Pelinka sent D'Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, and Jarrett Vanderbilt to the Lakers in exchange for Russell and Westbrook.
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| Lakers GM Pelinka: Don't blame Russell Westbrook for Lakers' issues |
GM Pelinka: Don't blame Russell Westbrook
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Rob Pelinka, the general manager of the Lakers during Russell Westbrook's tenure in Los Angeles, argues that Westbrook is not solely responsible for the team's failures.
After a whirlwind of deals, including the one that sent Westbrook go after less than two seasons, Pelinka has fresh optimism for the Lakers' future.
Pelinka stated, "I believe that all clubs occasionally take risks and trade for a talent, and our hopes when we acquired Russell Westbrook were that it would help us become a title contender."
"We didn't reach that target, so you have to pivot if something isn't working and make adjustments," he added Saturday in his first comprehensive comments since signing six new players. "I believe there was an opportunity presented by this trading deadline. And I believe it's incredibly unfair to place the last year and a half on one player. The roster as a whole had to mesh, and sometimes in sports, if something isn't working, it's necessary to make adjustments.
After returning to his hometown via an expensive trade in the summer of 2021, Westbrook played some of the worst basketball of his career as he struggled to fit into a supplementary role alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the big man whose chronic injury issues made the situation even worse. Only 44 of a potential 138 games were played by the trio, with a 22-22 record.
Pelinka explains that he traded nearly half of the Lakers' roster before the trade deadline to boost their chances of a late playoff run, but also because the moves will make Los Angeles a much more likely contender next season and beyond. Los Angeles enters Saturday's game against Golden State with a 25-31 record and a 13th-place standing in the Western Conference's 15-team field.
"I believe we demonstrated at the trade deadline a willingness to be really aggressive with our future assets in order to improve the team and also plan for the future," Pelinka explained. I am pleased that we were able to put our words into action.
Pelinka dealt 2017 NBA Most Valuable Player Russell Westbrook to the Lakers for D'Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, and Jarrett Vandeweghe. In addition to adding Rui Hachimura at the end of last month, Los Angeles acquired Mo Bamba and Davon Reed at the deadline.
The Lakers exchanged six players in four deals to acquire at least five potential long-term contributors in exchange for a protected first-round selection in 2027.
Pelinka stated, "It can almost be considered pre-agency." "We purposefully structured these movements to give optionality in July, and a number of these players have team options or team-controlled years remaining on their contracts. It allows us to observe how these last 26 regular-season games and potential postseason games play out, and then we can enter the offseason with a larger data set and a real-time study of how the parts fit together to make future decisions.
Pelinka felt compelled to dismantle the Lakers' supporting group because the team's initial strategy failed for the second straight season: The Lakers started the season 2-10 under new head coach Darvin Ham, and their flashes of great play never lasted long enough to make a dent in the standings. Davis has been sidelined for 24 games due to injury, while James will miss his 13th game against the Warriors.
While hailing Beasley as "one of the most elite shooters in the game" and Vanderbilt as "one of the most unusual young defenders in our game," Pelinka was ecstatic to land Russell, who played his first two NBA seasons with the Lakers before Magic Johnson and Pelinka moved him away in 2017.
Russell may become a free agency this summer, but Pelinka has made it obvious the Lakers want to keep him.
Pelinka stated, "We view him as more than just a short-term renter." "We believe he may fit in well with our core players, offering spacing, shooting, and playmaking ability in addition to his great efficiency."