3 things to know about Magic and Jeanie's power move

Jim Buss and Mitch Kupchak had their chance to run the Los Angeles Lakers.

After Tuesday's move, Magic Johnson and co-owner Jeanie Buss will call the shots. Magic seized control of basketball operations from Jim and will instead report to Jeanie. Kupchak is just out of luck - the architect of two Lakers championship squads has been sent packing.

What remains for the league's marquee franchise is a boatload of questions about its direction. Here are three things to keep in mind about Tuesday's shake-up.

How did we get here?

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It's simple: Kupchak and Jim failed to deliver results.

The Lakers compiled a lowly 84-220 record over the last four seasons for a win percentage of 27.6. They haven't come close to sniffing the playoffs. Marquee free agents shun meeting with them. They're shattering franchise records for all the wrong reasons. Their best player this season is Lou Williams (no offense to the perennial Sixth Man of the Year candidate). These are the Lakers.

In Kupchak and Jim's defense, rebuilding is an unenviable task, and they amassed some talented prospects. D'Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson, Julius Randle, and Brandon Ingram all project to be starters or at the very least solid rotation players. But none are clear-cut superstars in the making, and that's inexcusable given all the losing.

Again, these are the Lakers. This isn't a small-market team, so why is it operating like one? It's supposed to be the NBA's marquee franchise, and it's falling way short of that distinction.

Is Kobe on the way?

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Magic wasn't very subtle about his takeover. He laid out his game plan during his media tour before he officially took control.

"First call I make if I'm in charge? Kobe Bryant," Johnson told ESPN's "First Take" on Feb. 14. "Because Kobe understands winning. He understands, also, these players. I would call: 'What role you want? ... If you've got a day, just give me that day.' I'll take that. Whatever time he has, I want him to come and be a part of it."

The recently retired Bryant has always maintained he is "one call away" should the Lakers ever need his help. His phone should be ringing with a call from Johnson any time now.

Would Bryant ditch his off-court plans for a job in the Lakers' front office? He's already put down roots in Los Angeles and he's only a chopper ride away from the Staples Center.

What happens at the trade deadline?

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Lost in all the hoopla is the extremely imminent NBA trade deadline.

The new management staff needs to furiously work the phones to make deadline acquisitions within the next 48 hours. There's definitely a lot to catch up on. For example, playoff teams are reportedly after Williams. Other pieces may also be in play.

What Magic and Jeanie can't make up for is lost time and lost opportunities. Look at the DeMarcus Cousins trade that just unfolded - the Lakers were said to be in the mix, but Kupchak and Jim reportedly wouldn't surrender Ingram. How would the new management structure handle that situation?

There isn't much anyone can do to salvage the rest of this lost Lakers season, but Magic and Jeanie's activity at the trade deadline will indicate their intentions for the franchise. Will they continue rebuilding, or move heaven and earth for a true superstar?

Bet heavily on the latter.