OT: Magic to run the Lakers. Kupchak, Jim Buss out.... NOW

I've heard some of Magic's personnel and staff ideas and think he is way over his head here. But as someone who can't stand the Lakers I have no problem watching them fail.

Talk of former UM bball player and current NBA agent Rob Pelinka joining the front office apparently.

Michael Jordan is doing a great job.

Great players don't necessarily make for great GMs. They don't necessarily make for just good ones, either. Does he have any kind of front office experience?

I'm sure all Lakers fans are excited about bringing a hometown hero in to run the organization, but if he has no experience running or managing a team, why will he all of a sudden know how to do it when he's handed the keys to one of the most prominent, if not the most prominent franchises in the league?

NBA has been making some headlines as of late. First with the Kings shooting themselves in the foot with Cousins and now the Lakers. 

Proofreading at major sites has gotten horrible:

"Lakers chef operation officer Tim Harris will immediately search for Black's replacment..."

 

 

Devil's advocate to the whole "former players can't do it" groupthink but Jerry West has done alright for himself as a GM. Larry Bird also hasn't been terrible. If Lebron wasn't around that Pacers team would've at least made a Finals.

In the lead up to this Magic talked about having a GM handle the hands-on contract/trade work. That structure could work. Magic also knows just about everyone in the league well through his playing and analyst days. Will be interesting to see how he taps that network (he alluded to calling around for advice within the last month) to his advantage or disadvantage.

Sparty connection aside, I love Magic Johnson. I think he was an amazing athlete and had been an even better executive and social ambassador in the past 25 years. Although I don't like the Lakers, I wish him all the success in the world (until they play the Warriors!).

as he was a talk show host, this will be a booming success!

For those you not yet familiar with working with a consultant as Magic was let me give you some advice from years of experience.  Once your company brings one in and they are evaluating you - get your resume buffed up cause you're gonna need it.  SOON.  

There hasnt been one consultant engagement in the history of corporate America that didnt end with the following summary report:

1. Your company is an utter disaster.  It's as screwed up as anything we've ever seen.  It's a wonder you guys can still make payroll.

2. The guy in charge of the department you asked us to review?  Why that's the the most screwed up employee in a sea of screwed up employee.  X means well and is a nice guy and all but MAN is he over his head and holding you guys back.

3. As luck would have it, our firm (or in the case of Magic-himself) just so happens to have the precise skillsets you need to extrecate yourself from the craphole you find yourself in.  For the mere sum of (about double whatever the company was paying the guy they're about to get  murdered) we can pull you out of the ditch.  It wont be easy and it will take a long time but with perserverance (and about 5 times what you would've paid somebody internally) we can do it!

I knew those dudes were toast the miniute they announced they had brought Magic in as a consultant to review their basketball operations.

 

I saw Kupchak eating lunch once at an El Pollo Loco. Seeing that guy try to squeeze into a booth reminded me of this:

Sincerely hope he is successful.  Magic is awesome.

We have been patient enough. Jim will be fine as an owner.

Harbaugh to Lakers, bank it. ESPN lead story tonight.

How does a co-owner get fired from his front office job?