Early last season, the Los Angeles Lakers seemed stuck in a fast-moving river without a paddle. They were saddled with an unbalanced roster that lacked frontcourt depth. It also lacked legitimate scoring help for LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
But in late January, they traded for forward Rui Hachimura, a legitimate scoring threat, while giving up very little. Days later, they dealt the controversial Russell Westbrook for guard D’Angelo Russell and defensive standout Jarred Vanderbilt.
Hachmura, Russell and Vanderbilt have all received contract extensions this summer to remain in Los Angeles.
ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith said during an episode of “First Take” that had those trades not taken place, Lakers executive Rob Pelinka would’ve been fired by owner Jeanie Buss (h/t Lakers Daily).
Have the Lakers had the best offseason in the NBA? 🤔 @stephenasmith thinks so 👀 pic.twitter.com/lcVDurfHji
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) September 18, 2023
“I’m telling you what I know,” Smith said. “If that trading deadline hadn’t happened when you acquired D’Angelo Russell and Vanderbilt – you got Hachimura before that – before you made the deal for them or what have you, Rob Pelinka would have been out.
“He’d have been done. I’m telling you – Jeanie Buss was gonna pull the plug. Rob Pelinka has done an outstanding job … since that time.”
Prior to the team’s midseason trades, many fans were calling for Pelinka to be axed, especially after he traded for Westbrook in 2021 and failed to re-sign cult favorite Alex Caruso. Now, the general manager has earned kudos from fans and pundits alike. He remade the Lakers into a legitimate championship contender that has plenty of youth around James and Davis.