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Los Angeles Lakers: The worst moves of Magic Johnson’s tenure

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 09: Magic Johnson reacts as he speaks to the press resigning as Los Angeles Lakers President of Basketball Operations before the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Staples Center on April 09, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 09: Magic Johnson reacts as he speaks to the press resigning as Los Angeles Lakers President of Basketball Operations before the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Staples Center on April 09, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. /
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(Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

3. Trading Ivica Zubac to the Los Angeles Clippers

The last trade that Magic Johnson will have in his executive career, assuming he does not go back to this role in the future, will be trading Ivica Zubac and Michael Beasley to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Mike Muscala.

Perhaps we all should have known then that Magic was going to resign from his position. This trade was so bad on many levels that the Clippers reportedly laughed at the Lakers when they were sent this offer.

The team traded Zubac, who was emerging as a quality rotational center and could be a pivotal rotation piece in a playoff series. In return, the team got what was supposed to be a shooting upgrade in Muscala and an open roster spot for a buyout option.

Muscala has been pretty bad with the Lakers thus far and the team never even used the open roster spot for a buyout player. Meanwhile, the Clippers go their starting center.

Zubac is set to be a restricted free agent and this trade seemed to be the Lakers admitting that they were not going to re-sign him this offseason anyways. However, they did not get any pieces to help in the future and didn’t even get better right now.

This is not going to be a trade that is franchise-altering in any way but as Johnson’s last move it reminded us that he was on a totally different wavelength.

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