NBA: Magic Johnson Drops Bold Claim About West Battle After Suns' Improvement in Damian Lillard Deal

LANDOVER, MARYLAND - Earvin 'Magic' Johnson, a new owner of the Washington Commanders, delivers remarks during a press conference introducing the team's new ownership at on July 21, 2023 in Landover, Maryland. NFL teams owners have unanimously approved a $6.05 billion sale of the Commanders from Dan Snyder to a group led by Josh Harris. (Photo : Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson spoke up on the implications of the blockbuster deal that sent NBA 75 member Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks.

While the 33-year-old did not exactly go to the Western Conference, the Phoenix Suns were involved in the transaction, and they have greatly increased their depth, which caught the attention of Johnson.

"The Phoenix Suns got a lot better and a much deeper roster with Jusuf Nurkic, Grayson Allen, Nassir Little and Keon Johnson. The Lakers are the best in the West followed by Phoenix and Denver behind them," the 64-year-old said.

The Suns bolstered their depth and strengthened their roster by acquiring four high-quality players while parting ways with the 2018 NBA Draft's first overall pick, center DeAndre Ayton, and forward Toumani Camara.

Johnson also pointed out the potential effectiveness of a pick-and-roll partnership between Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo, emphasizing how formidable it could be on the court.

Read more: Golden State Warriors Close to Finalizing Deal to Bring WNBA Expansion Team to the Bay Area

Magic Johnson predicts Western Conference Finals matchup

The five-time NBA champion did not shy away from adding his beloved Los Angeles Lakers to the conversation.

Johnson confidently predicted that the purple-and-gold franchise and the Phoenix Suns would be the two teams competing in the 2024 Western Conference Finals.

Naturally, the three-time NBA Most Valuable Player favored the Lakers to emerge victorious in this hypothetical matchup.

Related Article: Magic Johnson Reveals One NBA Team He's Interested in Owning a Stake - It's Not the Lakers  

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