Los Angeles Lakers: Analyzing the fallout from First Take on ESPN

With the dust settling from Magic Johnson’s appearance on ESPN’s First Take, what’s next for the Los Angeles Lakers?

Magic Johnson had his very anticipated interview on ESPN’s First Take on Monday morning. It was his chance to speak his truth on why he shocked the world with his impromptu press conference resigning from the Lakers. For about a month no one in the Los Angles Lakers organization had any explanation or statement for the fans. LeBron James spoke his truth about what he thought about that night and his feelings. But these days, LeBron James only speaks his truth through his production company.

The truth is a very interesting thing in life. It takes on many facets and meanings. The truth can be interpreted in many ways by many different people. This is the theme of the sad state of the Los Angeles Lakers. But there is a truth about the Lakers that can’t be manipulated…

The Los Angeles Lakers can’t get anything done right. Monday, May 20th, 2019, was a microcosm of the dysfunctional franchise that the late Dr. Jerry Buss left to Jeanie Buss and the rest of his children.

That was the day that the Lakers were going to introduce their 403rd…I mean, their choice, Frank Vogel in a press conference. LeBron James was there. It was the first time a Lakers executive was going to address the Lakers fans with a front office move.

Well leave it up to ESPN, Magic Johnson and Stephen A. Smith to provide Rob Pelinka something to discuss at the event after Johnson’s one hour First Take interview a few hours earlier.

Now let’s be clear here, Magic Johnson is a business mogul, you should believe the fact that he laid out in detail what the Lakers organization could expect from him when it came to being the President of Basketball Operations.

Fast forward back to the present, we do not know Magic Johnson’s truth when he stated that he would give the Lakers 150% of his efforts. He believes that he did. Rob Pelinka according to Magic did not and “betrayed” his trust and “backstabbed” him numerous times. Many members of the media knew that Magic Johnson was not around as much and displayed the commitment that the job required.

With that being said, there is so many sides to the story, who knows what the truth actually is. Most of what I heard in the interview, most already knew if you were paying attention.

It was no secret that Magic Johnson wanted Luke Walton out as head coach so he could hire Tyronn Lue to coach LeBron James. If Magic Johnson had the power that he was promised, the Lakers probably would have sent Walton packing as early as the 2-5 start when he “admonished” him for the slow start. If not, it definitely before the All-Star break. This is not too much to ask, it’s pretty much the norm for a NBA executive to hire his/her own coach.

Bottom line, either if he was in the office, El Segundo or in the state of California, if what Magic Johnson said about Jeanie Buss and the many voices she pays attention to is the truth…

"“[Harris] is supposed to run Lakers business but he was trying to come over to our side,” Johnson said. “Have everybody who has a role with the Lakers, stay in that role. OK, Tim Harris, you’re the president of business, stay over there in business. Jesse and Joey [Buss], hey, you’re the general manager assistant to Rob. Joey, you run the G League team. Then do that and do it well. Once you show you can drive excellence, now maybe you can move to another department. But right now, everybody has a voice.”"

Who can blame him. But there was a very important thing that Magic Johnson believes and I’m surprised Jeanie Buss was not paying attention. Magic Johnson said on numerous occasions that if he is not having fun…he’s out.

I mean it’s not like he hasn’t done it before…