2. 2019 offseason
Some may argue that this is the best offseason that Rob Pelinka put together as the team’s NBA Championship followed this offseason. While that is true, the no. 1 offseason on this list ranks first for reasons that we will explain when we get there.
The big move of the 2019 offseason was trading for Anthony Davis. The trade was great then and in hindsight, it is still great. The Lakers did not really give up that great of assets and that is coming from a self-proclaimed Lonzo Ball fan.
Ball isn’t even on the Pelicans anymore, Brandon Ingram blossomed for New Orleans but was not going to do that in LA, Josh Hart’s tenure with the team appears to be over and the draft picks that New Orleans will get will all likely be in the 20s.
Barring an unforeseen fall from grace, which would have to come from the Westbook trade, the Pelicans are not going to like what they got for Davis.
Granted, Davis kind of forced himself to Los Angeles and lowered the price by making it obvious that he was probably going to sign with them after the 2019-20 season anyway. You could have made the case then that LA should have waited but it was obviously the right move considering they won the title.
The Lakers did a great job of pivoting after Kawhi Leonard spurned the team as well. While it was not plan A, Pelinka was able to build a supporting cast that was good enough to win the title.
Oh, and let’s not overlook the fact that this was the offseason that Pelinka hired current head coach Frank Vogel, who has been great for the team.