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About six months ago, the Los Angeles Lakers were mired in mediocrity due to an incomplete and unbalanced roster, and it looked as if they were going to miss the playoffs again.
General manager Rob Pelinka was getting much of the blame for the team’s predicament. Critics went after him for several bad or questionable personnel moves, especially the Russell Westbrook trade in 2021.
But Pelinka performed the NBA equivalent of life-saving surgery by executing multiple trades that brought Rui Hachimura, D’Angelo Russell and Jarred Vanderbilt to Los Angeles. A few weeks ago, he re-signed Hachimura, Russell and Austin Reaves to reasonable deals in free agency while adding Jaxson Hayes, Gabe Vincent and Taurean Prince.
Lakers legend Magic Johnson says that Pelinka should be named the Executive of the Year for miraculously transforming the team into a very competitive one (h/t Lakers Nation).
Via Los Angeles Times:
“I think he followed it up with another outstanding job, first from the trade deadline and then he kept it going in the summer. He did better than anybody in the summer. All the moves he made, he was the No. 1 GM in the NBA this offseason. No question about it. All the guys that we signed will help LeBron and the other guys because now we are deeper. Rob is going to be executive of the year.”
While no one may end up picking the Lakers to win it all this coming season, most agree they will be championship contenders as long as they avoid major injuries.