In a momentous organizational shake-up, the Los Angeles Lakers fired General Manager Mitch Kupchak on Tuesday and put Magic Johnson, one of the greatest players in N.B.A. history, in charge of the team’s front office as its president for basketball operations.
It was a stunning power play by Jeanie Buss, the team president and co-owner, who removed her brother Jim from his role as executive vice president for basketball operations. Jim Buss will retain his ownership stake, Jeanie Buss said in a statement, but will no longer have any involvement in personnel decisions.
“I took these actions today to achieve one goal,” Jeanie Buss said in the statement.