[ad_1] EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Jeanie Buss listened to the press conference in which Magic Johnson abruptly resigned as President of Basketball Operations on April 9 and felt like she was in a time machine.The words, the substance, even the blindside felt just like 1981 when Johnson told her father, the late Dr. Jerry Buss, that he just didn't feel like he could be Magic Johnson playing in Paul Westhead's
[ad_1] EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Despite Magic Johnson airing his grievances with Los Angeles Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka and a coaching search that took very public twists and turns before ending up on Frank Vogel, L.A.'s top basketball executive projected confidence as the franchise looks ahead to a crucial summer of free agency."I think if people take a look at where this franchise is right now, again we have
[ad_1] EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- New Los Angeles Lakers head coach Frank Vogel called new assistant coach Jason Kidd "an incredible asset" and said he's not going to worry about looking over his shoulder.Vogel said that while the Lakers' front office planted the seed of adding Kidd to his staff, he welcomed the former Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks head coach as his assistant after the two connected and had
[ad_1] As an official alumnus of the Lakers "family," Pat Riley doesn't qualify as merely a bystander when Earvin "Magic" Johnson plops himself down on the set of ESPN's First Take and sends tremors throughout Los Angeles by confirming he was talking about former associate Rob Pelinka when he referenced the "backstabbing" that went on during his brief tenure as Lakers president."I started hearing, 'Magic, you're not working hard enough.
[ad_1] Using the word "betrayal," Magic Johnson made it clear that general manager Rob Pelinka was the one "backstabbing" him, telling people that he wasn't working hard and wanting to take his job with the Los Angeles Lakers.In an appearance on First Take on Monday morning, Johnson did not hold back, identifying Pelinka as the person he was alluding to when he mentioned that he was tired of the "backstabbing"
[ad_1] The Lakers have decided they will not hire a President of Basketball Operations to replace Magic Johnson, a team source told ESPN.General manager Rob Pelinka will continue in his role, reporting directly to ownership, the source said. Pelinka had previously reported to Johnson.Johnson abruptly stepped down from his position on April 9 as the Lakers were preparing to play their final regular season game against the Portland Trail Blazers.Lakers
[ad_1] NEW YORK -- Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, whose coast-to-coast rivalry in the 1980s propelled the NBA to a new level of popularity, will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award.The league and Turner Sports announced Wednesday that the Hall of Famers and 1992 U.S. Olympic teammates will receive the award June 24 at the NBA Awards.The honor comes on the 40th anniversary of their meeting in the 1979
[ad_1] After what has been a chaotic start to the offseason, the Los Angeles Lakers were one of the big winners in Tuesday's NBA draft lottery, and they could parlay their new fourth overall draft pick into a potential trade for an All-Star.An ecstatic Rob Pelinka said the team will either draft an impact player or try to see what they can get on the trade market after the team
[ad_1] 11:16 AM ETOhm YoungmisukCloseESPN Staff WriterOhm Youngmisuk has covered the Giants, Jets and the NFL since 2006. Prior to that, he covered the Nets, Knicks and the NBA for nearly a decade. He joined ESPNNewYork.com after working at the New York Daily News for almost 12 years and is a graduate of Michigan State University. Follow him on Twitter » Ohm's chat archive »Dave McMenaminCloseESPN Staff WriterLakers and NBA reporter
[ad_1] NBA coaching hires typically fit into two categories of power profile: strong or weak.There are also generally two kinds of general managers working in the league: those who make decisions aimed at keeping their jobs, and those who are determined to do things their way, even if it comes with the risk of failure.Los Angeles Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka made it clear which type of executive he wants
