Kupchak out, Magic in as Lakers shake up front office
With the Los Angeles Lakers mired in the worst years in franchise history, owner Jeanie Buss has turned to Magic Johnson to lead them back to championship contention.
And she removed her own brother from his job to do it.
Jeanie Buss fired general manager Mitch Kupchak on Tuesday and put Johnson in charge of basketball operations. Jim Buss also was dismissed as the Lakers’ executive vice-president of basketball operations in a major shake-up of the struggling team’s front office.
Jim Buss retains his ownership stake in the team, but Jeanie Buss has final say under the structure set up by their late father, Jerry Buss. She used it to chart a new course for the 16-time NBA champion franchise, which has the NBA’s third-worst record at 19-39.
The Lakers are almost certain to miss the playoffs for a teamrecord fourth straight season, and they posted the worst record in team history during each of the previous three years.
“It was such a hard to decision to make, that I probably waited too long,” Jeanie Buss said. “For that, I apologize to Laker fans. Now, with clarity and direction, and after talking with Earvin, a change was needed.”
Just 19 days after Johnson returned to the Lakers in an executive role, Jeanie Buss decided the Hall of Fame point guard will be the Lakers’ decision-maker in basketball operations despite no experience as a personnel executive. Johnson is the Lakers’ new president of basketball operations, reporting directly to Jeanie Buss, and it appears that Johnson is moving quickly to surround himself with a team to help his transition.
According to a person with knowledge of the situation, prominent agent Rob Pelinka has begun informing his clients that he plans to leave Landmark Sports Agency to become the Lakers GM.
“The status quo wasn’t acceptable,” Jeanie Buss said. “It wasn’t Lakers basketball. It wasn’t what this organization stands for.”
Johnson said he will put aside his numerous business obligations and his role with the Los Angeles Dodgers, in which he holds an ownership stake, to concentrate on his work with the Lakers. The charismatic former superstar spent the morning fielding calls from general managers and preparing for the trade deadline in two days.
“I’m coming back to an organization that I love,” Johnson said. “The timing is right. It was time to put aside my businesses and focus on the Lakers’ business.”
Johnson has no time to waste. The Lakers are expected to be sellers at Thursday’s trade deadline, and Johnson acknowledged teams are very interested in highscoring guard Lou Williams, who could fetch at least a first-round draft pick — something the Lakers might not have this year, thanks to years of win-now trades by Kupchak and Jim Buss during the Kobe Bryant era.
Los Angeles has plummeted out of contention after an encouraging 10-10 start under Luke Walton, but the rookie coach got a strong vote of confidence from Jeanie Buss and Johnson, who said he “loves” Walton as a coach and an example of the Lakers’ championship culture.
Kupchak is a former Lakers centre who had been employed by the franchise in some capacity since August 1981. He had been the Lakers’ GM since 2000, studying under Jerry West and eventually succeeding him.
Kupchak had been in the Lakers’ front office for 30 years, including the last 17 as general manager.