Report: LeBron James Told To Make Trade Request Because Of Magic Johnson

LeBron James joined the Los Angeles Lakers after the conversation he had with Magic Johnson. Magic is gone now, and some say that LeBron will leave the team, too.

NBA expert Stephen A. Smith talked about this possibility, and he seems to be pretty convinced in his theory.

LeBron talked about Johnson’s resignation on “The Shop,” and he was shocked.

“I came here to be a part of the Lakers organisation, having a conversation with Magic and really kind of breaking it down and saying how we was gonna make this Showtime again, and I wanted to be part of that process,” he said. “He explained to me year one is going to be tough. But I was OK with the process. At year 16 you ain’t really supposed to be worrying about no damn process, especially for me because I’m in championship mode all the time.

“So it was just weird for him to just be like ‘I’m out of here’ and not even have no like, ‘Hey Bron, kiss my ass. I’m out of here.’ I would’ve been OK with that. ‘Hey Bron, it’s Magic. Kiss my ass. I’m gone.’ Not even that. I feel like there’s a time and place for things, and I believe you knew you were going to make that decision, so why would you do that here? Why would you do that now?

“I believe he would, I believe he would have been justified,” Smith said. “The reason being that the Lakers at this point in time appear to be as haphazard as they were in the Jim Buss/Mick Kupchak era. If you’re LeBron James, even though you clearly came to L.A. for reasons other than basketball, the reality is that Magic Johnson was at your doorstep on July 1, there were commitments that came. He didn’t sign a one-year deal with various opt-outs, he signed a three-year deal with a player option on a fourth.

“He committed to that, so when you look at the commitment he made, he certainly doesn’t deserve someone walking out on him prior to that commitment being filled. Once that happened, all bets are off. Now, again, I want to hear from Magic Johnson, because there are two sides to every story – and who is to say LeBron James is telling the truth? I believe what LeBron James is saying, but I haven’t heard from Magic Johnson. With Magic being gone and us hearing names like [Lakers special projects manager] Linda Rambis and [Lakers general manager] Rob Pelinka associated with executive decision-making being made at a basketball franchise, if I’m LeBron James, that is not something I want to be subjected to.”