Optionality — that is the buzzword Rob Pelinka has attached himself to amid trying to transition the Los Angeles Lakers to the Luka Doncic era. Eventually, it will be put up or shut up time for the Lakers general manager. That moment is rapidly awaiting him in the summer of 2026.
“I would say we were aggressive," Pelinka said of the trade deadline. "One form of being aggressive is saying no to moves that come your way that might not be best for the short and long-term future. ... It's hard to say no sometimes to getting a good player that could be a quick short-term fix.”
The Lakers president said those short-term fixes can come back and hurt the long-term vision. Pelinka then emphasized once more just how active the team was in leaving no stone unturned. There was just nothing else that satisfied both the desire to win-now and to continue building in the future.
If Pelinka truly believes what he is saying, then fine. However, the time to make a stand will be in the upcoming free agency period. If nothing is done with the opportunity the Lakers have created for themselves, the clock could start ticking quicker and louder in Los Angeles.
Lakers front office faces crucial free agency that could define Doncic era
Adding Luke Kennard always stood out as the type of move the Lakers would be interested in. They get a short-term boost without hurting their long-term financial freedom. Kennard is off to a nice start in Los Angeles too.
Does the newest member of the Lakers move the needle significantly during this season? Probably not. It's hard to sell that deal as being enough to close the distance on being a real championship contender in 2025-26.
For the frustrated Lakers fans waiting for something significant, this summer has to be it. If it's not, Pelinka will be put under the spotlight very quickly.
Doncic will turn 27 years old by the end of the month. The Lakers superstar is right in the middle of his prime. Luka will end his second season in purple and gold without much to show for the shocking blockbuster that brought him to Los Angeles in the first place, barring a surprising championship run.
There are simply no excuses for the Lakers to not be contenders from 2026-27 onward.
"We felt like creating optionality or having optionality now is really a positive thing for us this coming offseason," Pelinka said.
The Lakers general manager may not know it, but by constantly signaling this offseason as the stage for revamping the team, he's created his own test to pass. Remake the roster around Doncic and get the job security that would be deserved from accomplishing that feat. Fail in putting a championship-caliber unit around Luka and start checking your rear view for Mark Walter.