Kobe Bryant Given 2-1 Odds to Be Lakers’ Next President of Basketball Operations; David Griffin Favored

• David Griffin helped LeBron James and the Cavaliers reach the NBA Finals three straight years
• Will Kobe Bryant leave his budding career in film to a return to basketball as a top executive?
• We analyze the best bet to earn the President of Basketball Operations role with the Lakers

Magic Johnson is universally considered one of the best passers in the history of basketball.

But right now, it’s his egregious and haphazard turnover that has stolen the headlines, abruptly stepping down as Lakers President of Basketball Operations.

If you’re surprised, imagine how the Lakers brass must feel – they found out the same way we did.

Magic Johnson resigns as Los Angeles Lakers' team president pic.twitter.com/eK5CcT69Xo

— Reuters (@Reuters) April 10, 2019

Make no mistake, this seat overseeing the purple and gold empire is as glamorous as it is scalding hot.

Jeannie Buss has to make the right choice – who will she pick?

Who Will Be the Lakers’ Next President of Basketball Operations?

Odds taken 04/10/19.

Griffin Has Worked Under Scrutiny and Thrived

There’s not exactly a who’s who of accomplished basketball minds at the ready for this spot. Fortunately, Griffin is available and meets a lot of the criteria.

Since taking over as president of the Lakers, Magic Johnson never fully committed to the job. Often he was traveling and away from the team. His office hours were limited. He didn't do a lot of scouting. Running an NBA team takes a tremendous commitment of time and energy.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 10, 2019

He’s worked under the immense glare of a LeBron James-led team, one that will always have James forcing management’s hand into making moves to win now.

I stood next to Kobe Bryant when he cried at his locker after the torn Achilles. I just stood next to Magic Johnson as he cried after stepping down as Lakers president. Today was more shocking. This is more than a job, obviously, for everyone involved. The Lakers are reality TV.

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) April 10, 2019

Griffin flourished in that position, sending out assets like 2014 No. 1 pick (Andrew Wiggins) for Kevin Love, throwing around fodder for wings like Iman Shumpert and JR Smith, giving up a first-round pick to add sharpshooter Kyle Korver, and using the scrap heap to add viable parts like Richard Jefferson and Channing Frye.

If no one appreciated you Griff I did, and hopefully all the people of Cleveland! Thanks for what u did for the team for 3 yrs! We got us 1🏆

— LeBron James (@KingJames) June 20, 2017

In all, his Cavs teams made the Finals three straight years, winning the title in 2016. James seemed to have a good relationship with Griff, showing love for his GM when he was canned after losing to Golden State in the Finals in 2017.

Does Kobe Bryant Want to Make this Move Now?

Bryant is modern Laker royalty, but this move could be fatal in what is an unbelievable high-stakes summer for this franchise.

Kobe Bryant after winning an Oscar: "We're really supposed to shut up and dribble, but I'm glad we did a little more than that." 💯🐐 pic.twitter.com/kgjTg1tKMk

— FootBasket.com Backup (@FootBasketcom) February 25, 2019

If Kobe commits to this job 100% like he has to his post-basketball career in film and production (which landed him an Oscar. Let me repeat: a freaking Oscar!), then this move will be all right.

I’m so here for GM Kobe. Let’s get this party started.

— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) April 10, 2019

He would need to surround himself with a competent and talented staff of underlings, who could walk him through the heavy-lifting moments as he gets up to speed. With Rob Pelinka staying on as GM, he will have a relationship with his former agent.

What’s the Best Bet to Make?

There are so many things that need to get sorted out, including the status of head coach Luke Walton, free agent meetings, and what plan of attack to take with the draft and rounding out an ill-conceived roster, while chasing titles for the remaining years of LeBron James’ rapidly closing window.

Lakers coaching staff fully expected to be fired in hours after the final game of the season. They had believed they were gone for months. Now? Magic quits in public, saying he's too scared to tell Jeanie Buss face-to-face. What an embarrassing episode for a historic franchise.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 10, 2019

Griffin makes the most sense. I think Pat Riley rides into the Miami sunset, Phil Jackson stays retired, and Jerry West sees out what’s been an exceptional build for the Clippers. And I’d need better odds to lean towards Bryant.

Lakers need a smart guy in the front office. They need to call Masai Ujiri today? Wait, that’s my team’s President! Don’t do that! #WeTheNorth #GoRaptors https://t.co/pUGDmOjDQA

— Dean Pickering (@deanpickering) April 10, 2019

One long shot that makes sense? Masai Ujiri. This guy has handled disgruntled stars and kept his franchise viable (‘Melo situation in Denver), he’s rebuilt the Raptors and then made a legit title swing by trading for Kawhi Leonard. At +1000, that’s a lurking value that I wouldn’t mind taking right now.