Magic Johnson Takes Shot at Lakers in Discussing Anthony Davis Trade and Kawhi Leonard Miss

Remember when the Los Angeles Lakers were trying desperately to poach Anthony Davis from the New Orleans Pelicans ahead of February's trade deadline?

The Pels remained stubborn in trading their superstar during the regular season, but both sides, of course, ultimately worked out a deal in the offseason.

Well, Magic Johnson adamantly believes that he wouldn't have stepped down if the Lakers were able to pull off a trade for AD in Feb. MJ even went as far as to say the LA would have had a better shot at landing Kawhi Leonard in free agency if he were still at the presidential helm.

During an appearance on FS1's "Undisputed" on Friday morning, co-host Skip Bayless asked Johnson if he would still be with the Lakers had the Davis trade gone through.

Magic replied with confidence and he even took a subliminal shot at current head coach Frank Vogel and former head coach Luke Walton.

“Oh, I would still be there," he said. "And then I could have the coach that I wanted, and I’d still be there — of course.”

Then came the Hall of Famer's brazen claims about Leonard.

"Everything would have fallen into place and also, too, Kawhi — knowing him, knowing the uncle," said Johnson. "We had some great conversations, too, so we would have had just as good a shot as we had before, but I think even better with me at that position ... I’m not saying that he would came to the Lakers, but I’m saying I think we would have had a better shot at him.”

In case you were wondering, yes, Johnson is still significantly salty about the way his tenure as the Lakers President of Basketball Operations concluded, despite being the one to step down.

Expect this to be the first of many apparent digs that MJ takes at the Lakers throughout the year. Remember, folks, the season is just four days old.