Magic Johnson
Honoree, former NBA basketball player Earvin Magic Johnson, poses at The Mercedes-Benz Carousel of Hope Ball to benefit the Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes in Beverly Hills, California October 11, 2014. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok

Los Angeles Lakers and National Basketball Association, or NBA, legend Magic Johnson has a sound advice for Kobe Bryant come the offseason: do not play or retire if the franchise fails to acquire a free agent star for the 2015-2016 NBA Season. The former Laker shared his thoughts about the current situation in Los Angeles to ESPN.com.

“You almost gotta say that because if you come back with the same level of talent, you're just going to have the same results," Johnson said when asked if he’d advise the 36-year-old Bryant about retiring from the game if they don’t pair him with a superstar next season. "You know, so, look, Kobe, put pressure on Jim [Buss] to say, 'Look, man, you've got to bring me some talent, some help, so that this can be a great season for the Lakers and a great season for me, being my last season, and then I can retire.'"

In the same interview, Johnson, who played for the Lakers from 1979–1991 and 1996, said that Bryant as the franchise player and as a respected veteran of the team must tell Jim Buss, the Lakers executive vice president of basketball operations, that he can not waste another year of his career especially that he could be retiring after the end of the 2015-2016 NBA Season.

Bryant, who is set to be paid $25 million that year, is in the last year of his contract during next season. Johnson is a five-time NBA champion winning titles in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987 and 1988 and a three-time NBA Finals Most Valuable Player in 1980, 1982 and 1987. Currently, the Lakers are one of the worst teams in basketball. They recently lost to the visiting Denver Nuggets on Tuesday to the tune of 106-96 to drop 13-39— second worst in the Western Conference and fourth worst in the entire league.

Possibly available for the Lakers to acquire after the 2015 season are Kevin Love (Cleveland Cavaliers) and LeBron James, although both have player options to remain with their current team. Other free agents are LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland Trail Blazers), Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio Spurs), Marc Gasol (Memphis Grizzlies), Goran Dragic (Phoenix Suns), Rajon Rondo (Dallas Mavericks), DeAndre Jordan (Los Angeles Clippers) and Brook Lopez (Brooklyn Nets), among others.

To contact author of this article, email j.quizon@IBTimes.com.au.

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