magic johnson is no stranger to making bold statements and accomplishing what he has in mind. Johnson took over the Los Angeles Lakers as head of basketball operations a couple of months ago, and he is already looking to make major adjustments to the roster.
The Lakers will go into the offseason with sufficient cap space. What they do with that money will be solely up to Johnson, new General Manager Rob Pelinka, and Jeanie Buss. However, according to Magic, the Lakers will try to bring in a superstar.
Magic Johnson’s bold statement
In a radio interview with AM 570 LA Sports, Johnson said, “The Lakers have always had a superstar…that is what we are going to try and bring in here.”
That is a strong statement to make months before the offseason officially begins, but the Lakers have indeed always been able to attract superstar free agents, which is what Johnson is referring to.
Who can they get?
This year’s free agency class includes star players such as Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Blake Griffin, and Chris Paul. Obviously, Curry and Durant will more than likely re-sign with the Golden State Warriors, no chance for any team to snag them. On the other hand, Paul and Griffin could be available this summer especially if the Los Angeles Clippers are eliminated early in the playoffs.
Griffin has already been rumored to have an interest in joining the Los Angeles Lakers during free agency, with the Boston Celtics being the only other destination. Although the Lakers haven’t expressed any interest at all in the big man, they may register their interest during the offseason if attaining Griffin becomes more plausible.
Outside of signing a free agent, the Lakers also have the luxury to trade for one. They have been linked to Paul George and Jimmy Butler in the past and would probably inquire the Indiana Pacers and Chicago Bulls about the availability of the two stars.
George reportedly would join the Lakers in the summer of 2018 as a free agent if the Pacers don’t improve as a team in the near future.
However, the Pacers remain optimistic that they will get more help for George and will eventually be able to keep him. If that stance changes from now until free agency, expect the Lakers to pursue George, even in a trade aggressively.
There is still plenty of time before free agency begins, but it’s encouraging for Lakers fans to hear that the franchise’s new front office is already looking into the future and hoping to make major shakeups. Since Los Angeles showed some improvements this season under new head coach Luke Walton, they may perhaps be able to attract top free agents. Of course, only time will tell.
