Magic Johnson flying to meet with team to clear trade deadline air
Erik García Gundersen30 minutes ago
After nearly two weeks of very public trade talks that involved basically everybody but LeBron James, the Real Lakers of Los Angeles are heading towards the Airing of the Grievances episode of their already dramatic season.
According to Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times, Magic Johnson is heading to Philadelphia to let the players who are still on the roster do just that. While Rajon Rondo saved the day on Thursday with a game-winner, egos and emotions around the Lakers are still evidently pretty raw.
However, Johnson’s hope is that he can get the Lakers focused on their jobs and not their uncertain future.
From Turner
Johnson will tell the Lakers that it is their responsibility to be professional and to play their best basketball so they can make the playoffs in the uber-tough Western Conference, one person said.
After last night’s victory, the Lakers are 1.5 games out of the 8th spot in the West and three games out of the 6th spot. With so few games left to play and so many of them against good teams in high profile games, Johnson isn’t taking any chances that the feelings stirred at the trade deadline will disappear without acknowledging them.