The Lakers decide not to hire a President of Basketball Operations to replace Magic

[Shogon]

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/2...lacement-magic

The Lakers have decided they will not hire a president of basketball operations to replace Magic Johnson, a team source told ESPN.

General manager Rob Pelinka will continue in his role, reporting directly to ownership, the source said. Pelinka had previously reported to Johnson.

Johnson abruptly stepped down from his position on April 9 as the Lakers were preparing to play their final regular-season game against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Lakers president and controlling owner Jeanie Buss issued a statement saying the team would "work in a measured and methodical fashion to make the right moves for the future of our organization."

Buss considered several options after Johnson's departure, including replacing him, the source said. However, she has since decided to continue with Pelinka as her top basketball decision-maker.

"My role as the GM right now is the same as it was when we selected Lonzo Ball with the second pick, which is our last high pick," Pelinka said earlier this week when asked if his responsibilities and role have changed since Johnson stepped down. "My role hasn't changed since then."

Kurt Rambis will remain as a special advisor.

Surprisingly, I didn't see a topic on this. How crazy. Jeanie Buss has proven to be an awful owner. She is absolutely nothing like her father.

Unless the Lakers are able to hit two home runs this off season by:

1) Signing either Klay Thompson *OR* Kawhi Leonard

*AND*

2) Trade for Anthony Davis...

... it seems likely that they are doomed for at least another decade of irrelevance.

They're looking like the Knicks 2.0 right now. This off season is going to determine a lot for their future. Will they hit home runs, or will they strike out? Time will tell.

They absolutely *CAN* still hit home runs, and I hope they do, because the league is more interesting with LeBron chasing rings, but... will they? I don't know.

[BigKobeFan]

The team is set back 3 more years. I have no expectations at all until the chemo runs thru

[baudkarma]

This reinforces what I thought at the time the Magic hiring was announced. He was only brought in to deflect attention from the Buss families internal squabbles. Instead of talking about how Jeannie had fired her own brother, people talked about how Magic was the new president of the Lakers, and how great was that? Magic would lead the team back to championship form, and multiple titles were sure to follow.

Magic was given a title, but no real power or voice in the organization. Once he realized that, Magic was gone. And since he was just a figurehead, there was no need to replace him.

[FireDavidKahn]

Can't have a bad POBO if you don't have one.

[iamgine]

Well if they don't need a POBO, then not hiring one makes sense.