Magic to quit Lakers if he can't sign elite player

EL SEGUNDO, California — Magic Johnson is betting his job on his freeagent recruiting skills for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Johnson declared on Monday (Tuesday, Phl time) that he will step down as the Lakers' president of basketball operations if he can't persuade an elite free agent to sign with the 16-time NBA champions within the next two summers.

"Next summer, if nobody comes and I'm still sitting here like this, then it's a failure," Johnson said after a news conference to introduce draft picks Moe Wagner and Svi Mykhailiuk.

Johnson was put in charge of the Lakers' front office by owner Jeanie Buss in February 2017, and the former superstar point guard immediately announced his plans to revive the struggling franchise by enticing the game's best players to join as free agents.

With Paul George and potentially LeBron James headlining the market this summer, Johnson is leading the Lakers' efforts to land both players this weekend. If they sign elsewhere, Johnson and the Lakers will pursue the large crop of 2019 free agents.

And if he strikes out with every big name, Johnson said he will quit.

"Like I told you when I took the job, it's going to be a two-summer thing for the Lakers," Johnson said. "This summer, and next summer, and that's it. And if I can't deliver, I'm going to step down myself. She won't have to fire me. I'll step away from it. Because then, I can't do this job. But so far, so good."