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Magic Named Lakers President Of Basketball Ops; But Can He Save The Franchise?

The Lakers yesterday named Magic Johnson President of Basketball Operations, and the main question is whether Johnson will "lead the Lakers by delegating to others" or if he will "look to score himself," according to Mark Medina of the L.A. DAILY NEWS. Johnson said, "You don't know I'm a control freak? So you don't get to where I am without being one. I'm going to make sure I set the strategy and set the tone. This organization is going to be about excellence on and off the court. That's what we'll be about. Everybody will have a clear role." Johnson said that he has studied the CBA "closely since the Lakers named him an adviser earlier this month" to "accelerate his front-office learning curve." He has consulted NBA Commissioner Adam Silver for "more insight on the league's labor deal and plans to travel" to N.Y. soon to meet with more league officials (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 2/22). Johnson said that he had "originally planned" to meet with Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak and Exec VP/Basketball Operation Jim Buss yesterday, but instead the team "announced those two had been fired and that Johnson had been elevated to his new role." ESPN.com's Baxter Holmes wrote Johnson is "competitive and will move fast and aggressively to help turn around his beloved Lakers." By accepting this role, Johnson is "no doubt risking his legacy, one that has been filled with success" (ESPN.com, 2/21).

SAVE ME FROM MYSELF: In L.A., Bill Plaschke in a front-page piece writes Johnson has been "given a real job with real difficulties where failure will have a real impact on his legacy." Plaschke: "The greatest Laker ever must save the worst Lakers ever." Johnson said, "I'm putting it all on the line. I knew that when I signed up for it." Plaschke writes if Johnson "pulls this off, it will cement his standing atop" the list of L.A. sports stars. If he "can't, it could forever paint him, and taint him, as an inspiring entertainer who nonetheless couldn't do the hard work of running" an organization. The Lakers yesterday also parted ways with VP/PR John Black, who was "beloved by the Lakers community and may have paid the price for his close ties with Kupchak." However, the other firings were "understandable considering the Lakers have just endured the two worst seasons in franchise history." Lakers President Jeanie Buss "hopes Johnson can fill the leadership and salesmanship role once held by" Warriors Exec BOD Member Jerry West (L.A. TIMES, 2/22). CBSSPORTS.com's Bill Reiter noted Johnson gave Buss the "cover to remove both her brother and Kupchak." But now she "must harness" his "strengths and limit his weaknesses" (CBSSPORTS.com, 2/21).

SUCCESS ISN'T GUARANTEED
: THE VERTICAL's Chris Mannix wrote Johnson "can be good at this job," but it is "foolish to think because he's Magic Johnson that he will." Mannix: "To succeed with the Lakers, Magic Johnson needs to know: It's time to get to work" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 2/21). SI.com's Lee Jenkins writes the timing of this move is "questionable." What is "ahead for the Lakers can't be accomplished with a big smile or a blank check." Rebuilding in the NBA is "slow, arduous work." Johnson has "watched, and critiqued, from afar." Jenkins: "Now he will experience it himself" (SI.com, 2/22). In N.Y., Frank Isola notes Johnson "comes into the job as a novice," though he is a "big name and the Lakers will certainly win the press conference." Johnson has a "big smile and an even bigger personality." But whether he has the "time, patience and acumen to pull that off remains to be seen" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/22). FS1's Jim Jackson said, "Who Magic chooses to fill out the rest of this (front office) and how he delegates his time to me is ultimately going to be the key" ("Speak For Yourself," FS1, 2/21). ESPN's Dan Le Batard said Johnson is “going to make all the decisions" within the franchise, and that is something "I don’t know if he’s qualified to do." Le Batard: "The failure of him as a coach was pretty spectacular” (“Highly Questionable,” ESPN, 2/21). ESPN's Marcellus Wiley: “I believe in Magic Johnson as a team leader to make sure he puts the right resources and people around him. But my heart’s not fully into Magic Johnson (transitioning) to team president” ("SportsNation," ESPN, 2/21). SI.com's Rohan Nadkarni wrote there is "hope for the Johnson move to not be a total lost cause." But the Lakers have been "clinging to their past for too long, one that grows more and more irrelevant with each passing day" (SI.com, 2/21). 

A FAMILIAR FACE IN THE CROWD: FOXSPORTS.com's Dieter Kurtenbach writes Johnson in a "best-case scenario" would be a "figurehead -- someone to show up at news conferences, shake hands, woo free agents, and sign off on the moves that the general manager makes." Kurtenbach: "It's one that could easily happen" (FOXSPORTS.com, 2/22). FS1’s Jay Onrait said, "Maybe the star power, maybe the thought of playing for Magic is enough to lure some of these (free agent) players" ("Fox Sports Live," FS1, 2/21). FS1’s Chris Broussard: “With Mitch Kupchak and Jim Buss, they're not really charismatic people, so that was really a turn-off for players. Magic won't be a turnoff because everybody loves him. But he's still going to have to come up with a great plan to get these free agents to go there” (“Speak for Yourself,” FS1, 2/21).

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