The Los Angeles Lakers’ front office faced significant backlash from fans this offseason due to their lack of activity. Despite efforts to improve the roster, GM Rob Pelinka made minimal changes, only adding Dalton Knecht and Bronny James through the draft.
The team that lost to the Denver Nuggets in the first round last season remains largely intact, with the only change being the hiring of rookie head coach JJ Redick.
As frustration mounts among Lakers fans, more details about the offseason have emerged. According to Lakers insider Anthony Irwin, the team’s inactivity stems from their reputation as an “inept and desperate organization” in the eyes of other teams. This perception has influenced trade negotiations, making it harder for the Lakers to make significant moves.
Irwin points to the ongoing Jerami Grant trade discussions with the Portland Trail Blazers as an example. The Blazers have reportedly demanded two first-round picks to trade Grant, a high price for a 30-year-old player on a less-than-ideal contract.
This situation highlights a pressing issue: if other teams view your front office as vulnerable, it’s essential to make significant changes to improve that perception. Despite this, Jeanie Buss has been hesitant to make necessary changes, leaving fans to bear the consequences.
The Lakers have always been a polarizing team in the NBA, known for their star-driven approach and willingness to take risks for big names. Since Rob Pelinka became GM in 2017, the team has cycled through four head coaches—Luke Walton, Frank Vogel, Darvin Ham, and now JJ Redick—with Walton’s tenure being the longest at 246 games.
Pelinka’s tenure has been marked by a tendency to seek quick fixes for long-term issues, often at the expense of stability. The Lakers need to avoid repeating these mistakes as they look to make impactful moves in the trade market.
