Just a short while ago, Magic Johnson was introduced as the new advisor for basketball operations and business decisions for the owner for the Los Angeles Lakers. Now, the former point guard is preparing himself to take over completely, according to Josh Peter of USA Today Sports.
“Working to call the shots, because it only works that way,’’ Johnson told USA TODAY Sports when asked what he hopes his role with the franchise will be. “Right now I’m advising. I get that. But at the end of the day, then we all got to come together and somebody’s got to say, ‘I’m making the final call,’ all right? And who’s that going to be?”
One thing Magic has been doing to help him prep for his new job is by studying the Collective Bargaining Agreement. He said he knows how to evaluate players by watching them play already, but he doesn’t know much about contracts yet.
Johnson also commented on how long he thinks it will take to get the team back to championship caliber. He recently said the Lakers just need one star to get back to the glory days, but now he seems to be taking a step back.
“I’m not going to fool nobody and I don’t want the fan base to think, ‘Oh, I’m back, so it’s going to turn around tomorrow.’ It doesn’t work like that.”
Magic also said he and the Lakers rookie coach, Luke Walton, will be working together in everything. He said he won’t make a decision without consulting Walton.
It remains to be seen how long Magic Johnson — or any of the Lakers front office — will be with the team.
