Lakers president of basketball operations Magic Johnson and head coach Luke Walton — (Image: Getty NBAE Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
Lakers head coach Luke Walton, meet denial. Denial, meet Luke Walton.
When LeBron James decided to join the Lakers this past summer, Luke Walton’s job security became a hot topic at the water cooler. James, team president Magic Johnson, and general manager Rob Pelinka have preached patience this season. That was eight games ago.
The Lakers, with their 3-5 record, have been slow out the gate this season. Their extremely active summer has yet to translate into wins. It’s only eight games into the season, but there’s a growing buzz that all isn’t right with the Lake-Show.
According to reports from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Dave McMenamin, Walton was “admonished” by Johnson for the team’s slow start. It’s become clear that all the talk about patience was just that — talk.
Now if only Walton realizes this, we can all go about the business of watching what happens next.
Because Walton is going about this as if denial doesn’t have a courtside seat next to Jack Nicholson at Staples Center.
LeBron James — Image: Getty
When asked about the report, Walton, as if denial wasn’t a word in the English vocabulary, said he feels like he has a “great relationship with management”.
Someone needs to call this man up in front of the congregation for a quick talk.
Walton does have a fan in Lakers principal owner Jeanie Buss, at least it looks to be that way. He was hired as coach in April 2016, shortly before she took over control of the franchise. She then brought in Johnson and Pelinka to oversee the roster. But it’s important to remember Walton is not their hire, they inherited him.
He does know this, right? He does know his “great relationship” won’t keep Magic Johnson from looking at the bigger picture, right?
Johnson’s competitive drive has had no let up from his playing days to his current dominance in the boardroom. Walton has plenty to prove here, he has to show he’s the man to take Johnson’s vision for the Lakers to the next level.
In Walton’s defense, the Lakers have not had a chance yet to play with a consistent rotation. In the second game of the season, Brandon Ingram and Rajon Rondo earned suspensions for fighting. Second-year guard Lonzo Ball is also still a work in progress.
Magic Johnson, Rob Pelinka, and Jeanie Buss — (Image Credit: Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images)
But there’s that bigger picture, the one where Walton could be on the outside looking in.
The Lakers pumped a lot of gas in the hype machine when they signed James. The goal for them is simple and that’s to get back to the playoffs and compete for championships. This preferably needs to happen sooner than later.
If Johnson decides to pull the plug on Walton, he won’t have to look long for options. LeBron’s old team, the Cleveland Cavaliers just parted ways with Ty Lue. Former coaches Mark Jackson and Jason Kidd, and Lue could be in the back of Johnson’s mind while he’s closely watching to see if Walton got the message from their meeting.
According to Tania Ganguli and Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times, Johnson was indeed unhappy with Walton but his job is safe.
Magic Johnson was angry in the meeting he had with Luke Walton (first reported by @wojespn and @mcten) but he doesn't make rash decisions. Several sources told me and @BA_Turner that Luke Walton's job is not in danger. Further, ownership still very much believes in him.
— Tania Ganguli (@taniaganguli) November 2, 2018
Johnson’s success as a businessman is proof he’s not one to make rash decisions. But he’s also reached those levels of success from know how and when to make the tough decisions required with the job. If he feels he’s seen enough of Walton, is ownership really going to step in and object?
Perspective on Luke Walton, Lakers
Winning cures all. But if the losing continues, Walton’s “great relationship with management” won’t keep him from being shown the door.
