On the eve of the NBA playoffs, the Lakers showed executive Rob Pelinka that they think he’s the right person to help lead their future, rewarding him with a contract extension and the title of president of basketball operations.
Pelinka, previously the vice president of basketball operations, retains the title of general manager. He last agreed to a four-year extension in 2022.
“For eight seasons, I have relied on Rob’s vision and leadership to do what’s best for the Lakers organization,” Jeanie Buss said in a 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.”
Pelinka re-established himself as the trusted and clear leader of the Lakers’ basketball operations department this season, first by hiring JJ Redick last summer. Then, Pelinka struck a pair of trades, first for Dorian Finney-Smith and second for Luka Doncic, that it made clear that his position within the organization was more than safe.
Friday’s finalized extension was viewed as mostly a formality in NBA circles following the Doncic trade. Terms of the extension weren’t announced.
Read more:Luka Doncic had an epic playoff moment last year. Here’s why it could happen again
Pelinka, Kobe Bryant’s longtime agent, built a championship roster around the trade for Anthony Davis in 2020 only to receive criticism for how it was dismantled. Within two years, the team had added Russell Westbrook, fired Frank Vogel and hired Darvin Ham. After trading Westbrook, Ham and the Lakers reached the Western Conference finals.
But following a second straight playoff elimination by Denver, Pelinka again fired the coach and hired Redick. The front office drafted Dalton Knecht and Bronny James, signed Jordan Goodwin to a two-way contract and made the Finney-Smith and Doncic deals to put the Lakers in position to host Game 1 of a first-round series Saturday at Crypto.com Arena.
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The Lakers have given Rob Pelinka a contract extension and a new title: president of basketball operations. Terms of the deal were not announced Friday.
Pelinka, who has been the storied franchise’s general manager since 2017, had been vice president of basketball operations since 2020.
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He pulled off the stunning deal to acquire Luka Doncic before the NBA trade deadline after hiring JJ Redick as coach before the season. Pelinka is widely expected to be selected the league’s executive of the year.
The Lakers, who finished third in the Western Conference this season, open the first round of the playoffs Saturday evening by hosting the Minnesota Timberwolves.
“For eight seasons, I have relied on Rob’s vision and leadership to do what’s best for the Lakers organization,” said Jeanie Buss, Lakers co-owner and governor, in a statement. “I value his partnership and professionalism and believe in his ability to deliver championship-caliber basketball for Los Angeles and Lakers fans everywhere.”
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
