jlip
03-29-2022, 09:31 PM
... but apparently Jerry West blocked the proposed trade, according to this link (https://www.sportscasting.com/james-worthy-lakers-career-almost-cut-short-after-puzzling-suggestion-magic-johnson/).
"Facing a longer-than-usual offseason, the Lakers were wondering what improvements they could make to a roster that won 62 games. Enter Johnson, who planted an idea in Buss’ mind of how to take the Purple and Gold to the next level.
Over the years, Magic became good friends with Dallas Mavericks star Mark Aguirre. A Midwest kid just like Johnson, Aguirre was the draft’s top pick out of DePaul in 1981, one year ahead of Worthy. The 6-foot-6 forward averaged over 22 points in four straight seasons, including a whopping 29.5 in 1983-84. He also averaged 27.2 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 6.2 assists in Dallas’ six-game loss to LA in ’86.
Johnson and Aguirre were close friends. Johnson and Buss were very close, as well. So it makes sense that Magic would sell the successful owner on the idea of the talented Aguirre being the missing piece for LA. Even if it meant parting with the improved Worthy to make it happen.
At Johnson’s recommendation, Buss called Dallas’ owner Donald Carter a few days before the ’86 Draft. The two men were able to work out a deal to send Worthy to the Mavs in exchange for Aguirre and the seventh overall pick, which was used on Michigan big man Roy Tarpley. The trade was ready to go all the way up until draft day.
Then Jerry West found out.
West, the team’s GM, was never consulted by Magic or Buss about the trade. Once he heard the details, he called Buss to voice his complaints.
“[West] called Buss and told him the trade was an enormous blunder and that Aguirre — while talented — was a me-first player who would destroy the Lakers’ chemistry,” Jeff Pearlman wrote in the book Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s. “Worthy, he explained, could do 20 different things to help a team win. If Aguirre wasn’t receiving the ball and scoring, he was useless.”
The Logo then made his position crystal clear. If Buss sided with Magic and executed this deal, he’d be forced to find a new general manager (h/t: Showtime).
Buss informed West that he and Carter had already finalized the transaction. Had papers been signed? No. Had players been alerted? No. The media? No. “Then,” West said, “it’s not done.” The general manager gave the owner and ultimatum: “If this goes through, I quit.”
Buss caved.
Article from 1986 talking about the almost trade (https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-10-14-sp-3222-story.html)
"Facing a longer-than-usual offseason, the Lakers were wondering what improvements they could make to a roster that won 62 games. Enter Johnson, who planted an idea in Buss’ mind of how to take the Purple and Gold to the next level.
Over the years, Magic became good friends with Dallas Mavericks star Mark Aguirre. A Midwest kid just like Johnson, Aguirre was the draft’s top pick out of DePaul in 1981, one year ahead of Worthy. The 6-foot-6 forward averaged over 22 points in four straight seasons, including a whopping 29.5 in 1983-84. He also averaged 27.2 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 6.2 assists in Dallas’ six-game loss to LA in ’86.
Johnson and Aguirre were close friends. Johnson and Buss were very close, as well. So it makes sense that Magic would sell the successful owner on the idea of the talented Aguirre being the missing piece for LA. Even if it meant parting with the improved Worthy to make it happen.
At Johnson’s recommendation, Buss called Dallas’ owner Donald Carter a few days before the ’86 Draft. The two men were able to work out a deal to send Worthy to the Mavs in exchange for Aguirre and the seventh overall pick, which was used on Michigan big man Roy Tarpley. The trade was ready to go all the way up until draft day.
Then Jerry West found out.
West, the team’s GM, was never consulted by Magic or Buss about the trade. Once he heard the details, he called Buss to voice his complaints.
“[West] called Buss and told him the trade was an enormous blunder and that Aguirre — while talented — was a me-first player who would destroy the Lakers’ chemistry,” Jeff Pearlman wrote in the book Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s. “Worthy, he explained, could do 20 different things to help a team win. If Aguirre wasn’t receiving the ball and scoring, he was useless.”
The Logo then made his position crystal clear. If Buss sided with Magic and executed this deal, he’d be forced to find a new general manager (h/t: Showtime).
Buss informed West that he and Carter had already finalized the transaction. Had papers been signed? No. Had players been alerted? No. The media? No. “Then,” West said, “it’s not done.” The general manager gave the owner and ultimatum: “If this goes through, I quit.”
Buss caved.
Article from 1986 talking about the almost trade (https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-10-14-sp-3222-story.html)