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Yes, it's time for LeBron and obviously the Lakers, and this sense of watchmaking could work great for both.
Their paths were heading toward a welcome collision that shook the NBA on Sunday when LeBron announced that he would sign. a free agent dealing with the Lakers. And not a short-term affair, either, as he did in Miami and throughout his second tour with the Cavs. No, LeBron is locked up for four years, which means he's ready to give Magic enough time to put together a pretty good team to make the Golden State Warriors nervous.
He joined a group of green bananas not quite June … but wait another 15 minutes because Magic is not over yet. The Lakers missed Paul George, who announced his intention to sign again with Oklahoma City. And Chris Paul, best buds with LeBron, took the Rockets money and stayed there. But there is enough flexibility and assets to rearrange the furniture overnight if the Lakers choose. They are still in the draws for the unhappy star and Kawhi Leonard from Los Angeles and have interest in signing the free agent center DeMarcus Cousins. If none of these options are in play this year, Magic seems more than willing to keep his young team intact and wait until the summer of 2019.
Why patience? Well, Leonard will then be an unrestricted free player, has no change of heart and signs a contract extension with San Antonio (or wherever he spends the 2018 season). 19). There are Jimmy Butler and Kemba Walker ready to reach the market. In addition, Klay Thompson, whose father Mychal earns a Laker salary as a team broadcaster, will be free next summer, and signing it would weaken the Warriors in the process.
Whatever it is, Kyle Kuzma or Brandon Ingram or Lonzo Ball (or Julius Randle's re-sign) will then develop into potential stars or important pieces on a competitor. What's great about the Lakers' situation is that they have options, and most are good and promising, and half of their problems are already solved because they've got LeBron, a NBA Finals transport team licensed. and owner Jeanie Buss LeBron found the Lakers intriguing enough to leave Cleveland and sign up. When Buss assumed control of the franchise three years ago, she sought advice from Magic and hired him to head the basketball operations. It was a solid match, these old friends, with Jeanie Buss providing the resources needed to polish a franchise that has become obsolete, and radiating Calling Magic and still carrying weight among potential free agents.
He promised Buss that the necessary steps would be taken to develop stars and acquire stars, something that the Lakers have usually and brilliantly done in their history and especially under the late Jerry Buss. It's here that Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Shaquille O Neal arrived and tasted success, and where Jerry West and Kobe Bryant have spent their entire career.
No question, Jeanie Buss and Magic Johnson sold all that glamor to LeBron. They probably promised him a statue in front of the crowded Staples Center entrance and the chance to have a third jersey removed (after Cleveland and Miami ended up doing what was right and expected).
On Sunday, the first day of the free agency, Magic was at LeBron's home in Los Angeles, no doubt in full charming mode. Although it was probably not terribly necessary. As a student of the game with an appreciation of history, LeBron already had some admiration for the player's Magic. But that's Magic's executive who sealed LeBron's signature by moving mountains in just a few months. Magic eliminated the lead poison pay limit (with only $ 38 million left over from Luig Deng) while charging young percolator talents into Ingram, Kuzma, Ball and Josh Hart. The plan to fetch LeBron was done quickly, early and smoothly, allowing the Lakers to improve from within and beyond.
