While speaking to reporters in the wake of last week’s NBA trade deadline, Lakers President and General Manager Rob Pelinka revealed that changes would eventually come to the team’s front office, aiming to model it after their MLB counterpart, the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“The baseball system and the NBA system are totally different in terms of how you can build a roster and what you can do to spend. That said, I think just their draft process and sort of how they’ve established their farm system is amazing. And I think there’s best practices in that as we evolve and get better going forward in those areas.”
However, could those potential changes include replacing him? One NBA source thinks so, according to a new report.
Report: Rob Pelinka’s Future With Lakers ‘On Life Support’
Heavy Sports: Pelinka’s Status Hinges on Back Half of Lakers’ Season
In remarks made to Heavy Sports’ Sean Deveney at last Thursday’s deadline, the source said:
“Unless they catch fire in the second half of the year, unless they really come on and make a run in the playoffs, it’s got to be on life support, it is going to be tough to see how he survives. If they’re in the play-in again this year, with LeBron James and Luka Doncic on your roster, it’s hard to make excuses at this point. Does he have the respect of the league? Does he have a clear vision? That’s the problem. And the other problem is there’s a new owner who isn’t going to sit on his hands.”
The Lakers added Luke Kennard as their lone deadline transaction, and the veteran made a solid first impression with ten points (including a 2/4 showing from three), two assists and a steal in 26 minutes against the Golden State Warriors. After the win, LA rewarded South Bay Lakers standout Kobe Bufkin with a two-year contract, filling their previously vacant roster spot with the G League’s scoring leader (27.7 PPG).
In two fell swoops Thursday, Pelinka managed to address at least two of the Lakers’ critical needs: shooting (a strong suit for Kennard and Bufkin) and defense (which Bufkin provides with room to grow). Both are vital additions to the team’s second-unit offense, which has consistently struggled this season but could improve with their help, alongside promising production from Marcus Smart, Rui Hachimura and Jarred Vanderbilt.
Lakers’ Second-Half Run Vital in More Ways Than One
Since James’ arrival in 2018 and the team’s title in 2020, the Lakers have clawed through three Play-in Tournaments en route to varying postseason exits (twice in the first round, once in the Western Conference Finals). Last season brought some new hope under head coach JJ Redick—which was enhanced when the Lakers acquired Doncic—but that too ended in a first-round loss, a far cry from the organization bearing championship expectations.
With 31 regular season games remaining and a fifth-place standing in the West, the Lakers’ performance will be vital for both the players and Pelinka, who remains under the microscope in the James-Doncic era. The team’s lack of aggression at the deadline and recent moves to address bench production will prove pivotal for their playoff hopes and Pelinka’s standing, as years of polarizing decisions appear to have finally come to a head.
After years of LeBron’s future being thrust into the LA spotlight, it seems his is not the only one worth monitoring at season’s end.
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