Prior to Sunday’s contest against the Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers president of basketball operations Magic Johnson met with the team to address the persistent trade rumors surrounding Anthony Davis in the weeks leading up to the deadline.
Nearly half of the Lakers roster at one point was publicly mentioned in hypothetical trade packages going back to the New Orleans Pelicans had they decided to move Davis. The speculation took a toll on the team, as evidenced by a 42-point loss to the Indiana Pacers.
LeBron James and Kyle Kuzma were among the players to see the benefits of Johnson meeting with the Lakers, believing his words will resonate with the team for the rest of the season.