Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka were hired to run the front office of the Los Angeles Lakers approximately one year ago and while they have remained steadfast in their plan to maximize their 2018 cap space, the team has yet to show a real improvement.

There also may be issues between Johnson, who has the final say on the roster, and Pelinka, who is running the day-to-day operations.

"I have been told by multiple sources that Magic Johnson is doing that job the way that I thought Magic Johnson was going to do that job," said Dan Le Batard "Sort of whisking in and out of the office. ‘Yeah fire everyone. Trade everyone. You’re doing a bad job. I’m going to run my movie empire.’ Is he still doing that? The details, the specifics of the doing of that job. Magic Johnson has been given all of the power and isn’t doing any of the work that usually gets done. He’s doing the job the way Phil Jackson did the job.

"He’s pretty mad at (Rob) Pelinka from what I’ve heard."

When Johnson was hired by the Lakers in 2017, Le Batard criticized his credentials.

The Los Angeles Lakers were not interested in Blake Griffin prior to the Clippers' trade of him to the Pistons.

The Lakers could have used Brook Lopez's $22 million expiring contract to match salaries.

The Lakers don't own their 2018 first round draft pick and also aspire to have two max contract slots to offer in free agency.

Griffin had been linked to the Lakers heading into his free agency, but he quickly re-signed with the Clippers.

The Boston Celtics planned to select Larry Nance Jr. with the No. 28 pick in the 2015 draft.

Nance was drafted by the Lakers one slot ahead of the Celtics at No. 27.

The Celtics instead selected R.J. Hunter at No. 28, who was waived after just one season as they ran out of roster spots.

Lonzo Ball will out up to three weeks with a minor MCL sprain.

Ball was hurt in a game on Jan. 13th and has missed six straight games.

Luke Walton said Ball will have to go through a full practice before returning to play.

"He's feeling better every day," Walton said. "I wouldn't be surprised if within a couple of days, a week, whatever it is, they say he's ready to start practicing again.

"But we are still training and approaching it as if it's long term. We are not making any plans as if he's coming back tomorrow."

Jeanie Buss confirmed the Lakers intend to keep Luke Walton as head coach beyond the current season and through free agency.

Walton's future has been in doubt amongst comments from LaVar Ball and speculation centered upon David Fizdale.

"Absolutely. Luke Walton is the Lakers coach, period. There's no worrying about it, there's no speculation. He's done a terrific job. He is somebody that the entire front office, the organization is behind."

Aaron Gordon, Victor Oladipo and Dennis Smith Jr. have committed to participating in the 2018 Slam Dunk Contest.

Larry Nance Jr. is a strong candidate to be the fourth contestant.

The NBA will announce the participants next week.

Donovan Mitchell is one player who had gained momentum for the contest this season but it appears he will not receive an invite.

Kobe Bryant's "Dear Basketball" has been nominated for an Academy Award for best animated short film.

“Dear Basketball” will be competing in the category against “Garden Party,” “Lou,” “Negative Space,” and “Revolting Rhymes.”

Bryant's film is based on a letter he wrote in The Players' Tribune in 2015.

What?? This is beyond the realm of imagination. It means so much that the @TheAcademy deemed #DearBasketball worthy of contention. Thanks to the genius of @GlenKeanePrd & John Williams for taking my poem to this level. It's an honor to be on this team. #OscarNoms pic.twitter.com/M2joyk9D1V

— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) January 23, 2018

The Los Angeles Lakers will sign Nigel Hayes to a 10-day contract.

Hayes went undrafted out of Wisconsin in 2017.

Hayes is averaging 14.9 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 30 games this season in the G League for Westchester.

The free agency of DeMarcus Cousins is one of the NBA's most intriguing storylines of 2018 as the New Orleans Pelicans are expected to do whatever they can to re-sign him.

"I think most teams around the league believe that the Pelicans will re-sign Cousins unless he doesn't want to stay there," said Marc Stein on the Dunc'd On Podcast. "I think the Pelicans are the clear favorites. Now, I would say there's an expectation and maybe even speculation on the part of rival teams, but I've heard Dallas and the Lakers mentioned most frequently that those are teams that expected, whatever expected means, to make a run at him.

"Now for the Lakers, they have other targets. I would think Cousins is lower on their list than certainly LeBron or Paul George, but Dallas going after Cousins would be a very Mark Cuban move. I obviously live in Dallas. There's been talk about Cousins here for awhile, certainly around town people expect the Mavs to go after him. Can they convince him to leave New Orleans if the Pels put that max deal on the table?"

Cousins is likely to have a limited market of teams that can offer a max contract.

The Los Angeles Lakers plan on signing Gary Payton II to a two-way contract.

Payton was waived by the Bucks on Dec. 18th when they signed Sean Kilpatrick.

Payton had started six games for the Bucks.