The Lakers are having a severe breakdown in communication.
President Magic Johnson and coach Luke Walton have not talked in weeks, according to a report from ESPN.
It's the team's latest sign of dysfunction.
I opened #TheJump noting how so many of the Lakers' issues have zero to do with Luke Walton, so whether they fire him or not, they can't expect change until they face their deeper truths. Then @RamonaShelburne reported Magic hasn't spoken to Luke in weeks, and everyone went nuts: pic.twitter.com/fDgJaIKs3C
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) April 9, 2019
As shocking as the revelation might be, it doesn't come as a huge surprise after a previous ESPN report surfaced last week stating the organization is "misaligned."
The Lakers are widely expected to dismiss Walton, their third-year coach, after the regular season ends.
Los Angeles was officially eliminated from playoff contention in March after struggling to come back from an injury to star LeBron James. The Lakers also dealt with injuries to other key role players, including Lonzo Ball, Rajon Rondo, Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart.
Walton, however, said he believes he'll be back in Los Angeles next season.
"I fully expect to be coaching this team again next year," Walton told The Athletic. "I just view it as outside noise. Unless someone from within our group is telling me that, I just view it like all the other things we've gone through as a team this year. Those are things that I don't have the time to worry about."
Walton has coached the Lakers to six wins in its last nine games.
Los Angeles will host Portland on Tuesday in its last regular-season game.
