The search for Magic Johnson’s replacement is something that the Los Angeles Lakers are going to need to handle with great care, and also something that cannot be rushed but needs to be sorted sooner rather than later. That said, recent Lakers rumors suggest they could have already found the ideal candidate.
Recent Los Angeles Lakers rumors presented an interesting name to replace Magic Johnson as the team’s president of basketball operations. He may be the current President and General Manager of the Golden State Warriors, but the rumors surrounding Bob Myers and the Lakers vacant President of Basketball Operations seem to be growing by the minute.
The 44-year-old has been linked with leaving Oakland for LA, and given what he has achieved with the Warriors, he would be exactly the right man for the job.
Myers has overseen the Warriors most successful period in franchise history and his resume matches that of what the Lakers should be looking for. Since joining the team back in April 2011, the former NBA agent has won three championships, Executive of the Year in 2015 and he is also responsible for adding Lakers free agent target Kevin Durant to the team’s roster.
However, Myers to the Lakers is very much far from a possibility right now.
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According to Marcus Thompson of The Athletic, “if the Lakers talk to Myers and he becomes interested, the ball would be in the Warriors’ court for what happens next” and the possibility of Golden State letting one of their biggest assets walk away to a conference rival realistically seem very slim.
That doesn’t mean that it cannot happen. Since Myers has links to LA and in particular UCLA, the college where he attended and played basketball, he may very well be interested in making the move.
He also knows Lakers legend Kobe Bryant very well from his time as an agent, so that again could also be a major factor as it was when Kobe reportedly recruited LeBron James last summer.
If the Lakers can somehow get to Myers and everything comes down to talking money and contract details, then guessing what a deal could look like is anyone’s guess. But, attorney Shawn F Matian offered up a potential deal.
According to a tweet by Matian, a close source to the Buss family, we could see a lengthy deal which would also include full control of everything (look away Rob Pelinka).
Something like that is interesting, especially since Matian mentioned “includes removing Buss kids”.
Now, we have to remember that Jeanie is no stranger to saying goodbye to family members if it means that she gets the person in charge that she wants – see Jim Buss. So again, we could see an even bigger shake-up within the organization if they are to secure a President of the stature of Myers.
Of course, everything right now is very much just speculation, but as stated, the rumors and talk that Myers could be Magic’s replacement are growing by the minute. Given what he has achieved and what the Lakers need, he would absolutely be the ideal candidate.
It’s also worth noting that the Warriors could pay Myers more money to stay and turn down the opportunity to come to LA, effectively ending all the talk. Whether they are willing to pay a GM more than their own head coach, Steve Kerr, the man behind the on-court success.
That is another story, which will also add to the point that Thompson made in his article – “The ball would be in the Warriors’ court for what happens next”.
There is no doubt at all that Myers could be the one to replace Magic. In all honesty, this is undoubtedly the best option the Lakers could truly go all in on.
It will be interesting to see where this goes. Given the opportunity of what a potential incoming President has when it comes to money in the summer, amongst the other things, it is not something many will turn down.