Los Angeles Lakers: Time to admit LaVar Ball was right about the Lakers

Did Magic Johnson have any power OR was he just a face with a rubber stamp job?

LaVar Ball did state in the interview that promises were made to him about Lonzo Ball getting the keys to the franchise. At the time Lonzo Ball was drafted, it seemed everybody was on the same page. Or were they?

It seems that Magic Johnson and Jeanie Buss had a difference of opinion of which point guard should be drafted…

ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith take on the situation.

"What I’m about to say, Magic Johnson would categorically probably deny. That’s my friend, my brother. I love him. If Magic Johnson was sitting next to me on national television and he said opposite or contrary to what I’m about to tell you, I’d tell him, “That’s a d— lie, and you know it.” Magic Johnson would not have drafted Lonzo Ball if were not for Jeanie Buss. Jeanie Buss needed a box-office draw. LaVar Ball, the marketing wizard that he is, put his son in our minds’ eye, had us thinking this brother out of Chino Hills starring for UCLA is going to be special in the pros."

Now listen to LaVar. Remember Lonzo still had a chance to be traded. The second half of the video is where your antennas rise up.

Now fast forward to this week. Did Magic Johnson have any power? Was he just the face?

Look, it was clear that Magic Johnson wanted his own coach in to lead this team. That did not happen because Jeanie Buss protected Luke Walton. Something that was brought up numerous times on Lake Show Life discerning the power struggle in the front office. 

But it seems that Magic Johnson reportedly wanted Rob Pelinka gone too.

ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith delves deeper.

"But you also hear that he may have wanted Rob Pelinka gone, and there was resistance there. Now, I spoke to Jeanie Buss, and I spoke to Rob Pelinka. And both categorically and emphatically denied that there’s any truth to that whatsoever. But in the hours and the days to come, you’re going to hear that nugget of information percolating and really resonating. This has been percolating for months: Rob Pelinka might go into the office or into the Lakers facility, “Hey guys. How are you doing? Where’s Magic Johnson?” knowing that Magic Johnson wasn’t there in an effort to bring attention to the fact that Magic Johnson wasn’t there. Of course, Rob Pelinka has denied that, as well. And in fairness to him, there are people out there that are his enemies, that have never liked him, and they will talk about him. And to his defense, some people might make some stuff up. I’m just telling you, you’re hearing these kinds of things. And you were hearing these kinds of things in the days leading up to Magic Johnson announcing it."

Now Rob Pelinka is running the Lakers front office when it is widely believed around the NBA that it is a horrible idea. Problem is, Jeanie Buss and the Lakers really want Pelinka around.

Now with the rumors that the Lakers are chasing Jerry West, Pat Riley and Bob Myers, do you really think they want Pelinka around? Wouldn’t that cause chaos in the front office?

That’s LaVar Ball’s point!