Just a handful of days after Magic Johnson abruptly stepped down as the head of Lakers' basketball operations — in part because he was not comfortable firing the coach — the Lakers and coach Luke Walton have mutually agreed to part ways, according to the team. With Magic gone, there was uncertainty around the organization and the perception that Walton would not be let go quickly. Walton could read the writing on the wall, he didn't have the full weight and backing of LeBron James — LeBron's exit interview was with Magic and GM Rob Pelinka, not Walton — he was never Pelinka's guy, and Walton knew what was coming.