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[XiaNaphryz]

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/lakers-remove-honorary-vice-president-title-from-magic-johnson/

Johnson for years has taken to Twitter to share his opinions, quite often with exclamation marks, about the league and the Lakers. He buried Mike D'Antoni, which got really awkward when "Lakers family" member Byron Scott was somehow worse at coaching defense than D'Antoni (and yet Johnson said nothing about it) and would openly criticize team owner and President of Basketball Operations Jim Buss (with whom he has a frosty relationship after being very close with his father).

Perhaps the most Magic tweet of all involved Johnson openly telling the Lakers to pursue Kevin Durant, and for good measure, LeBron James:

Laker Nation: The first free agent the Lakers should go after is Kevin Durant.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 2, 2016

Laker Nation: The Lakers should call LeBron James agent. We know he's going stay in CLE but they should go after him just in case he leaves.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 2, 2016

Here's the tricky part: Johnson was still an official member of the Lakers, listed as an honorary Vice President. He was even included in the team directory. That is, until Saturday night, when the Lakers released the following statement:

EL SEGUNDO -The Los Angeles Lakers have announced today that Hall of Famer Earvin "Magic" Johnson has asked the team to eliminate his honorary title of Vice President, and to remove his name from the team staff directory in publications and other sources.

The change is being made in hopes of clarifying any confusion over Johnson's involvement with or representation of the team.

"Earvin will always be a revered and beloved member of the Lakers family, but he does not have a position or role with the organization at this time," said team spokesman John Black. "He is not an advisor or a consultant, and his opinions, comments and social media posts are solely his, and do not represent or reflect those of Lakers ownership or management. Hopefully this will eliminate any confusion over this issue in the future."

So basically, the Lakers took away Johnson's honorary title because he wouldn't stop tweeting things that seemed like tampering with free agents. The move does show a formal separation between Johnson and the team. Johnson was incredibly close with late owner Jerry Buss, partying with him during his playing days in the 80's. But things have been frosty since Jim Buss took over, starting with the way he handled the removal of Phil Jackson in 2011.

 

[SSPssp]

Oh seeing the title I thought he had tweeted something horrible or something! Makes sense if he was causing confusion in deals.

 

[XAL]

 

[Byakuya769]

Thoughtthey bounced him for having the wackest Twitter feed on earth. Nothing magic about captain obvious.

 

[mreddie]

"SHUT UP MAGIC! YOU'RE RUINING THE PLAN!"

 

[BadAss2961]

So now he can tamper freely as an unofficial ambassador of the Lakers.

 

[Tagyhag]

I'm surprised that's still considered tampering when it's an honorary title.

 

[NomarTyme]

Non news.

 

[DominoKid]

Tamper away Magic! Lord knows we need it.

 

[clearacell]

Lakers tring to keep themselves out of trouble? I see nothing wrong here.

 

[Joey Fox]

I'm surprised that's still considered tampering when it's an honorary title.

Was he on the payroll? He must receive some benefits from having the title. Perceived conflict of interest no matter which way.

 

[Stabby McSter]

Is it really stripping away his title when Magic asks the team to?

 

[Onemic]

The article says that Magic Johnson asked for his title to be removed, not the Lakers organization

 

[Stat Flow]

"I am a former Laker."

-Magic Johnson

 

[Red Blaster]

they actually stripped him of the title when they realized he might literally be the dumbest basketball commentator of all time

 

[XiaNaphryz]

Is it really stripping away his title when Magic asks the team to?

The article says that Magic Johnson asked for his title to be removed, not the Lakers organization

It would still be on the Lakers to strip him of the title after the request. That's how it works with titles!

 

[B-Dubs]

I cannot say I expected those tweets when I came into this thread :lol

 

[Diprosalic]

It would still be on the Lakers to strip him of the title after the request. That's how it works with titles!

thanks magic.

 

[Slayven]

I cannot say I expected those tweets when I came into this thread :lol

LOL me either, I am not a sports fan, but that seems lite for what usually gets folks in twitter trouble

 

[Fuzzy]

Are the Lakers and Johnson getting fined for those tweets? If not then the Raptors and Drake better be pissed.

 

[RootCause]

Well, they could get in trouble for the things he tweeted, so makes sense. Now he can recruit openly. Rest of the league better watch out. If those two get together... :O

I wonder, would Laker fans welcome Lebron? I know they would be happy with KD.

 

[HyperZone<3]

wait, doesn't Magic Johnson still have some ownership stake in the Lakers?

It would seem weird to me for him and the team to sever all ties.

 

[Fuzzy]

wait, doesn't Magic Johnson still have some ownership stake in the Lakers?

It would seem weird to me for him and the team to sever all ties.

He sold his shares.

 

[tiggerkiddo]

The Magic Johnson Twitter game is legit

 

[FantasticMrFoxdie]

LOL'd

I mean yeah that could happen.

Another job lost because of Twitter rants

 

[Higgy]

Magic's Twitter is as good as his coaching and late night show.

 

[Lkr]

wait, doesn't Magic Johnson still have some ownership stake in the Lakers?

It would seem weird to me for him and the team to sever all ties.

He sold his ownership 5-6 years ago

 

[LongDongJunon]

For a minute I thought this dude said something catastrophic.

Welp back to my day.

 

[reelbigtink]

Maybe they can work out a deal where LeBron and KD go to LA and they promise to give their first championship trophy to Cleveland