Magic Johnson: If permitted, Ben Simmons wants to swap 'big guard' secrets

Magic Johnson knows a thing or two about the unique challenges and possibilities that come with being an oversized point guard. Back when he was the Los Angeles Lakers' superlative superstar - long before his current reign as team president - Johnson terrorized defenses with his sublime passing and imposing 6-foot-9 frame.

Now, Johnson evidently hopes to pay it forward. Prior to the Lakers' game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday, Johnson revealed that 76ers point forward Ben Simmons has expressed an interest in swapping "big guard" secrets this summer, according to The New York Times' Marc Stein.

That is, if both organizations and the league office give the go-ahead for an influential executive to be in close contact with the 76ers' star point forward.

Johnson, along with Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka, have run afoul of the league's anti-tampering rules in the past for failing to keep a distance from other teams' players.

The Lakers were issued a $500,000 fine in August 2017 after Pelinka was found to have had inappropriate contact with Paul George's agent while the All-Star wing was under contract with the Indiana Pacers.

Los Angeles was then fined $50,000 in February 2018 after Johnson made public comments about Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo.

"Context is everything, and there had been a prior issue with the Lakers early this season," league commissioner Adam Silver told ESPN's Rachel Nichols on "The Jump" in the aftermath of the second fine. "And the message is - not just to Magic but to all the executives in the league is - stop talking about players on other teams."