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EL SEGUNDO, Calif. – He understands that the Los Angeles Lakers, which have been remodeled, will need time to carve out a place, said Magic Johnson to head coach Luke Walton.
"As I spoke to Luke [with GM Rob Pelinka]"We said do not worry if we start badly," said Johnson, president of the Lakers basketball operations, Thursday, during the meeting with the media. [James] go to Miami, and we saw him when he came back to Cleveland. It will struggle because there are so many new moving parts. But eventually we will get it and we will really be a good team. "
The Lakers have added veterans such as James, Rajon Rondo, Lance Stephenson, JaVale McGee and Michael Beasley in free agency to accompany a young developing core composed of Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma, Lonzo Ball and Josh Hart. In addition to adding several players who have been at their best with the ball in their hands, the Lakers have injected their locker room with strong and unique personalities.
Some league leaders and coaches have wondered how the Lakers and Walton, who are entering their third season as a head coach, would make sure all the pieces are in place.
Pelinka said Walton will be helped by his championship pedigree, which he developed while playing with Phil Jackson in Los Angeles and as an assistant under Steve Kerr with the Golden State Warriors.
"I think Luke is perfectly positioned because he understands the modern player," said Pelinka, who is also excited about the depth with which the Lakers have collected this season. "He is young, he has played at a high level, has won championships, he has a great way of communicating with people, he has a sincere look and he keeps the guys engaged." We believe that our team and its strengths perfectly to our team and its strengths. "
After helping the Warriors to take a 39-4 start as an interim coach while he was assistant under Kerr during the 2015-16 season, Walton was hired as a Lakers coach before the 2016- season. 17 and before Johnson and Pelinka were hired in February 2017. to replace the old Jim Buss and Mitch Kupchak regime.
Walton won 26 games in his first season before upgrading the Lakers to 35-47 last season. Now, he has veterans at James and Rondo to help lead the team while trying to find the best ways to make all the new pieces fit.
Johnson said Walton would find the best way to use the list, but pointed out that the Lakers will seek to run often.
"We are going to run," said Johnson. "Whoever reaches it, we're gone, we have a number of ball manipulators, that's how we built this team, we will not rely solely on LeBron to make all the plans for the people. – in terms of creating the shots for people or for himself, we want him to play too, but that's about Luke, I'm not here to tell you how is going to unfold Offense, because it's not my job and it's not Rob's job to handle this situation and he's already thought about ways and use not just LeBron but everyone. "
"We are excited about Luke and his team of coaches, and I think Luke worked very hard to figure out how to use all the parts," added Johnson. "Luke is a winner, he has been a winner as a player, he is a winner at Golden State, he will also be a winner here, people think it's a problem when you have a lot of talent. we want a lot I think that a coach wants a lot of talent, he will know how to put them in a winning position. "
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