Sports

Luke Walton’s Lakers divorce may get messy after Magic Johnson leak

Luke vs. Magic has a new chapter.

As the Lakers look destined for a sixth straight year wading in the draft lottery, more drama between Lakers coach Luke Walton and president Magic Johnson has arisen. This time it stems from the offseason, when the Lakers were constructing their roster around LeBron James.

After the Lakers agreed to a four-year, $153.3 million deal with James in July, Johnson ignored suggestions by Walton and his coaching staff to bring back two players: Julius Randle and Brook Lopez, The Athletic’s Bill Oram reported. Johnson reportedly “ignored the pleas” by the coaching staff and instead targeted cheaper veterans like Rajon Rondo, Michael Beasley, JaVale McGee and Lance Stephenson on one-year deals.

The moves were head-scratching at the time, given that James thrives when he is surrounded by shooters and those veterans do not fit that definition. Beasley is now playing in China, while the other three have come as advertised.





Randle is having a monster season after signing with the Pelicans in the offseason. The former No. 7-overall pick is averaging 20.7 points in his fifth season. Lopez has enjoyed a renaissance-like year with the Bucks. He’s shooting a career-best 35.7 percent from behind the arc and might be the missing piece for Milwaukee’s title run.

Lopez was acquired by the Lakers in 2017, when they shipped D’Angelo Russell to the Nets, another move that looks worse with time considering Russell earned an All-Star appearance this season and has established himself as one of the league’s top guards.

The Lakers, currently 30-36, are seven games behind the Jazz for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Their season is likely over with injuries to Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball. The pair, who have been criticized by Walton this year, will miss the rest of the season.

Johnson privately ripped Walton when the Lakers got off to a slow start this season, and his fondness for the coach has not grown as the season has gone on. Owner Jeanie Buss reportedly was protecting Walton, but that will likely end after this season, when the coach is widely expected to be fired.





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