Although expectations drastically changed for the Los Angeles Lakers after they signed LeBron James, president of basketball operations Magic Johnson and general manager Rob Pelinka stressed the need for patience.
Even with James at the helm and a talented and improving young core, the Lakers would need time to learn how to play with one another. In September, Johnson said the front office informed head coach Luke Walton not to worry if the team got off to a slow start.
Yet after going 0-2 on an early-season road trip that dropped the Lakers to 2-5, Johnson reportedly had a heated meeting with Walton and chastised him over the direction of the offense.