Magic Johnson, who was hired last week as an adviser to Los Angeles Lakers co-owner and president Jeanie Buss, now wants to "call the shots" for the franchise.
The Lakers legend's role was announced on Feb. 2 that he would assist Buss as "on all business and basketball matters, collaborating with coaches, evaluating and mentoring players, assessing future franchise needs and helping ownership to determine the best path for growth and success."
Johnson told USA Today that Buss will determine the exact role he will have with the team.
"Working to call the shots, because it only works that way," Johnson said when asked what he hopes his role with the Lakers will be. "Right now I'm advising. I get that. But at the end of the day, then we all got to come together and somebody's got to say, 'I'm making the final call,' all right? And who's that going to be? So, we'll see what happens."
The Lakers went into Friday night's game against at Milwaukee with an 18-37 record. The franchise entered this season after its three worst seasons ever, posting successive records of 27-55, 21-61 and 17-65.
The Lakers have won 16 NBA championships, which is the second most behind the Boston Celtics' 17 titles. Johnson was a member of five championship teams with the Lakers in the 1980s.
The fact that the 57-year-old Johnson will have a major say in basketball matters indicates the possible departure of co-owner Jim Buss, the brother of Jeanie. Jim Buss holds the title of executive vice president of basketball operations and said publicly he would resign if the Lakers weren't headed in the right direction by the end of this season.
Johnson told USA Today that he thinks his role will be finalized by the end of the season.
"Look, Jim knows where we are, Jeanie knows where we are, as a franchise, and so some decisions have to be made," Johnson said, speaking while at Pauley Pavilion for the UCLA-Oregon men's basketball game Thursday night. "I may only be in this role for a short term, I may be here for a long time. We'll just have to wait and see what happens. I can't tell you that right now."
Johnson held titles with the Lakers in the past, including honorary vice president, which he resigned from in June, and previously owned shares in the team, which he sold in 2011. Johnson has been close to the Buss family since he was drafted first overall by the Lakers in 1979. He also is a part-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
"It's going to take time and we know that," the Hall of Famer said. "I'm not going to fool nobody and I don't want the fan base to think, 'Oh, I'm back, so it's going to turn around tomorrow.' It doesn't work like that.
"You have to make some good decisions, you have to make sure we use the money wisely when we have it for free agents and then we're going to draft well."
Johnson said he has spoken by phone with Luke Walton and will meet with the first-year head coach when the Lakers return from their current road trip.
"If I was trying to make decisions on the team and not consult with him, it would never work," Johnson said. "The key is Luke because, OK, what does he have in terms of who's making him happy? What does he need in terms of coming up on the draft? And even if we have money in free agency, what do we look for to help you as the coach? What do you need? What do you want to look for?
"It's all coming together and working together, all of us. What do you like about the team you have now and what's missing from the team? What would you like to see? And then he'll tell you, 'Well, I want this.' OK, we'll bring in those type of guys. Which one do you feel really fits your system? He'll say blah-blah-blah, I'll say blah-blah-blah, OK, let's go with so-and-so. It only works that way."
