After more than a month of inactivity, it's difficult to find a word that better encapsulates the Los Angeles Lakers' 2024 offseason than polarizing. Between the hiring of a new head coach, the inability to bring on the rumored favorite for the job, a divisive NBA Draft plan, and a silent period of free agency, few know what to make of what Rob Pelinka has done.
A recent offseason survey has offered a glimpse into what the rest of the NBA thinks about what Pelinka and the Lakers have orchestrated this summer—and it's not pretty.
Los Angeles' whirlwind offseason began with incessant rumors linking it to JJ Redick, who would later go on to become the team's new head coach. Between then and now, Dan Hurley declined an offer to fill the same job, Bronny James was drafted, and nothing really happened in free agency.
According to Tim Bontemps of ESPN, a group of 18 NBA scouts, coaches, and executives weighed in on the offseason at large, with a vote going to Los Angeles for the worst offseason of any franchise.
Lakers receive anonymous vote for worst offseason in the NBA
It's admittedly easy to understand why the Lakers would be selected for such a distinction. The hiring process for the new head coach created more chaos than optimism, especially after landing on a first-year head coach who has zero experience above the youth level.
The selection of James was later perceived as an attempt to placate franchise player LeBron James by drafting his son.
Once free agency began, all eyes were on the Lakers. The general expectation was that Pelinka would attempt to maximize the little time that Anthony Davis and James could have left as a superstar duo, especially with the latter approaching their age-40 season.
Instead, Los Angeles' offseason acquisitions have been limited to selecting James and Dalton Knecht at the 2024 NBA Draft, and signing Blake Hinson and Armel Traoré to two-way contracts.
It wasn't all quiet on the free agency front, however, as the Lakers re-signed Max Christie to a four-year, $32 million contract. It was a surprising move to those outside of Los Angeles, as Christie struggled to secure playing time in two seasons under previous head coach Darvin Ham.
If the Lakers' offseason strategy is proof of anything, however, it's that Ham is viewed internally as the primary source of the team's struggles in 2023-24.
Furthermore, Knecht has been widely praised as a steal of a selection by the Lakers at No. 17 overall. He's the reigning SEC Player of the Year, as well as one of the best shooters and three-level scorers in his draft class.
As far as those around the NBA see it, however, the Lakers have produced one of the worst offseasons of any team in the Association.