This is pretty easy to summarize , if Magic could act like an owner , surrounds himself with the right people and let them do what they do best , he would be a good addition as his resume speaks for itself ... Doubt he can do this as an advisor but let's see how his postion/power evolves in the upcoming months/year
Magic Johnson, who was hired earlier this month as an adviser to Los Angeles Lakers president and co-owner Jeanie Buss as she evaluates the direction of the franchise, said Tuesday on ESPN's First Take that he would try to get Kobe Bryant to join him in the front office if his role evolves further. "First call I make if I'm in charge? Kobe Bryant," Johnson said. "Because Kobe understands winning. He understands, also, these players. I would call, 'What role you want? ... If you've got a day, just give me that day.' "I'll take that. Whatever time he has, I want him to come and be a part of it."
This is exactly what I see too and really just my main point. If he can do what Dr. Buss did and bring back that vibrant office personality we need, I don't see a real negative side. Obviously if Magic wants to be the one personally responsible for everything that complicates it and I would be less enthusiastic, but he's said the opposite and we all know how much he adored Dr. Buss.
Yeah I'd like Kobe to be involved but not in a lot of personnel decisions. Development would be a dream. Help on the business and marketing side? Sure. He can go work on Kobe Inc during the draft and trade talks though.
I must be misunderstanding what we are discussing, then. Let's review: 1. Magic hired as advisor -- my reaction: "Dammit, but OK" 2. Original article: "Magic wants to call the shots" -- my reaction: "God help us all" 3. The second/correction article: "Magic said he wants to make the final call" -- you'r reaction: "That's it. I knew things were taken out of context" -- my reaction: "How?" The fact that someone asked him if he'd like to call the shots doesn't negate that he wants to call the shots. Nor is it taking things out of context. If your position was that Magic wants Jim position -- no argument there. There was absolutely nothing taken out of context here, sorry. Anyway -- I am back to my original thought -- we are all doomed.
I am all over that if Magic brought Kobe back into the Lakers competitive picture somehow, when he like Magic with all his own projects can work it in. Those two guys together competing for the Lakers still? Kobe can keep Magic in check. I keep honking it too ..... Kobe available to teach bigs and Zu s.o.t.a. big man back to the basket footwork and arsenal of moves. Kobe is current legend with soooo much cred still to players as well. All of them that know. The two most alpha of competitive winners in Lakers history.
His quote absolutely was taken out of context. How are you not reading that. If I ask you do "do you want a candybar?" And you say no. And I say "are you sure?" And you say "no thanks. I don't need a candybar right now." Then I follow with "but you like candy? You might have some later?" And you say "yeah I like candy. I might have one tomorrow but I'm cutting back". Then I go around saying "Zen really likes candy and wants some". That's taken out of context. You don't want candy right now. Magic isn't in charge yet and doesn't make decisions, he's just a voice. Would he like to be? Sure but that's not his position today. There's nothing wrong with what he said. Now if you think him being in any sort of authority position is bad, that's fine. I disagree, but that's not what I'm talking about. I'm saying his original quote of "I want to call the shots" was a lead taken by the media and pushed as a headline. Again, Magic wants to be the owner or at least call the shots like one. He wants Jim's job. We all know that. Magic has also said he would empower a GM to make decisions and he'd just give his input which is exactly what Dr. Buss did for 35 years. If you put the right people in decision making roles whose judgment you trust, you're not going to veto them unless you feel extraordinarily strongly about the decision. For instance trading a superstar off the team. If that is Magic's role I have no problem with it. We need to find a GM he trusts. There are a number of decent candidates.
Kobe has ZERO patience, the last guy I would want taking decisions for us ... We would probably acquire some washed up names and stay irrelevant ... like that Kang - Melo , Wade and CP3 retirement dream team
Totally disagree. We are talking the real world now with Kobe the businessman and Magic the same. No one more obsessed about the details and the search for brilliance in what he does, now having to look long term in building what he is interested in business wise. He's not coming in and being a moron about it because of impatience. They've got Luke too.
Thanks for the clarification trd when it seemed so cut and dried to what Johnson stated. Alleviates this fan's concern somewhat. Johnson and Bryant...good cop, bad cop?
A Magic-Kobe-Luke FO/Coaching staff would check all the boxes. Magic is the Hollywood guy, easy to like and very loyal. Kobe is the workaholic obsessed maniac that would work tirelessly to figure out the right pieces that would fit in our system. Luke is the players coach, the laid back calm cool and collective guy that has players respecting him and wanting to play hard for him.
I agree. Kobe as a player obsessed with winning RIGHT NOW after the frustration of 2005-2007 is not retired, objective, philosophical Kobe of today. The man knows basketball and he knows the strengths and weaknesses of this roster. Magic is smart to want his input. That's what it would be; input. Grist for the mill. In the "good ol' days" the Lakers brain trust was a three headed monster of Jerry West, Jerry Buss, and Chick Hearn discussing and debating and then deciding. Give me Jerry West, Magic, and Kobe having a similar kind of back and forth and I'll live with any decisions they arrive at.
"Give me Jerry West, Magic, and Kobe having a similar kind of back and forth and I'll live with any decisions they arrive at." A whole lot of "bodies would be ready" for that.
I rather have magic- Kobe- Luke-Ryan west (would lead to his daddy helping) running the show than the hormonal Buss family.
With regards to Kobe, no one knows what his approach would be. He could be obsessed with winning now, the way he was as a player, and feel a desire to make win-now moves at the expense of the future. Especially with the Lakers experiencing a period of futility never seen before by the franchise. Or he could have a very prudent big-picture view of the franchise where he is going to be extremely patient in building this roster back up. It's the same with Magic. I can see it going both ways. I'd like to think it's the latter but I wouldn't rule out the former. If people want to already assume it'll be one direction or the other, I get that but personally I have really no clue what their philosophy would be.
I've seen enough of Magic everyday since he's been "adviser" and already had enough. I wish he'd just stay behind the scenes..but there's no chance of that. If he wants full time with the Lakers he needs to back away from the Dodgers. Then again I can't stand the Dodgers..or Magic.so I'm hoping he atleast has input in turning around the Lakers.
LOL. Here's the pipe scenario: Magic brings back Kobe, maybe even Jerry West to all kick around basketball decisions best for the Lakers going forward from now and post "Basketball Reasons" CBA realities, Luke and (Mitch until Ryan takes over) included ...... vs ...... Jim having final say after listening to input from those under him in Mitch and Luke now.
