshawn Johnson about whether or not DeRozan was a participant who might have helped Los Angeles, and though he didn’t elaborate in no matter 12 months these offers have been in impact, the workforce was reportedly seeking to get each in the summertime of 2021.
Through Fox Sports activities:
“They made the commerce… [Kyle] Kuzma for DeMar,” Johnson mentioned.
“After which we have been going to have Buddy Hield,” Johnson continued. “That’s all we needed to do.”
DeRozan would have given the Lakers a authentic third scorer on the wing who might additionally facilitate and possibly even carry the ball down the courtroom. Hield, in the meantime, would have supplied them with the kind of lethal 3-point sniper they did not have.
Everybody is aware of what is going on on as a substitute. The Lakers traded Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Montrezl Harrell and a first-round decide for Russell Westbrook, apparently at James’ request. Although Westbrook wasn’t precisely a foul participant in his season and a half with them, he by no means slot in they usually gave up a king’s ransom to get a participant who did not make a lot of an influence optimistic.
This 2021 offseason was a sliding doorways second for the franchise the place it hamstrung itself for years afterwards as a substitute of making ready for a run at its second NBA title throughout the James/Anthony Davis period.
This text was initially revealed on LeBron Wire: Magic Johnson: Lakers reached offers for DeMar DeRozan and Buddy Hield
