Another script twist in the Lakers

The Lakers have entered the field of what whoever understands them, let him buy them. It is difficult to keep track of a franchise that is reaching shades of pure surrealism in its decision-making, in its composition and form, practically in its day to day. If his fans are finishing stopping the spinning top of accounts, rumors and infinite possibilities and are getting used to the idea that the season is going to start with Russell Westbrook on board, which seemed unthinkable when the (tragic, dire, unbearable) ended last year, now they have found another strange news: in the midst of chaos, when there seems to be no clear direction, and if there is, it hides under layers of an almost unnatural strangeness, The Lakers have extended general manager Rob Pelinka’s contract.

Actually, the news has now spread through Yahoo Sportsbut It was conceived in the summer, when the new manager, Darvin Ham, arrived. Then, Pelinka received an extension that ensures he is under contract until 2026, the same time that the agreement with the new coach lasts, thus matching his career. Pelinka arrived in 2017, did (or was there while it was being done) the 2020 champion team and later received a first extension that also elevated him to vice president of operations. After two years of perpetual mistakes and strokes of bad luck that have turned a champion into an outcast in almost record time, the Lakers have extended the manager’s contract for that whole thing. Months after firing Frank Vogel, the coach who had also won that 2020 ring and who had also been overtaken by the chaos of the subsequent two seasons. Whatever criteria are applied in the franchise, it is clear that they have been radically different with Vogel and with Pelinka. Perhaps the criterion is that there is no criterion.

The Lakers are ruled by Jeanie Buss, daughter of the unforgettable Dr. Jerry Buss, perhaps the most important owner in the history of American professional sports. Jeanie replaced her brother Jim via coup d’état, who was leading the team to the worst crisis in its history. In the organization there are two other Buss brothers, Joey and Jesse, whose work has been praised for years and who, or so it is said, are now moving up in a chain in which there are several characters suspects: Pelinka on the one hand, the rambis (Kurt and his wife Linda) on the other, all close to Jeanie Buss, pure laker pedigree (this is unquestionable) but also a manager that can already be doubted, at least in terms of its ability to adapt to the times and break a circle of inbreeding and family matters that has become obviously harmful in a historical franchise which continues to have its existence in favor as a differential fact but which is growing competition: the economic strength of the NBA fills the League with new owners, with a lot of money and fresh ideas. Years ago, in fact, the best example was next door, in the same LA: the Clippers, not long ago a laughingstock.

If Pelinka secured his renewal in the summer, the move could be understood as a way to give him stability in the position and prevent him from sitting down to negotiate with other teams under that weakness in the future. blurred, unstable. But the fact is that Pelinka has not done anything, has left the Westbrook matter to lead alone to the resolution that, except for surprise (which you never know) seems the most toxic and least desirable for all parties, surely including Westbrook himself. In the absence of knowing if a masterstroke, a strategic turn or a mountain of good luck that is now difficult to guess remains in the hat, Pelinka has left the team undone, poorly built (he still has not signed strong and defensive forwards, for example) and far from the hierarchical zone of the true aspirants. But, before you can tell if the implosion to come is atomichas secured another contract extension.

Pelinka did not play for the Lakers, like almost anyone who passes through the offices or the franchise bench, but He was Kobe Bryant’s agent. And that weighs heavily on Jeanie Buss’s trial.. He arrived in 2017, and over the next two years the team picked up LeBron James and Anthony Davis, but it’s hard to give the GM much credit for those moves. Even Magic Johnson seemed to have more hand, at least until he came out scalded and, in addition, accusing Pelinka of having stabbed him in the back. When Kawhi Leonard refused to join LeBron and Davis in the mother of all big threes, the Lakers made a run roster who ended up being champion. Since then, it has seemed that Pelinka has been chasing himself. not so much without knowing to do as without knowing how to do it. The 2020 champion had his tremendous defensive identity stripped away in search of an elusive injection of offensive talent (more points, more creation to offload LeBron) that hasn’t materialized.

Pelinka made, his greatest achievement, a good team post ring. The Dennis Schröder, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, LeBron James-Anthony Davis-Marc Gasol quintet started the 2020-21 season like a shot: 21-6 and a +15.5 of net rating with that unit on track. Then came the injuries, which ruined that season and forced Pelinka to show the paw Andre Drummond arrived to relieve Marc but finally generated a mess of centers in which both gave their worst version. Schröder received an offer (he denies it) of 84 million that he rejected before ending up receiving a minuscule contract in the Celtics and, now, returning to the Lakers almost as meritorious. Entries and exits are handled strangely: Talen Horton-Tucker went from untouchable in negotiations to leaving to make room for Patrick Beverley. It had been, THT, a priority ahead of the missed Alex Caruso. Players with potential, formerly Malik Monk and now Lonnie Walker, sign one-year contracts that make it horribly difficult to continue (Monk has gone to the Kings) if things go well. Second-round picks or non-draft picks agree to two-year deals that force the team to gamble too financially too soon. It happened with the renewal of THT, it was an issue that influenced Caruso’s departure and now it is on the way to repeat itself with Austin Reaves, Max Christie…

But above all, Pelinka has not fixed the Westbrook case. In the absence, I insist, of a swerve (now or during the season) that is increasingly difficult to see. At least with a remotely happy ending. And the fact is that, in this situation, Pelinka has another contract extension. Maybe the Lakers, often the easiest answer is the right one, don’t know what they’re doing. Perhaps Jeanie Buss has lost her way. Or maybe there’s a plan, somewhere. Or maybe this team, because that gift has always had it, finds ways that no one else imagines to run into championship rings. But right now everything seems confusing, strange, even toxic. What was said: whoever understands these Lakers, let him buy them. With Pelinka on the lot until 2026.