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Magic Johnson recently revealed that the Los Angeles Lakers had trades for DeMar DeRozan and Buddy Hield essentially finalized during his tenure with the team. With a quarter of the NBA season gone, the Lakers currently sit as the No. 10 seed in the Western Conference, and without significant roster changes, their chances of moving up this season appear slim. A strategic trade ahead of the deadline could be crucial for aligning the team around superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Johnson, a five-time NBA champion with the Lakers, has firsthand experience in navigating trades, having served as the team’s president of basketball operations from 2017 to 2019. During this period, he faced opportunities to enhance the roster but was unable to finalize key deals.
“They had the trade done — Kuzma for DeMar,” Johnson shared during an appearance on FS1’s “Speak.” This deal would have significantly impacted the Lakers’ performance.
“And then we were gonna get Buddy Hield,” Johnson added. “That’s all that we had to do.” The potential of acquiring two high-caliber players like DeRozan and Hield could have altered the Lakers’ trajectory.
Ultimately, Kyle Kuzma was traded in 2021 as part of the package that brought Russell Westbrook to Los Angeles, which also included Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Montrezl Harrell, and a first-round pick sent to Washington.
Johnson’s abrupt resignation in 2019 followed a disappointing 37-45 season, but his insights remain relevant as the Lakers face another trade deadline.
One player Johnson has expressed interest in for the Lakers this season is Jimmy Butler. “I like Jimmy,” he stated. “He’s mean and physical,” highlighting the type of toughness the team could benefit from.
However, Johnson is doubtful that the Lakers will part with the necessary assets to acquire Butler. “You almost have to say: Do you want to win now or do you want to save all the draft capital for later? And I say, with LeBron, you’ve got to put out the best team,” he remarked, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
The NBA trade deadline is set for February 6, and the Lakers will need to make critical decisions to improve their standings.
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