In Lonzo Ball - the second selection in the 2017 NBA Draft - the Los Angeles Lakers think that they have found a floor general and a leader for the franchise's future; something that they apparently didn't believe that they had in D'Angelo Russell.

The Lakers made Russell the second selection in the [2015] draft just two years ago, with many expecting him develop into the Lakers' point guard of the future. But after just two - sometimes rocky- seasons in Laker land, Russell is now preparing to play on the other side of the country.

Why?

Because the Lakers - and Magic Johnson specifically - didn't think that he was a leader that his teammates were ready to rally around.

On Friday, Johnson released a statement thanking Russell for his time with the team, and what he had to say about the young guard was extremely telling.

Magic Johnson on D’Angelo Russell: "We want to thank him for what he did for us. But what I needed was a leader.” Full quote: pic.twitter.com/3FhPthOpN1 — Baxter Holmes (@BaxterHolmes) June 23, 2017

"D'Angelo is an excellent player. He has the talent to be an All-Star. We want to thank him for what he did for us," Johnson said, via ESPN's Baxter Holmes. "But what I needed was a leader. I needed somebody that can make the other players better and also somebody that players want to play with."

Talk about a back-handed compliment.

Johnson - a guy who knows a thing or two about leadership - clearly doesn't think that, at this point in his career, Russell has the stuff to be a leader on a heavily-scrutinized Lakers team looking to climb back to contention. By moving him, the team gets a clean slate with a new guard potentially better-equipped to lead them back to the postseason.

Perhaps Johnson's words will serve as a motivating factor moving forward for Russell. He is still just 21 years old, and now with the Nets he will also get a fresh start, and get the opportunity to show that he can indeed be a leader and prove Johnson wrong.