NBA News Wire
Magic suggests losing would help Lakers in future
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
If the Los Angeles Lakers are going to lose this season, Magic Johnson thinks they might as well lose them all.
Johnson said Tuesday that the Lakers would be better off having the NBA’s worst record in order to improve their chances for a high draft pick in 2015.
“I hope the Lakers lose every game,” the former All-Star guard said at promotional event in New York City, according to Newsday. “Because if you’re going to lose, lose. I’m serious.”
The Lakers (5-16) went into Tuesday night’s action with the fifth-worst record in the NBA and second worst in the Western Conference.
For the second year in a row, the Lakers are struggling. Last season, they finished 27-55, the worst record for an 82-game schedule in franchise history, and missed the playoffs.
“If you’re going to lose, you have to lose because you can’t be in the middle of the pack,” Johnson said. “You either have to be great or you have to be bad to get a good pick.”
The Lakers had the seventh overall pick in 2014 and chose forward Julius Randle. Johnson believes another high draft pick and several offseason moves could help turn the Lakers around in 2015-16.
“The Lakers are in a good space, too, next summer if they can sign or trade for a talented guy,” Johnson said. “I”d rather be all the way bad than be in the middle.”
