Magic proud of Kobe for public comments

Earvin "Magic" Johnson an American icon of such magnificence that he and Larry Bird will soon be the subjects of a Broadway play has rarely been hesitant about voicing an opinion on just about any subject, especially his beloved Los Angeles Lakers. Wednesday afternoon during a conference call, he not only gave a short "State of the Lakers" opinion, he put management on blast for the turmoil surrounding the team this season. "We have to remember that it's not Mitch's situation anymore," he said, referring to Mitch Kupchak, the team's beleaguered general manager. "He's not running the team; Jim Buss is running the team, so Mitch has to follow the direction of Jim Buss and what he wants. "So, I wouldn't say Mitch is the problem." That could be Jim Buss you hear screaming "Ouch!" Magic then went on to address Kobe challenging management to either trade Pau Gasol or publicly remove him from the trading block so the big man could just concentrate on playing. "It's great to see Kobe support his teammate," said the Magic One, the subject of an upcoming documentary about his announcement of having contracted HIV, forcing his first retirement in 1991. "I think what Kobe really wants is just to be informed as a leader and a future Hall of Famer, and as a guy who's brought five championships to the Lakers and the fans of Los Angeles. He probably wants just to have more communication, like he did when Phil Jackson was there and he worked well with Mitch. "I don't think Kobe feels he has that type of relationship or communication with Jim. What has to happen is for Jim to sit him down. ... Hey, Dr. (Jerry) Buss was a master of taking you to lunch or taking you to dinner and really going over what he was thinking about doing with the team. Jerry West was great at that as well. ... Kobe, Mitch and Jim just (have) to get on the same page, and it will be OK." As a former player, coach and part-owner of the Lakers, Magic's words immediately need to be taken seriously. You don't have to be a basketball savant to realize there are some problems on this team that are currently fixable. But Magic seems to be saying that Jim Buss isn't running the organization like his father or Jerry West or even Mitch Kupchak did. If he was Magic suggests with his comments Jim Buss would have steered the yacht back on the right course with the deft hand of someone competent. But he hasn't, and that brings up a monumental question: Is Jim Buss capable of running an NBA franchise? Especially one that has been the league's crown jewel for the last three decades, give or take the Nick Van Exel era. So far, the answer is not looking good for the younger Buss. If Jim is truly THE MAN now as Magic claims his reign as the potential ultimate successor to the most successful pro sports owner in L.A. history is off to stumbling start. The Lamar Odom situation illustrates the atmosphere around the Lakers this year, one overflowing with negativity despite a decent 19-13 record. Everyone within the Lakers organization knew how sensitive Odom is and how much of his life and identity was tied into being a Laker and living in Los Angeles. Yet, instead of preparing Odom for a possible deal, he was shut out until the now-voided trade for Chris Paul was completed. Not that they have an obligation to let Odom know anything except when to show up for practices and games after all, he is an employee but it just seems like it would have potentially helped to diffuse a situation that became so toxic that they had to trade Odom, even after the Paul deal was nixed by the league. Lamar was hurt, pouting and didn't report to the first two days of training camp. Logic seems to dictate patience with a man-child who has been such a key piece to a team that went to the NBA Finals three straight years and won two titles. Yet someone maybe someone without a lot of experience decided in 48 hours that Odom needed to be gone. He was traded to Dallas and neither he nor the Lakers have been the same since. Then there's the Metta World Peace situation, the player who probably should have been moved instead of Odom. His skills are waning, especially offensively, and he tried to humiliate new coach Mike Brown, referring to him in an interview as "having a background as a video coordinator" and being nothing but a "stats guy." If an experienced executive like Kupchak was running the team as he had in the past remember, Magic said Mitch doesn't make the decisions World Peace might be getting a chance in another city. Instead, he's still in L.A., making people wonder what fiasco he'll be involved in next. In addition to Bryant issuing his demand on behalf of Gasol, there have been two players-only meetings after recent games. The Los Angeles Times reported that Bryant and Derek Fisher implored the players to forget about everything on the outside including complaints about Brown's fondness for long workouts and just focus on winning. Will the meetings make a difference? "If they play the way they did against Portland that was beautiful to watch," Magic said. (But) the Lakers have been inconsistent; that's been their biggest problem. They have yet to be a team that's really been consistent. Until they get that, it could be an up-and-down season." Johnson believes there's one salvation to the Laker woes. "If they can make a trade, they'll be right there competing for the Western Conference championship. We're lacking at the point guard, like we've been saying for the last year-and-a-half or so. But if they don't (make a deal), with Oklahoma City and San Antonio playing so much better than the Lakers, I don't think they will compete." Magic has literally put the ball in management's court. Will it be another brilliant Johnson assist, or will Jim Buss watch the ball go right through his hands?