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Par Mathieu Seguin | Rédacteur sport
The Lakers have made many mistakes over the years, notably due to Rob Pelinka. But in 2019, it was Magic Johnson who certainly made one of the worst trades possible, and the consequences are still visible today.
With the arrival of Luka Dončić and the departure of Anthony Davis, the Lakers quickly found themselves without a true center. A problem for a team aiming for the NBA title, especially since the Mark Williams trade didn’t work out for various reasons. Rob Pelinka is therefore expected to step up this summer to fix the situation.
And yet, in an ideal world, perhaps the Lakers wouldn’t have had a problem at this position today. The franchise had Brook Lopez for a time, and especially Ivica Zubac in 2019. The player was already talented at that time, but Magic Johnson chose to mess it all up with an absolutely crazy trade.
The Monumental Mistake of the Lakers
On February 7, 2019, Magic Johnson decided to make this trade:
- The Clippers get: Ivica Zubac and Michael Beasley.
- The Lakers get: Mike Muscala.
A complete disaster, so much so that the trade was widely mocked at the time. Even more so when we know that Muscala stayed with the Lakers for just a few months and didn’t do anything noteworthy.
Zubac? He’s still with the Clippers and continues to make the fans happy. Despite the loss on Tuesday night, he still scored 27 points and grabbed 5 rebounds against the Nuggets, confirming his strong season in the City of Angels. It raises serious questions about Magic Johnson’s judgment, who quickly moved out of the front office and hasn’t found another position since. Surprising?
On Twitter, even 6 years later, no one has forgotten this fiasco.
- @BlessedCrawford: “How did the Lakers give away Zubac like that?”
- @RyanWardLA: “Every time I see Zubac having fun with the Clippers, I remember that the Lakers gave him away for nothing and could really use him right now!”
- @JLas43_: “The Lakers could really use a player like Zubac…”
- @yvnks: “The Lakers should have definitely kept Zubac.”
The trade made no sense at the time, and it makes even less sense today. Many fans haven’t forgotten that Magic Johnson’s incompetence continues to directly affect the team’s current results.
The Lakers made a huge mistake 6 years ago, thanks to an inexperienced Magic Johnson who was quickly moved from his position. For the fans, there’s no forgetting this trade that continues to haunt the organization.
