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Magic to mentor, work out with Russell this summer

Anadolu Agency / Getty

With Kobe Bryant no longer in the picture, guard D'Angelo Russell now becomes the default face of the Los Angeles Lakers, barring some major offseason acquisitions.

Magic Johnson was once in Russell's shoes, running the point for one of the most noteworthy and successful franchises in professional sports. He was named to 12 NBA All-Star teams during his tenure with the Lakers, helping guide the team to five championships in an eight-year span.

Johnson apparently had a lunch meeting with Russell this past weekend, which he mentioned in detail on his Twitter account late Sunday night.

Russell's rookie campaign in Los Angeles certainly had its ups and downs. He struggled to garner both consistent playing time and the trust of former head coach Byron Scott, finding himself sitting on the sidelines late in games. He was also in the news for secretly recording a private conversation with Nick Young which was inevitably leaked, resulting in his teammates reportedly turning their backs on him.

Nonetheless, next year should over a clean slate and one of new beginnings for the Ohio State alumnus. With some guidance from a basketball icon like Johnson - who has been critical of the team in the past - perhaps Russell will find himself avoiding the dreaded sophomore slump.

In 80 appearances for Los Angeles, Russell averaged 13.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.3 assists on 41-percent shooting.

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