3. Andre Drummond
The Los Angeles Lakers signed Andre Drummond as a desperation move this season after he was bought out by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Pelinka did botch the center position last offseason and Drummond was a last-ditch attempt to reclaim some consistency at the position.
It did not go very well. Drummond clogged the paint with LeBron and Anthony Davis on the floor and was not nearly as efficient as he should have been near the rim. It ultimately led to him sitting in the NBA Playoffs, which did not go over very well.
However, that does not mean that Drummond can’t succeed at all in LA. He had very little time to get accustomed to the Lakers’ schemes and got even less time playing next to LeBron and AD, who were both injured.
The one problem about Drummond is his potential contract demands. He likely won’t get what he wants but it would not be shocking at all if he got a salary in the $10 million range. If Tristan Thompson can get two years and $19 million then Drummond can get something similar. That might be too expensive for LA unless they are very high on him and sign him to an MLE deal.
Pelinka represented Drummond when he came into the league but the relationship ended before Pelinka took the front office gig. Drummond fired Pelinka back in 2014 right before he worked out the massive extension he signed with the Detroit Pistons.
It is probably water under the bridge at this point for Pelinka and that existing relationship could help any contract talks. They seemed to help when Drummond chose the Lakers during the season.