The Los Angeles Lakers are in search of a new top executive after Magic Johnson recently stepped down as the franchise's president of basketball operations. Although there are no new developments on that matter at the moment, one of the most popular names mentioned has been former Lakers general manager Jerry West.
However, according to The Athletic's Sam Amick, owner Jeanie Buss isn't making any efforts to woo West away from the Los Angeles Clippers:
But there are other elements to the local strategy, too, things like hiring a Lakers legend in West to be a trusted voice at a time when so many expected him to return to Laker Land (sources say that a similar role with the Lakers was never offered to West back then, and there is no indication that Buss is attempting to woo him to her side this time around either – despite Shaq advocating for such a move recently on TNT).
West is currently working as a special consultant for the Clippers, a team that is enjoying a surprisingly great season and is also in play for major free agents this summer. West may have legendary ties to the Lakers, but he has a cushy gig with the other team in town.
The last time West was an executive for the Lakers, he was able to sign center Shaquille O'Neal and trade for Kobe Bryant, two prominent figures in Laker Land. Shaq and Kobe won a three-peat together, and then Bryant won two more titles with the franchise.
West became general manager of the Memphis Grizzlies in 2002 after the three-peat, and he later joined the Golden State Warriors as an executive before moving on to the Clippers.
At this point, it couldn't hurt for the Lakers to reach out to West to gauge his interest. The veteran executive knows what he's doing, and he could turn the Lakers' fortunes around if given enough the opportunity.
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