Odds can't get worse!
Steph chooses to make less than Deng.
Magic is perfect for this job because he has a big enough name to withstand some mistakes without getting fired or losing credibility right away.
Example:
If Kupchak hires a young sabermetric kid to help with player evaluations he has to admit he's lost a step.
When Magic hires a young executive it will be perceived as a "Smart decision".
I would argue that Magic Johnson is one of the best hires for any leadership role in any business in the world. At least as far as public perception is concerned, it would be hard to find a more universally accepted human being in any walk of life.