Magic Johnson remains confident Lakers will lure two stars in L.A. in next free agency
The Los Angeles Lakers acquired Isaiah Thomas ,Channing Frye and a protected 2018 first round pick at the trade deadline and traded Larry Nance jr. and Jordan Clarkson to the Cavaliers
The Los Angeles Lakers acquired Isaiah Thomas ,Channing Frye and a protected 2018 first round pick at the trade deadline and traded Larry Nance jr. and Jordan Clarkson to the Cavaliers.
This is how Lakers president Magic Johnson reacted to the trade with Cavaliers.
Per ESPN, Johnson, the team president, said he remains confident that he and general manager Rob Pelinka will lure two stars to Los Angeles in this July's free agency -- which could include LeBron James and Paul George -- and/or free agency in 2019.
"I wouldn't have made the move if I wasn't confident," Johnson said Thursday at the team's facility after acquiring Thomas, Channing Fryeand a protected 2018 first-round pick from Cleveland. "Still the same [confidence]. ... We have got to take the next step. I like our core. I love the way Julius [Randle] is playing right now; this is the best I have seen him play. ...
"But again, we're still on the outside looking in. No matter how good we've been playing, we're not in the playoffs, we are not one of the top eight teams in the West. That's just the bottom line. So I don't want to stay in this position. I want to have us be in the playoffs, and the only path to that is to add to the roster that we already have."
Johnson added: "I don't want to stay where we are. I don't want to be on the outside of the playoffs looking in. We have to take another step, right? So this move allows us to position ourselves to hopefully take that next step."
Isaiah Thomas. "We talked to him. He's so excited. We need a point guard. So especially with that type of experience and the fact that he can score the basketball and pass it, we want to get him in here fast. We told him that. ... We need somebody to come in there and lead our troops”.
This is how Lakers president Magic Johnson reacted to the trade with Cavaliers.
Per ESPN, Johnson, the team president, said he remains confident that he and general manager Rob Pelinka will lure two stars to Los Angeles in this July's free agency -- which could include LeBron James and Paul George -- and/or free agency in 2019.
"I wouldn't have made the move if I wasn't confident," Johnson said Thursday at the team's facility after acquiring Thomas, Channing Fryeand a protected 2018 first-round pick from Cleveland. "Still the same [confidence]. ... We have got to take the next step. I like our core. I love the way Julius [Randle] is playing right now; this is the best I have seen him play. ...
"But again, we're still on the outside looking in. No matter how good we've been playing, we're not in the playoffs, we are not one of the top eight teams in the West. That's just the bottom line. So I don't want to stay in this position. I want to have us be in the playoffs, and the only path to that is to add to the roster that we already have."
Johnson added: "I don't want to stay where we are. I don't want to be on the outside of the playoffs looking in. We have to take another step, right? So this move allows us to position ourselves to hopefully take that next step."
Isaiah Thomas. "We talked to him. He's so excited. We need a point guard. So especially with that type of experience and the fact that he can score the basketball and pass it, we want to get him in here fast. We told him that. ... We need somebody to come in there and lead our troops”.
E. Carchia
@Sportando
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