Rob Pelinka has been an excellent executive for the Los Angeles Lakers.
After last season’s debacle, much was made about how Rob Pelinka was not the man for the job as the general manager of the Los Angeles Lakers. Especially because of the interview Magic Johnson did on First Take, claiming that Rob Pelinka betrayed him.
This left the Lakers looking like the same dysfunctional mess that they were three years prior. Media members were calling for a more seasoned general manager like a Bob Myers or Masai Ujiri. Clearly, the basketball world did not believe Pelinka was the right man for the job.
Pelinka did not say a word during these tumultuous times — just like LeBron James would — and put his work in to change the course of this franchise. Pelinka completed the Anthony Davis trade after Magic mishandled the situation at the deadline and still managed to keep Kyle Kuzma when it was assumed that all the young players were to be included in the deal.
Then Pelinka chose Frank Vogel as the next head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, causing folks to wonder why he didn’t go with LeBron’s guy, Ty Lue. Instead of answering those questions regarding the Vogel hiring, Pelinka introduced Vogel and let Vogel explain what he had in mind for the Lakers.
The doubt for Pelinka didn’t end there when Kawhi Leonard spurned the Lakers after the team chose to wait until July 6th to find out Kawhi was conspiring to get Paul George to the Clippers.
Pelinka still found valuable players with little time left but still received hate for the decision to wait on Kawhi.
The Lakers started the season on fire but that did not stop Pelinka from trying to improve the roster. A key pickup at the deadline ended up being the difference-maker in the second-round matchup against the Houston Rockets in Markieff Morris.
Even with all those moves as general manager, Rob Pelinka still finished 7th in Executive of the Year voting but I’m sure Pelinka would rather have an NBA Championship.