Jayson Tatum's Agent Clarifies Magic Johnson Feedback on 2017 Draft

Lakers legend Magic Johnson lately mentioned that Jayson Tatum didn’t work out for LA earlier than the 2017 Draft as a result of his agent Jeffrey Wechsler didn’t need him to.

Johnson was the purple and gold’s president of basketball operations on the time and the franchise had the No. 2 total decide that yr.

“[Jayson Tatum’s] agent didn’t need him to work out for [the Lakers]…as a result of we already had too many forwards,” Magic defined on SiriusXM NBA Radio.

Following Magic’s feedback, Tatum was requested about the entire state of affairs and says he doesn’t maintain a grudge.

“I believe I used to be simply upset on the time that there wasn’t, I assume, real curiosity,” Tatum instructed reporters on Saturday.“Simply from my perspective, I grew up the largest Kobe (Bryant) fan, needed to play for the Lakers. Magic defined it. That they had too many forwards and that was their thought course of on the time. It wasn’t like I received any animosity towards Magic or the Lakers. It was simply as a child. I used to be near conducting a life-long dream, the way in which I believed it might be.”

Wechsler himself has additionally since responded to Johnson’s feedback and defined his aspect of the state of affairs.

“Magic’s right in what he mentioned, however the way in which it was introduced was a bit of totally different,” Wechsler mentioned on SiriusXM NBA Radio. . “I imply, everybody is aware of that the draft begins in June, and guys end the tip of March Insanity, and so they work out for months. Effectively, Jayson labored out in L.A. for months coaching with Drew Hanlen there, and the Lakers knew that he was in L.A. and by no means known as. And in late June, they known as and needed to convey him in for a exercise. However by that point, everybody knew that they have been taking Lonzo Ball.

“So when Rob Pelinka known as me and requested if they may work Jayson out, I mentioned ‘Effectively, for those who’re not gonna take him, why are you workin’ him out?’ And so I mentioned, ‘Get me on a name with Magic, and we’ll speak about it.’ So he set that up just a few days later,” the agent continued.

“Get on the decision with Magic, I believe it was round June thirteenth, and I mentioned, ‘Magic, everybody is aware of you’re takin’ Lonzo Ball.’ He goes, ‘Yeah, properly we’re actually heavy at ahead place, and we have to take some extent guard, and in order that’s most likely who we’re gonna take.’ He says, ‘However we’d like to have a look at everyone.’ And I’m like, ‘Effectively, for those who’re not gonna take my man — he’s been on the market all summer season. He’s now in St. Louis. He’s workin’ out for different groups. I’m not gonna fly him again throughout the nation for a exercise while you guys aren’t gonna take him.’ And that’s the way it went down.”