A former colleague of ours, Scott Howard-Cooper, had an interesting article on nba.com about Magic Johnson possibly joining a new ownership group for the Detroit Pistons. Owner Bill Davidson passed away at age 86 in March and the family is expected to sell the team in the near future, likely to a Detroit group headed by Red Wings and Tigers owner Mike Ilitch.
Magic, an All-American high school player from East Lansing, Mich., and NCAA champion with Michigan State, has been rumored to be in talks to join Ilitch and Pistons GM Joe Dumars to become part of that group.
Does this make sense? Could it really happen? Yes and absolutely. Magic is never one to rest on his laurels and he loves to be part of something new and exciting. I'm not positive of the NBA rules, but I'm sure he'd have to give up his small interest in the Lakers -- I think we all know the Buss family will be running the Lake Show for many years to come -- to join another ownership group for a rival franchise.
The Davidson family has said they'd like to have a new ownership group in place before the start of the upcoming season, so the rumors, talks and discussion on who might take control and who will be involved should start heating up.
-- Dan Loumena
Photo: Lakers star power: Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Pat Riley join Lakers owner Jerry Buss on stage during his acceptance speech at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., this summer. Credit: Brian Snyder / Reuters