Magic Johnson Blames Jayson Tatum’s Agent for Lakers Draft Snub Hinting At Paris Olympics Fate
The tough time Magic Johnson gave the Lakers in 1979 probably came a full circle when the 5x champion was in charge of basketball operations. As soon as Earvin “Magic” Johnson replaced Jim Buss in an executive role for the Lakers, the immediate draft posed a dilemma. Magic had the chance to utilize the team’s second overall pick for a big decision. If history went differently, perhaps the Lakers would’ve had the 18th banner in 2024. He however has no regrets about his decision benefiting Jayson Tatum.
In 2017, Magic Johnson took his third of four roles in the Los Angeles Lakers organization as the president of basketball operations. That year, Duke standout, Jayson Tatum was looking like the top draft pick. He was dreaming of suiting up for the Purple and Gold to follow in the footsteps of his idol, Kobe Bryant. But Lakers skipped him and Tatum was picked third overall by the Boston Celtics. Knowing how things turned out, it wasn’t so bad, but Tatum said it was “devastating” that the Lakers didn’t choose him.
Magic Johnson was on former NBA pro, Eddia A. Johnson’s radio show to address Tatum’s remarks. “We took a look at him. I was the president,” Magic first set the record straight before revealing the dilemma they had. “But the problem was, Eddie, we were top heavy in forwards. I couldn’t take him.” The Lakers did have Brandon Ingram, Larry Nance Jr, and Julius Randle who were all demanding rotation time.
“So if I took another forward, we would’ve never seen this Tatum if he had ended up with the Lakers. Because he would’ve been sitting on that bench as we already had Julius and Brandon Ingram starting.” That’s a fate Tatum experienced seven years after the draft anyway and after his first championship. His Olympic debut at Paris was soured when Steve Kerr had him warming the bench for most of the games.
But Magic refutes the accusation that the Lakers didn’t try him out. He said they looked into him. But it was Tatum’s agent who decided he shouldn’t end up with the Lakers. “We looked at him, but his agent also didn’t want us to work out him out because he didn’t want him to end up with the Lakers because we were already top-heavy with forwards.”
Johnson doubled down that it was Jayson Tatum’s agent who saw “it wasn’t a good situation” to let his client go to the Lakers. Magic is however, glad the way things turned out for Jayson.
Jayson Tatum has regrets where Magic Johnson has none
The first draft pick of 2017 actually belonged to the Celtics. They gave it to the 76ers who took Markelle Fultz. Magic told Eddia Johnson that the Lakers needed a point guard. So he picked Lonzo Ball second overall. The Celtics went third and picked Tatum. After multiple playoff appearances, Tatum led the Celtics to its 18th championship and broke the banner tie with the Lakers.
Despite a phenomenal career, Tatum still felt bitter about the snub. “For me, I grew up a Kobe fan, I always wanted to play for the Lakers. For them to have the No. 2 pick and it wasn’t even a thought that I was gonna get drafted, that was kind of devastating,” Tatum said on The Club 520 podcast. “I never worked out for the Lakers, they never came to watch me workout.”
Magic counters that it was his agent who didn’t want him to do pre-draft workouts with the Lakers. Being in that situation, Johnson could clarify this on behalf of the Lakers. Despite his natural rivals getting Tatum, Magic is happy “because he’s been amazing with the Celtics.”
