The Lakers announced on Friday that they have signed general manager Rob Pelinka to a contract extension and elevated him to president of basketball operations. Pelinka previously held the title of vice president and general manager with the team.
“For eight seasons, I have relied on Rob’s vision and leadership to do what’s best for the Lakers organization,” team governor Jeanie Buss said in a team statement. “I value his partnership and professionalism and believe in his ability to deliver championship-caliber basketball for Los Angeles and the Lakers fans everywhere.”
It’s a well-timed extension for Pelinka, who just two months ago orchestrated the heist of a lifetime when he traded Anthony Davis, Max Christie and one first-round pick to the Dallas Mavericks for Luka Dončić. It’s like spending $5 on a new Ferrari, it’s about as much of a homerun of a deal anyone in the league could get. Pelinka didn’t have to do much because it was Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison who approached the Lakers about trying to acquire Davis. The only thing Pelinka had to do was keep it quiet long enough for the news not to leak before it happened.
It’s a move that any NBA executive would dream about, and luckily for Pelinka, it landed at his front door. Now the Lakers are set up for the next decade-plus with Dončić as the face of the franchise for the long haul. That’s a vastly different future than the one L.A. had entering the season, where there were questions about what this team would look like post-LeBron James.
Had that Dončić trade not happened, it’s fair to wonder if Pelinka would’ve gotten this extension. His deal was set to expire in 2026, and had things gone south this season and summer, there surely would’ve been rumblings about whether or not he would remain in L.A. past his current deal. But none of that matters now. He’s the toast of the town in L.A., and thanks to the Mavericks, he still has more assets to use to continue building around Dončić this summer.
Aside from the Dončić trade, since Pelinka has been in charge, the Lakers have won a championship in 2020, made a Western Conference finals appearance in 2023, and have made the playoffs five times in the last six years. This season, they’re primed to make a deep run thanks to the acquisition of Dončić, as well as the ascension of Austin Reaves, who Pelinka signed to a two-way contract in August 2021. Reaves has continuously evolved as a player and has emerged as someone who could be a potential All-Star in the future.
Pelinka’s new contract ensures he’ll continue to be the lead decision maker for the Lakers, and now that he has Dončić, the next step will be building an adequate roster around him to contend for championships every season.
