Magic Johnson reveals how the Lakers botched getting DeMar DeRozan

The Los Angeles Lakers have a statistically improbable chance of making the NBA Play-In Tournament, an even more mind-bogglingly low chance of making the NBA Playoffs and practically a zero percent chance of making the NBA Finals this season after entering the year as the favorites to win the title out of the Western Conference.

This season has been a disaster for the Lakers. A lack of depth, injuries to LeBron James and Anthony Davis and the horrendous fit of Russell Westbook are all to blame for the Lakers having the most disappointing season in franchise history.

We here at Lake Show Life have broken down various what-ifs about the Lakers and the things they could have done instead (like the trade last season that could have resulted in multiple titles). Former president of basketball operations Magic Johnson has added more smoke to the fire, explaining on ESPN’s ‘Get Up’ just how poorly the Lakers botched the offseason and getting DeMar DeRozan in particular.

While Magic no longer has an official title with the Lakers, it is no secret that he is at least plugged in to what the team is doing. If anyone knows what really went down this offseason it is Magic and there really is no reason for the Hall of Famer to lie about this situation.

DeMar DeRozan wanted to join the Lakers and the team botched it.

To be fair to the Lakers, DeRozan’s 2021-22 campaign was a breakout season and he was not playing this well in recent years. That being said, even last year’s DeRozan would have been better than this year’s Westbrook, especially when you factor in the contracts that the two players have.

And as Magic so rightfully points out, the role players could have stayed in LA. Even without Buddy Hield (who Magic suggests they still could have traded for), the depth on the roster would have been much better. If we just assume that the Lakers packaged Kyle Kuzma and Montrezl Harrell for DeRozan, which is better than what the Spurs actually got, then it is easy to see just how much deeper the team would have been.

The Lakers would have had a starting five of Alex Caruso, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, DeMar DeRozan, LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The bench could have consisted of Malik Monk, Talen Horton-Tucker, Carmelo Anthony and whichever minimum players the Lakers thought fit better with DeRozan in the mix.

Magic is absolutely right. This one change probably would have resulted in the Lakers at least making the Western Conference Finals. We have to assume that Davis and LeBron still got hurt, but it looks like both would have been healthy going into the playoffs.

The record would have been much better with DeRozan and depth and the team would have actually been a top-six seed. With a healthy LeBron, AD and DeRozan, LA would be the team to beat in the West.

Instead, LeBron James showed yet again that he is not good at making basketball personnel decisions and his trip to Cancun will start early. Maybe that was the plan all along.