Magic Johnson finally seems to be grasping a sense of the self-restraint necessary to be a front office's head honcho. Asked at an All-Star weekend event in Charlotte about prospective free agent Kemba Walker, the Los Angeles Lakers president of basketball operations interrupted the interviewer, alluding to his past history of being fined by the league for discussing opposing players while playfully refusing to comment.
“You know I can't answer any questions about no players, because every time I do it, I get fined,” Johnson said, per Bleacher Report. “But anybody else do it, they don't get fined, so I'm gonna stay away from that one.”
Johnson and the Lakers have been in hot water recently for the largely baseless assumption that they tampered with Anthony Davis, the New Orleans Pelicans superstar who requested a trade last month and supposedly hopes to land with the purple and gold. The five-time champion made matters worse earlier this week when he told reporters that Philadelphia 76ers star Ben Simmons reached out to Los Angeles in hopes of training with him this summer. The league subsequently opened an investigation into the matter, quickly finding no wrongdoing on the Lakers' part.
Both Johnson and general manager Rob Pelinka have been fined for tampering with perceived player targets in the past. In an interview with ESPN last summer, Johnson gushed about Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, prompting the league to fine his team $50,000. Los Angeles was docked $500,000 in August 2017 after it was revealed Pelinka reached out to Paul George's agent before the MVP candidate re-signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder last summer.
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