Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Lakers fire GM

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The Los Angeles Lakers fired general manager Mitch Kupchak and put Magic Johnson in charge of basketball operations Tuesday in a shake- up of the team’s front office. Team owner Jeanie Buss also removed her brother, Jim, from his job as executive vice president of basketball operations.

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Lakers fired general manager Mitch Kupchak on Tuesday and put Magic Johnson in charge of basketball operations in a major shake- up of the struggling franchise’s front office.

Lakers owner Jeanie Buss also removed her brother, Jim, from his job as the Lakers’ executive vice president of basketball operations.

Jeanie Buss then promoted Johnson, the Hall of Fame point guard who returned to the franchise earlier this year in an executive role. Johnson is the Lakers’ new president of basketball operations, reporting directly to Jeanie Buss.

Jeanie Buss made the extraordin­ary moves two days before the NBA’s trade deadline. The Lakers are 19- 39 this season, plummeting out of contention after an encouragin­g 10- 10 start under new Coach Luke Walton, who got a strong vote of confidence from Jeanie Buss.

Jim Buss had been in the Lakers’ front office for 19 years, including 12 in charge of basketball operations alongside Kupchak.

The Lakers are mired in the worst four- year stretch in franchise history, missing the playoffs in three consecutiv­e years with their three worst records ever. They finished 17- 65 last season, a franchise low in the last year of

Kobe Bryant’s two- decade run with the franchise.

Johnson has never been a decisionma­king NBA executive, but he has been a successful businessma­n and investor since his playing career ended. He also briefly coached the Lakers, but dropped his ceremonial title as a team vice president last June after his frequent criticisms of Jim Buss and former coaches. He sold his ownership stake in 2010.

The Lakers also are closing in on hiring agent Rob Pelinka to be their new general manager, people with knowledge of the situation confirmed to the Los Angeles Times.

Once the deal for Pelinka is finalized, he will handle day- to- day matters, with Johnson having final say over player acquisitio­ns and the draft, Johnson said.

Pelinka is very familiar with the Lakers organizati­on, having represente­d Kobe Bryant during his playing career. Johnson spoke to the idea of having a general manager who did not have front- office experience.

“Those days are over with,” Johnson said. “The salary cap and the new CBA has changed the game of basketball. People who understand the CBA, understand the salary cap, understand analytics. All of those things that wasn’t a big thing when I played is so much a part of the game.”

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