The NBA is a multibillion-dollar league full of irony. One of the biggest ironies involves Rob Pelinka, the Lakers’ general manager. In 2023, he finished 11th in Executive of the Year voting despite completely revamping the Lakers’ roster midseason. He moved on from the disastrous Russell Westbrook experiment and built a team that surged to the Western Conference Finals. Yet, he received little recognition for his efforts. Now, in 2025, Rob Pelinka is in pole position to win Executive of the Year, and ironically, it’s because of his 2023 moves.
Rob Pelinka Using 2023 Moves To Break Executive Of The Year Hoodoo
The Moves That Reshaped the Lakers
Pelinka’s transformative work started in January 2023 when he traded for Rui Hachimura. The Lakers sent Kendrick Nunn and multiple second-round picks to the Wizards in a deal that seemed minor at the time. However, Hachimura became a key contributor in the playoffs and later re-signed on a team-friendly contract.
The real fireworks happened at the trade deadline in February. The Lakers made several moves that reshaped the roster:
- Four-team trade: The Lakers traded Patrick Beverley and Thomas Bryant and received Mo Bamba, Davon Reed, and two second-round picks.
- Blockbuster three-team deal: The Lakers sent Westbrook, Damian Jones, Juan Toscano-Anderson, and a 2027 first-round pick to the Jazz. In return, they acquired D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, and Jarred Vanderbilt.
These moves immediately improved the team’s depth, defense, and shooting. The Lakers went on to win 18 of their final 26 regular-season games and reached the Conference Finals.
Pelinka’s offseason work in 2023 was just as crucial. He retained Austin Reaves, Hachimura, and Russell while signing Gabe Vincent and Jaxson Hayes. He also drafted Jalen Hood-Schifino and Maxwell Lewis. At the time, these moves were seen as great initially but later seen as unspectacular as the Lakers struggled under Darvin Ham. Now, they look like the foundation of a title contender.
How These Moves Secured Pelinka’s Executive of the Year Case
The Lakers’ 2024-25 season started with inconsistency. A 10-4 record turned into a 13-12 struggle due to injuries and losing streaks. Then, Los Angeles suffered wildfires, forcing the postponement of two games. That adversity gave the team a rallying point, and they haven’t looked back.
Since the postponed games, the Lakers have won 16 of 21 games. They lead the league in defensive rating during that span, even after trading Anthony Davis for Luka Dončić. Acquiring a 25-year-old, five-time All-NBA player fresh off a trip to the NBA finals is what launched Pelinka’s case. However, the real key to the Lakers’ success has been Pelinka’s earlier moves.
Flipping Russell for Finney-Smith Paid Off
Pelinka’s best in-season move this year was trading Russell for Dorian Finney-Smith. The forward has thrived in JJ Redick’s system. He ranks in the 98th percentile in expected wins added and has solidified the Lakers’ defense. In exchange, the Lakers gave up an inconsistent Russell and a couple of second-round picks.
Hachimura and Reaves: Steals on Team-Friendly Deals
Hachimura and Reaves continue to exceed expectations. Their growth has sparked debates about whether the Lakers have the best one-through-four star talent in the league. These signings are proving to be some of Pelinka’s best decisions.
Vincent and Vanderbilt Are Turning the Corner
Vincent and Vanderbilt were once considered negative assets, but their impact is changing that perception.
- Vanderbilt: After missing the first 42 games, he has been a net positive. His rebounding has been crucial in the post-Davis era, improving the team’s offensive rebounding rate by 4.7%.
- Vincent: He struggled early in the season but has found his rhythm. In February, he’s shooting 36.2% from three on 6.4 attempts per game—up from 33% earlier in the season.
Jaxson Hayes’ Minimum Contract Becomes Crucial
Pelinka signed Hayes to a minimum deal, and it’s proving invaluable. With the Lakers lacking size, Hayes has stepped into an important role.
The Lakers also nearly secured Mark Williams in a trade, but the deal was rescinded due to a failed physical. If it had gone through, it would have solidified Rob Pelinka’s case for Executive of the Year even further.
Why Pelinka Has Been Overlooked in the Past
Despite his success, Pelinka has never won Executive of the Year. In 2023, he finished 11th, and in 2020, he didn’t win despite building a championship team. There are a few reasons for this:
- He’s a former agent. Many executives disliked him when he worked in player representation.
- The Rich Paul factor. Some believe agent Rich Paul, rather than Pelinka, deserves credit for assembling the Lakers’ roster.
- Tampering accusations. The Lakers have been fined for tampering multiple times, and some executives may hold that against Pelinka.
Regardless of past snubs, Pelinka’s 2023 moves have positioned the Lakers for sustained success. He also drafted who many consider to be the steal of the 2024 draft in Dalton Knecht. If voters judge fairly, Rob Pelinka should finally break his Executive of the Year hoodoo.
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