While the ineptitude of Rob Pelinka has led to many calling for the Los Angeles Lakers to make a front office change, Lakers president and controlling owner Jeanie Buss “is adamantly against even considering such a change,” per Anthony Irwin of Lakers Daily.
Lakers’ Jeanie Buss’s True Thoughts About Firing Rob Pelinka
Since the Lakers brought him on 2019, Pelinka has made several high-profile hires.
His first move was firing former head coach Luke Walton and hiring Frank Vogel. That same offseason saw him trade Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, De’Andre Hunter, and three first-round picks for Anthony Davis. Free agents like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Alex Caruso, and Rajon Rondo were then brought on. With their remodeled team playing in the NBA Bubble, they won a championship in Pelinka’s first season with the team.
This may be the crux of the good faith that Pelinka has built with the organization. Certainly, his personal relationship with Buss has demonstrated that he’s someone she can work with. However, his viability as general manager isn’t solely based on their friendship. Or at least it shouldn’t be.
Unfortunately for Pelinka, his recipe for success was a one-off.
Reputation Over Results?
In 2020, the Lakers signed Marc Gasol with high expectations for the team. L.A. went 42-30, finishing 7th in the Western Conference standings. In the postseason, they were bounced out of the first round by the then Kevin Durant-less Phoenix Suns. LeBron James was limited to a career-low 45 games and Davis played just 36 games before returning for the playoffs.
Nonetheless, it was the first season that proved acquiring marquee players isn’t always the best option.
Not Enough Youth, Skill
In the 2021 offseason, that was seen with the signing of Carmelo Anthony and a trade for Russell Westbrook. L.A. had its worst season in Pelinka’s tenure, going 33-49 and missing the playoffs. In response, Pelinka fired Vogel, replacing him with Darvin Ham. Yet, coaching was less of a problem than their roster construction. The Lakers weren’t young, athletic, or skilled enough to truly compete for a championship.
Yet, with James’s age slowly catching up to him, time was of the essence.
Pelinka sought to maximize their championship window with acquisitions like Dennis Schroder, Rui Hachimura, and D’Angelo Russell. In a vacuum, these are solid players. However, the coach that Pelinka had just hired didn’t want to start Hachimura. He also was so comfortable with Schroder that he alienated Russell.
By the end of the 2022-23 season, the Lakers were 43-39. On the one hand, L.A. had a 10-game improvement over the previous year. On the other hand, Ham’s rotations and adjustments were questionable. After the Lakers were swept by the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals, he was on the hot seat.
Failing to make proper lineup adjustments led to a slow start in 2023-24. After going 30-26 prior to the All-Star Break, they played with a sense of urgency, finishing the season at 47-35. Yet, meeting the Nuggets in the playoffs once again, they found a way to let multiple chances slip away.
Bigger Fish To Fry
Ham was fired. JJ Redick is now the third head coach Pelinka has brought on. How the former NBA guard fares in his new role remains to be seen. However, if he whiffs, the blame should probably go to Pelinka.
He’s tried, valiantly, to build a championship roster. Yet, his home run swings have largely been strikes. His draft selections have been all but invisible. Marquee free agents are now turning their noses up at signing with the Lakers’ historic franchise.
If business is the bottom line, then Pelinka can’t be safe. If Buss can’t or won’t see that, L.A. may have bigger fish to fry.
