![]() ![]() ![]() 7 pick in 2014, were drafted by the previous front-office regime, general manager Mitch Kupchak and vice president Jim Buss. (Mintz and Paul aren't alone with their seeming outsized influence Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports Management currently advises both Brandon Ingram and Tyson Chandler, and Joe Branch of Roc Nation Sports reps Moe Wagner and Josh Hart.) Before Rich Paul of Klutch Sports garnered attention representing two clients on the Lakers - LeBron and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope - Mintz represented two-fifths of the starting lineup, D'Angelo Russell and Julius Randle. ![]() Brewer divulged his Lakers experience to George, sources said.Īnd George's agent, Aaron Mintz of CAA, was intimately familiar with the organization. For example, George played in Oklahoma City with Corey Brewer in the second half of the 2017-18 season, after Brewer was waived by L.A. But he had a wealth of information available to him about the inner workings of the Lakers without ever hearing a word from Magic Johnson. George never gave the Lakers an opportunity to shoot their shot. Then they worked to make him feel at home, selling a partnership with Russell Westbrook. The Thunder traded for him, after all, taking a chance with no promises of a long-term commitment. When he veered from that course and re-signed with Oklahoma City in the summer of 2018, league sources told ESPN it was always more of what the Thunder did right than what the Lakers did wrong. Just taking a pit stop with the Thunder before joining the lineage of Lakers greats, many around the league assumed. George, a Southern California native who long stated his desire to return to play near his Palmdale home, was perceived to be a rental player on an expiring contract. IN THE SUMMER of 2017, long before LeBron slipped on a purple and gold uniform and before Lance Stephenson was the star of "Air Band Cam" on the Jumbotron at Staples Center, Paul George was traded from the Indiana Pacers to the Oklahoma City Thunder. in years morphed into a cautionary tale that could be retold around the league for decades. From injuries, to underwhelming player production, to questionable management decisions, the most anticipated season in L.A. There is rarely a single moment that derails a team's entire season. Luke Walton is heavily rumored to be out as head coach at season's end.įor the 2018-19 Lakers, there is plenty of blame to go around. Magic Johnson, after two seasons as Lakers team president, unexpectedly announced Tuesday night that he is stepping down. LeBron James' season will end in April for the first time since 2004-05, his second year in the NBA, snapping personal streaks of 13 straight postseason appearances and eight straight NBA Finals berths. The Los Angeles Lakers will miss the playoffs for a sixth consecutive year. You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browserĮditor's note: This story was originally published on March 29 and has been updated to reflect Magic Johnson stepping down as Lakers president. ![]()
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