Magic Johnson has reshaped the future of the Los Angeles Lakers since taking the wheel back in February. Let’s rank the best moves he’s made in the past seven months.
At this moment, the Los Angeles Lakers appear to be in good hands. Since Magic Johnson assumed the role of president of basketball operations earlier this year, the legendary point guard has taken a bold, unpredictable approach to leading this franchise into the future.
Even though it’s only been seven months, it’s clear Magic is more fit to call the shots in Los Angeles than Jim Buss ever was. Since taking the job, he’s made his plan of attack clear and stuck to it. With the help of new general manager Rob Pelinka, the Lakers are starting to look like a team that could turn it around sooner rather than later.
Speaking of that plan of Johnson’s, he wasted no time rolling it out. He even attempted to make some blockbuster deals right after he was hired, getting into trade discussions for Paul George and Jimmy Butler before the deadline. Since the arrival of the offseason, he’s done even more maneuvering to position this team for future success.
No matter how you look at it, he’s making the right moves. However, a few of those moves stand out above the rest as exceptional.
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With that in mind, let’s look at Magic’s three best offseason moves since taking control of this Lakers roster. There weren’t a ton of transactions to sift through, but just about all of them were highlights, making the selection process an interesting one.
Unloading Timofey Mozgov‘s contract
Heading into the offseason, fans seemed unsure of what to expect from this new regime. Was Magic really going to come in and make the necessary changes to get the Lakers back on track? Or were we all destined to watch more futility from this team?
Well, that concern was quickly put to bed when he unloaded Timofey Mozgov’s contract to the Brooklyn Nets. Although the move cost the Lakers D’Angelo Russell, he didn’t appear to be a part of the long-term plan anyway. Regardless, the compensation Los Angeles received more than made up for the young guard’s departure.
First and foremost, it gave the Lakers financial flexibility. With Mozgov’s horrendous deal off the books, Magic was one step closer to securing cap space for two max contracts. It also healed one of the final financial bruises lingering from the previous regime’s final year of frivolous spending. The trade received mixed reviews, but there’s no denying it was a win when viewed through unbiased lens.
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On top of that, it yielded the Lakers a star center in Brook Lopez. Although it’s assumed he won’t stick around long, his presence will help the team look like a more appealing potential landing spot for free agents next offseason.
We also can’t forget that it sent the No. 27 overall pick to Los Angeles. It was eventually used to secure the talents of Kyle Kuzma, who looked like a steal during the Summer League. You could also make a case that it allowed the Lakers the flexibility to trade down from No. 28 overall, snagging two intriguing prospects in Josh Hart and Thomas Bryant in the process.
This move was the start of something special.
Staying patient during free agency
Okay, so this is more of a non-move than it is a move. Either way, the fact that the Lakers didn’t jump the gun and sign a brand-name free agent to a long-term deal was a big win.
Magic and Pelinka went into the offseason with a plan. That plan was to avoid signing free agents to anything other than one-year deals. The end game here was to salvage cap space for next offseason, in hopes of signing two max-contract superstars via free agency.
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There were certainly opportunities for the Lakers to make a mistake. They were mentioned as potential suitors for players such as George Hill, Dion Waiters and Andre Iguodala, but passed on all three likely due to their demand for longer deals. In the end, though, things worked out about as well as Los Angeles could have hoped for.
Their patience landed them Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who met minimal interest after hitting the market late. That presented the Lakers the opportunity to sign him to a hefty, one-year contract. That way, Caldwell-Pope got paid, got an opportunity to earn a long-term deal next offseason, and Los Angeles got a player who could help them stay competitive in 2017-18.
They’ve also added a couple of cheaper options to fill the gaps since then. Tyler Ennis, Vander Blue and Briante Weber will help provide depth without cutting into the Lakers’ 2018 spending power.
Again, they had a plan and they stuck to it. It yielded them one of the 2018 free agency’s top talents, and still keeps them in the hunt for next offseason. Magic works his magic.
Success in the Draft Lottery and drafting Lonzo Ball
These two go together because one wouldn’t have been possible without the other.
Now you’re probably saying, “well the Lottery was all luck.” You’re right in that regard, and I agree that Magic had little to do with that outcome. Instead, it was a prime example of the confidence and swagger that he brings to this franchise that won me over.
More specifically, Magic apparently confirmed to head coach Luke Walton that the Lakers would be keeping their first-round pick in 2018, via CBS Sports: “Magic has already assured me that we’re going to get our top-three pick this year so I’m excited about that.” Some believe there was some shady stuff going on here, but I’m going to guess that wasn’t the case.
Instead, I’m going to take it as a strong leader instilling confidence in his team.
That confidence carried over into draft day, when Magic and the Lakers wasted no time making Lonzo Ball the new face of the franchise. They didn’t try to play it safe by drafting Jayson Tatum, or nervously trading up for Markelle Fultz. Nope — they sat comfortably at No. 2 and selected the local product who promises to take this team to new heights.
So essentially, Magic killed two birds with one stone. Show this team what it’s like to be led by a winner instead of an unqualified heir. Draft the next Laker legend who can kick-start the team’s return to relevance.
Next: 2017 NBA free agency tracker - Grades for every deal so far
It’s been a busy past few months for Johnson since he took the reins in February. During that time, though, he’s done everything in his power to point this franchise in the right direction. Imagine the mark he’ll make on the Lakers and the NBA if he can pull off his grand scheme for next offseason.