The Los Angeles Lakers were thoroughly embarrassed in bad-faith trade negotiations with the Pelicans, which stemmed from New Orleans’ belief that the Lakers were tampering with Anthony Davis.
That ordeal made the latest request from Magic Johnson seem all that stranger: He wants to train with Ben Simmons in the offseason.
But don’t worry about tampering, Sixers. (Yes, do worry).
The Lakers president spoke with reporters on Sunday in Philadelphia, and that was when he brought up the idea of working out with Simmons. Magic said that Simmons’ camp indirectly reached out to him about the offseason workouts. The league, Sixers and Lakers would all have to sign off on the workouts.
And given how Johnson hasn’t exactly followed the league’s anti-tampering rules, it would be hard to see the Sixers signing off on a closed-gym session between Magic and Simmons unless Sixers reps get to be present.
The entire idea is ridiculous. Why would Magic Johnson — an executive for the Lakers — train a player for a competing franchise? He’d have no reason to.
Simmons will be a free agent in 2020 (assuming he doesn’t sign a qualifying offer), so this would give Magic the time he needs to get a recruiting pitch started.
