Övünç Kutlu
February 22, 2017•Update: February 22, 2017
By Ovunc Kutlu
NEW YORK
The Los Angeles Lakers reshuffled its executive branch by firing two top officials, and put NBA and franchise legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson in charge of basketball operations, according to the team’s website Tuesday.
Team president and part-owner Jeanie Buss said General Manager Mitch Kupchak has been relieved of his duties and her brother, Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Jim Buss, will no longer hold his role.
Buss also said the team is in search for a new general manager.
The decision comes three weeks after Johnson was hired by the Lakers in an executive role.
The three-time league most valuable player and Hall of Famer will report directly Buss.
"I took these actions today to achieve one goal: Everyone associated with the Lakers will now be pulling in the same direction, the direction established by Earvin and myself. We are determined to get back to competing to win NBA championships again," Buss said in a statement.
The 16-time NBA champions are going through the worst four-year period in franchise history, and are looking for a way to return to the glory days of the 1980's "showtime" Lakers when Johnson won 5 NBA titles in a decade with the organization.
"Since 1979, I've been a part of the Laker Nation and I'm passionate about this organization. I will do everything I can to build a winning culture on and off the court," Johnson said in the statement.
