Pelinka could see an increased organizational role with the Lakers following Magic Johnson's resignationNBAE/GETTY IMAGES
The Lakers are "still assessing" Magic Johnson's abrupt decision to step down, but GM Rob Pelinka "will stay in his job, and, if anything, his power will grow," according to sources cited by Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.com. A source said that LeBron James was "stunned to learn" of Johnson's resignation, but he still "stands behind" Lakers CEO & Controlling Owner Jeanie Buss and the organization. Sources said that Johnson and Pelinka "visited James and his agent, Rich Paul, on Saturday." Sources also said that Paul yesterday met with Buss, Pelinka and Lakers Exec Dir of Special Projects Linda Rambis (ESPN.com, 4/10).
SOMETHING NEEDS TO CHANGE: In L.A., Bill Plaschke writes Buss in hiring Johnson's replacement has to "ignore allegiances, cut ties, and hire someone from beyond the Lakers family to return some semblance of sanity to the basketball operation." The Lakers need a "smart, inventive basketball mind not awed by the history of the place and is not beholden to anyone living there." There was talk yesterday that Buss "will proceed as if this is business as usual." But she "can't, because it's not." Her organization's reputation is "in tatters," and her reputation is "slowly crumbling" (L.A. TIMES, 4/11). CBSSN's Adam Schein said Buss "cannot hire a former Laker to fill Magic Johnson's spot." Schein: "How many times can we go down this road with the Lakers?" Pelinka has "got to go too," but reports are he is "not only going to stay, but could get more power." Schein: "Are you kidding me? That's basically letting Kobe run the team" ("Time to Schein," CBSSN, 4/10). USA TODAY's Jeff Zillgitt writes Buss has "reached a pivotal moment in her tenure as owner." Her next decision will be a "defining one for her and the organization." The Lakers are "no longer a family business in the way it was" when her father, the late Jerry Buss, owned and ran the team (USA TODAY, 4/11). ESPN’s Rachel Nichols said there is a "rising feeling this morning from other people around the league" that Buss "needs to go out and get someone super experienced to lead this front office" ("The Jump," ESPN2, 4/10). ESPN's Mike Golic said the Lakers should "go out and search" for a front office exec who wants to join the organization, "hire that guy, and let him decide if Pelinka stays and let him decide if Luke Walton stays." Golic: "You don’t hire a president of basketball operations in any sport and say, 'You are now inheriting this GM and this coach'" ("Golic & Wingo," ESPN Radio, 4/11).
LONG ROAD AHEAD: The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Ben Cohen writes the Lakers are now "staring down another make-or-break summer, but it won't be Johnson who's calling the shots." This season was a "reminder that it wasn't only talent that was missing," it was also "strategy" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 4/11). NBCSPORTS.com's Tom Haberstroh wrote, "Time and time again, the Lakers have fallen back on their 'Hey, we're the Lakers, stars come to us' M.O. and hoped -- and prayed -- that this time, this time, it'll work." Free agency will "bring salvation and restore the once-proud Lakers franchise back to the glory days." It is time for Buss to "recognize that the Lakers are not exceptional." After Johnson's "fit-for-Hollywood exit and the organizational mess he left behind, the Lakers are in no better position than they were before" (NBCSPORTS.com, 4/10). NBA TV's Mike Fratello said of the possibility that Clippers consultant Jerry West could return to the Lakers organization, "What is Jerry West's loyalty to the Laker organization? Where he is right now, they’re ahead of where the Lakers are" ("NBA GameTime," NBA TV, 4/10).
