Magic Johnson, Lakers’ New President Of Basketball Operations: ‘I’m Here For The Long Haul’

The Los Angeles Lakers promoted Magic Johnson from adviser to President of Basketball Operations on Tuesday.

Lakers Name Magic Johnson New President Of Basketball Operations

According to NBA.com, the Lakers also fired general manager Mitch Kupchak, and Jim Buss will no longer serve as executive vice president of basketball operations.

Part-owner Jeanie Buss stated the following regarding Johnson’s new position and the search for a GM to replace Kupchak, who had been with the organization for more than 35 years:

“Today I took a series of actions I believe will return the Lakers to the heights [late owner] Dr. Jerry Buss demanded and our fans rightly expect,” she said. “Effective immediately, Earvin Johnson will be in charge of all basketball operations and will report directly to me. Our search for a new general manager to work with Earvin and coach Luke Walton is well underway and we hope to announce a new general manager in short order. Together, Earvin, Luke and our new general manager will establish the foundation for the next generation of Los Angeles Lakers greatness.”

Johnson, 57, who won five titles as a point guard for the Lakers in the 1980s, says the game has changed, and that he has a lot of work to do to help the franchise turn their luck around. However, he also added he plans to stay with the organization for quite some time.

“I wouldn’t be sitting here if it was a good situation,” Johnson said Tuesday afternoon at the team’s practice facility, speaking to a small group of reporters. “I understand what I’m up against, but I’m here, and I’m here for the long haul, and eventually we will turn it around.”

Johnson said he had originally planned to meet with Kupchak and Jim Buss on Tuesday before the team announced they were relieved of their duties.

“It’s a dream come true to return to the Lakers as President of Basketball Operations working closely with Jeanie Buss and the Buss family,” Johnson added. “Since 1979, I’ve been a part of the Laker Nation and I’m passionate about this organization. I will do everything I can to build a winning culture on and off the court. We have a great coach in [Walton] and good young players. We will work tirelessly to return our Los Angeles Lakers to NBA champions.”

Richard Deitsch of Sports Illustrated reported Johnson will step away from his role with ESPN.

Johnson’s first move in his new position with the Lakers was to trade reserve guard Lou Williams, the team’s leading scorer, to the Houston Rockets for Corey Brewer and a first-round pick, per ESPN.com’s Chris Haynes and Calvin Watkins.

The Lakers have missed the playoffs for three consecutive years and is coming off a franchise-worst 17-65 record in Bryant’s last season. Johnson said he wants to empower his general manager Rob Pelinka– Johnson’s former Lakers teammate Kobe Bryant’s agent–to make decisions, but added: “Anything to do with trades, [the] draft, is, of course, going to end with me.”

He added later, “You don’t know that I’m a control freak. You don’t get to where I am without being one. I’m going to make sure that I set the strategy, that I set the tone and that this organization is going to be about excellence on and off the court. That’s what we’re going to be about. And then everybody will have a clear role, and, of course, I’m a point guard, so I like to work with everybody.”

Johnson also said he still needs to learn the nuances of the NBA’s latest collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the salary cap, analytics and more– all things that were not as important when he was a player.