Magic Johnson has always had good timing. And stepping back into the Lakers front office in 2017 would seem to help continue his streak. The Lakers are a full year removed from Kobe Bryant‘s long painful swan song and are looking up finally. Not only are there rumors that top players are clamoring to put on the purple-and-gold, but the Lakers and Magic have the #2 pick in the draft to play with. Magic hasn’t had this many options since he came full-bore down the court in the mid-1980s looking at Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, with James Worthy and Jamaal Wilkes visible out of the corners of his eyes.
Will the Lakers trade the #2 pick? That’s the rumor — especially as Lonzo Ball and his strange shot and strange father seem to be what’s there. If so Magic has to get a bunch for the pick. So look for him to talk to his old rivals, the 76ers, who have talent galore because of Sam Hinkie’s “The Process.” Magic’s timing looks pretty good once again. Especially since Paul George seems determined to move from under Larry Bird‘s wing over to Magic Johnson’s side — can’t get better pedigree than that.
