Los Angeles Lakers: ESPN story shines light on Magic Johnson, team dysfunction

ESPN’s recent bombshell article gives another in-depth look to the inner workings of the Los Angeles Lakers and things are not pretty.

When Magic Johnson stepped down as the Los Angeles Lakers President of Basketball Operations one hour before the team’s final regular season game, there were shock waves throughout the NBA.

Remember when Magic Johnson was criticized for stealing the spotlight from Dirk Nowitzki and Dwyane Wade playing their final games in the NBA? I’ll bet Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers wish that was the only case today.

What’s amazing about this press conference is that it’s starting to lose the shock value by the week. Now it’s just considered the first scene in an increasingly sad reality show where the complete embarrassment of the Lakers front office is portrayed in front of the world.

Lake Show Life went into detail on how the business plan of the franchise needed to change with the resignation.

It was rumored that night that there was an ESPN story coming out that would put Magic Johnson in a bad light based on misconduct in the workplace. L.A. Times reported about the rumored piece ESPN was to release.

Magic Johnson strongly denied the potential report.

This probably was Magic Johnson’s thinking when he did his one hour exclusive interview on First Take last Monday.

One week later, the day Magic Johnson is part of the NBA Finals preview show with Stephen A. Smith, Michael Wilbon and Doc Rivers, ESPN dropped that bombshell article that was rumored on April 9th.

Baxter Holmes of ESPN laid out in detail what we all knew.

The Los Angeles Lakers situation can be summed up by a quote made by Michael Ray Richardson years ago describing the New York Knicks back in 1982.

"“…the ship be sinking…”"

With all due respect to Baxter Holmes and his piece, because it’s an informative and outstanding read, let’s ask ourselves this question. If Lakers fans were really paying attention, shouldn’t they know this already?

The dysfunction was not very hard to miss. All parties involved whether it be media, the team, LeBron James, the front office, knew the stench was all over the franchise. Baxter Holmes just showed exactly where the stench was at.

One week ago, Lake Show Life released an article wondering if Adam Silver should step in and intervene on the issues surrounding the Lakers. To say the article sparked controversy would be putting it mildly.

Maybe the article should be posted again.

Let’s break down the ESPN article.