Los Angeles Lakers: An open letter to Magic Johnson

An open letter to Los Angeles Lakers president of basketball operations, Magic Johnson, from a fan’s perspective.

Dear Los Angeles Lakers president of basketball operations Magic Johnson,

I’ve been a fan of yours since you first donned the Lakers uniform in 1979. You helped bring five championships to Los Angeles, and you brought countless exciting highlights to fans like me.

I know that you bleed Lakers purple and gold and that in your current position, you want more than anything else to help put the team back on top again. I also know that you strongly believe that the team needs a superstar to lead the way, much as the Showtime Lakers had both you and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Since only five current Lakers are under contract for 2018-19 (the team has options on three others), you and Rob Pelinka will obviously have quite a busy off-season. In fact, the moves you make once the season ends will likely determine how successful you are as a basketball executive.

So, in the quest of trying to build a champion, I hope you’ll at least listen to the opinion of an outsider regarding three major areas:

1. Re-Sign Julius Randle

It’s obvious that you had doubts about Randle coming into the season. There were reports that his name repeatedly came up in trade discussions with other teams, and that you had no plans to re-sign him this summer.

However, his outstanding play, particularly recently, should have convinced you otherwise. He has become a nearly unstoppable physical force near the basket, an excellent rebounder and a very good ball-handler and passer. As you well know, that combination of skills is an uncommon asset.

There are several other reasons to keep him. For one, he seems to have forged a bond with the other young Lakers, and with them forms a strong young nucleus. At 23-years old, there is every reason to expect that Randle will continue to improve, especially his outside shooting. Also, his power is a wonderful counterpart to the smoothness of Brandon Ingram.

Simply put, Randle has proven that he is too good of a player for you to allow him to sign elsewhere. If you let him go, it will likely prove to be your biggest mistake, something you’ll always regret.

2. Sign the Right Free Agent

You are understandably gung-ho to sign a big name. But of course, you also know from experience just how important it is to have complementary pieces on your team. That should be a guiding principle as you seek to lure an elite free agent to the Lakers. Without a doubt, the one prospective free agent who would fit best with this team is Paul George.

George is an outstanding all-around player who can put his mark on a game without having to control the ball. He does just about everything well and would form a dynamic wing duo with Ingram. As most fans know, he is from Southern California and has expressed interest in playing for the Lakers. Here’s hoping you can welcome him back home!

What about the other possible big-name free agent, LeBron James? As great a career as he’s had, he would not be the right fit for the Lakers for several reasons. First, he’ll turn 34 years old next season, and Father Time will catch up to him, sooner rather than later.

Second, he has an ego the size of Alaska, and he’ll want the whole team to revolve around him, both on the court and in the front office. Also, simply by his ball-dominant style of play, he would hinder the development of both Ingram and Lonzo Ball, players who do best when the ball is in their hands.

As for DeMarcus Cousins, his talent is undeniable. But he is recuperating from a major Achilles injury, so who knows how strong he’ll come back? Plus, he has a reputation as a hothead who has feuded with opponents, teammates and coaches. Therefore, it’s probably best to avoid him.

3. Hold On to Your Young Assets

Everyone knows that you and your predecessors accumulated an impressive array of talented young players. None of them has yet peaked, and two or three may well be all-stars in the not-too-distant future.

You’ve already shown us that you’re willing to gamble and make sacrifices if you believe they will prove worthwhile in the long run. You weren’t convinced that D’Angelo Russell was the long-term solution in the backcourt, so you traded him for what turned out to be Kyle Kuzma and salary cap room. That move made sense and should turn out well for the team.

You took more of a risk last month when you traded both Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. The move gave you even more cap room, and your success in the free agent market will determine just what players the Lakers will have as a result of the deal. Although both players were popular, they were further down the rung than several others, and so your willingness to take a chance is reasonable. Still, it won’t be easy to replace the quality depth that they provided.

At this point, Magic, the wisest action may well be to retain your current nucleus of the four young players under contract: Ingram, Ball, Kuzma and Jason Hart, in addition to Randle. Please do not be tempted into trading any of them.

Prior to this season when you discussed trades with other teams, you essentially labeled Ingram as untouchable. He is demonstrating how talented he is and that he can be one of the league’s best all-around players. Hopefully, even though you didn’t draft him, your opinion of him has only strengthened.

You heaped mountains of praise on Ball when you introduced him, and he is showing all of us why. Lonzo should be the Lakers starting point guard for likely the next decade or so… and we hope you agree despite having to put up with his father (perhaps the world’s biggest pain in the butt).

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It’s been frequently said that Kuzma was the steal of last year’s draft. Although his play has slipped a tad over the last month or so, his range of skills is impressive. Hopefully, you concur and plan to keep him around.

Hart was another great late first-round pick who may turn out to be this team’s Michael Cooper or Derek Fisher. He is scrappy, a great defender, and far better offensively than anybody thought.

Of course, you also still have many other roster decisions to make, including these:

• What will you do about the center position? Will you attempt to re-sign Brook Lopez, or will he demand too much money? Is there another less costly alternative free agent? Is Ivica Zubac ready to become a starter? Or will you go with the smaller Randle at the 5?

• What are your plans for the Lakers backcourt beyond Ball and Hart? It’s doubtful you’d want to give either Kentavious Caldwell-Pope or Isaiah Thomas the big money long-term contract that each desire. Is it possible you’ll re-sign one of them to a lucrative one-year deal?

• Since Luol Deng has a seemingly untradeable contract, logic says you will either buy him out or waive him. Would you instead consider carving out a role for him to help replenish the Lakers bench next season, especially if you don’t re-sign either KCP or IT?

Now that this season is winding down, the pressure is on you to perform your Magic in the off-season. As a player, you were one of the best-ever in clutch situations when your team needed you the most. Lakers fans hope you can achieve the same results as a team executive.

If you can accomplish what should be your co-No. 1 priorities, re-signing Randle and convincing George to join the Lakers while keeping the rest of your young nucleus intact, you will have absolutely succeeded in setting the Lakers up extraordinarily well to compete for titles.

Next: 50 Greatest Players In Lakers Franchise History

Best of luck to you, Magic!

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