LOS ANGELES — It took only 19 days for Lakers owner Jeanie Buss to elevate Magic Johnson’s role as an advisor to the president of basketball operations, a move that significantly shakes up the team’s front office.
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Jeanie Buss announced general manager Mitch Kupchak was relieved of his duties and Jim Buss will no longer hold his role as Lakers Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations. Jim Buss will still hold an ownership role with the Lakers, who also plan to hire a general manager to complement Johnson.
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“Today I took a series of actions I believe will return the Lakers to the heights Dr. Jerry Buss demanded and our fans rightly expect,” Jeanie Buss said in a statement posted on the Lakers’ website. “Effective immediately, Earvin Johnson will be in charge of all basketball operations and will report directly to me. Our search for a new General Manager to work with Earvin and Coach Luke Walton is well underway and we hope to announce a new General Manager in short order. Together, Earvin, Luke and our new General Manager will establish the foundation for the next generation of Los Angeles Lakers greatness.”
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The sweep of changes comes on the heels of the Lakers becoming mired in mediocrity in recent seasons that included three coaching changes, three missed playoff appearances and finishing with their worst record in franchise history the past two years. The Lakers (19-39) are on pace for another missed postseason run and a return to the NBA draft lottery for the third consecutive year.
Though he had initially said in a Spectrum Sports Interview that Jim Buss was in charge, Johnson said in subsequent interviews with CBS and ESPN he would like to be in charge. Johnson has a Hall of Fame credentials as a five-time NBA champion with the Showtime Lakers. But he has not had any front office experience.
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Jim Buss already had stated in 2014 that he would step down if the Lakers did not become a Western Conference contender in three years, a timeline Jeanie Buss said she would hold him to when evaluating possible changes.
“Jim loves the Lakers. Although he will no longer be responsible for basketball personnel decisions, he is an owner of this team and we share the same goal: returning the Lakers to the level of greatness our father demanded. Our fans deserve no less,” Jeanie Buss said in a statement.
Kupchak had a combined 30 years of front office experience through four NBA championship runs, prompting Jeanie Buss to say in a statement that “we are grateful for the many contributions Mitch has made to the Lakers over the years and we wish him all the best.” Yet, Jeanie Buss also attached Kupchak’s presence to the Lakers’ recently turbulent seasons.
“I took these actions today to achieve one goal: Everyone associated with the Lakers will now be pulling in the same direction, the direction established by Earvin and myself,” Jeanie Buss said in a statement. “We are determined to get back to competing to win NBA championships again.”
The Lakers also parted ways with longtime spokesman John Black, whom Jeanie Buss thanked “for his many years of service.” The Lakers said chief operating officer Tim Harris will immediately begin searching for a replacement.
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