NBA-National Basketball Association roundup

Feb 21 (The Sports Xchange) - The Los Angeles Lakers named team legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson as president of basketball operations on Tuesday while conducting a housecleaning. In addition to Johnson's appointment, the Lakers also announced the firing of general manager Mitch Kupchak and vice president of basketball operations Jim Buss. Jim Buss was fired by his sister, team governor Jeanie Buss. The two had been jointly running the organization since their father, Jerry, died in 2013. Jeanie is in charge of business decisions and Jim was overseeing the basketball operation. Johnson was hired as an adviser earlier this month and was pushing to gain authority. He has been disappointed by the decline of a franchise that won five NBA titles during his playing career. - - DeMarcus Cousins fought back tears while delivering an emotional farewell speech at a gathering after the Sacramento Kings dealt him to the New Orleans Pelicans in the first blockbuster trade of the season. Cousins, 26, was traded along with Omri Casspi to the Pelicans for Buddy Hield, Tyreke Evans, Langston Galloway and two 2017 draft picks late Sunday after the All-Star Game in New Orleans. The teams finalized the trade Monday. "My love for this city has never changed," Cousins told a group of supporters. "Even though I'm gone, it will still be the same. I'm still looking out for these kids. Every family in this city matters to me. Every soul in this city matters to me." - - A reunion between Derrick Rose and his former coach could be in the works. Minnesota Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau, who coached Rose for seven seasons with the Chicago Bulls, reached out to the New York Knicks to inquire about Rose's availability, ESPN reports. It is unclear what the Timberwolves are offering for Rose, per ESPN. But the team is reportedly motivated to move veteran Ricky Rubio as Thibodeau has settled on rookie Kris Dunn as the team's point guard of the future. (Editing by Frank Pingue)