Magic Johnson on Failed Davis Trade: ‘It Is What It Is’

Los Angeles Lakers president Magic Johnson has spoken about the team’s failed attempt to sign Anthony Davis from the Pelicans.

The biggest surprise of the NBA trade deadline was that Anthony Davis remained in New Orleans. Davis looked nailed on to leave following a public trade request and weeks of speculation.

The Lakers looked like the most likely destination, having made more than 5 attempts to trade for him. In hindsight, all those ignored trade offers show how badly the Pelicans wanted to keep Davis.

Magic Johnson, clearly a little annoyed with the Pelicans, said it doesn’t change LA’s mission to return to championship form.

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When asked if the New Orleans Pelicans acted in good faith, Magic Johnson replied “No.”

“We knew that basically at the end of the day, what happened happened,” Johnson said.

“And we knew that when we first started, in terms of what happened. But hey, it is what it is.”

Pundits said that the public nature of those negotiations was detrimental to the Lakers young core. Johnson emphatically denied any such thing, and quickly talked them up.

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“Quit making this about thinking these guys are babies because that’s what you’re treating them like,” Johnson said. “They’re professionals. All of them. And this is how this league works. They know it, I know it — that’s how it goes.

“So we’ve got to move forward, and we are moving forward. They played outstanding against Boston. Give them credit. And we want to play well today and continue on. This is a part of the league. You’ve got a good side of the business that we get paid to be professional basketball players, and there’s deals like this.”