Woj: Lakers 'Probably' Don't Plan to Replace Magic Johnson After Walton's Exit

The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly going to let general manager Rob Pelinka run the organization rather than hire a new president of basketball operations to replace Magic Johnson, who resigned Tuesday.

On Friday, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported on the Sedano Show the Lakers would let Pelinka handle the search to replace head coach Luke Walton after the sides mutually parted ways, and he noted that "probably" means they won't seek a new person to oversee the franchise:

Although Johnson lauded Lakers owner Jeanie Buss during his impromptu press conference at which he announced his departure Tuesday night, he stopped short of giving a full endorsement to Pelinka, per Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.com.

"Do I think Rob is the right GM? That's a decision Jeanie has to make," he said. "I worked well with him. I had no problems with him. Now they say he had some bad. I don't know about that. A lot of my agent friends had called, but Jeanie has to make all the calls, that's not calls for me to make. This is her organization."

But ESPN Los Angeles' John Ireland reported Friday (via Rovee Vanderbilt Pruna of Lake Show Life) the Lakers' brass "really, really want to keep Rob" and, like Woj, he didn't believe the team would hire a new "top executive" to serve above Pelinka in the chain of command.

"He has earned the favor of the people at the highest part of the organization, including Jeanie, regardless of what his reputation and what the reporting's been over the last couple of days of what the outsiders of the league think of him," Ireland said.

While Pelinka's job sounds safe and he'll probably be given additional power as the front office is restructured without Johnson, he'll face immense pressure to upgrade the roster over the summer.

The Lakers fell well short of expectations with a 37-45 record during the first season of the LeBron James era and were 11 games shy of a playoff berth. Injuries were a key factor in the lackluster record, but fans in L.A. are likely growing tired of excuses after six straight postseasonless seasons.

Whether it's a trade for the New Orleans Pelicans' Anthony Davis, a marquee free-agent signing such as Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard or Kyrie Irving, or a combination of both, the Lakers need to make a splash to make noise in the Western Conference next season.

If not, Pelinka will find himself on the hot seat.