Rob Pelinka didn’t exactly stand on solid ground when the Lakers began their 2019–20 campaign. He had just gone through a busy offseason — one of tumult, fresh off yet another absence from the playoffs, the resignation of his boss Magic Johnson, the assassination of his character by the living legend, and a futile courtship of reigning Finals Most Valuable Player Kawhi Leonard. Still, he remained undeterred, facing the criticisms head on and in public, and, more importantly, doing his job as best he could. And for all the shadows being cast on the purple and gold, they looked to the future with optimism. Because of LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Because of him.
The other day, Pelinka found his exertions rewarded with a multi-year contract extension that accompanied his promotion as the Lakers’ new vice president of hoops operations. Needless to say, the development is a reflection of the absolute trust and confidence franchise owner Jeanie Buss has in him, and an offshoot of the tangible returns his leadership has generated. He certainly swung for the fences, risking significant roster turnover, not to mention a record number of draft assets, to acquire Davis, and then waiting for Leonard’s decision even as the free agent market was thinning. And while he didn’t bat a hundred percent, there can be no denying the outcome.
That the Lakers are firmly entrenched at the top of the highly competitive Western Conference despite whiffing on Leonard speaks to Pelinka’s deft maneuvering in the aftermath. There’s no doubt that they will ultimately go only so far as James and Davis will take them. On the other hand, the supporting cast has turned out to be an extremely productive, if imperfect, one. Weaknesses abound, but, as their shellacking of the Thunder on the road even without their two All-Stars proved, they’ve learned to become better than the sum of their parts.
Heading into the trade deadline, the grapevine has the Lakers exploring possibilities to improve their talent base. Per speculation, all and sundry not named James or Davis are available under the right circumstances. Indeed, it’s Pelinka refusing to be satisfied, and understanding that there should be no limits to the pursuit of excellence. True, he’s working with handicaps, not least among them the salary cap. Then again, he has always had hurdles to overcome and concerns to address, often borne from within. He’s used to the challenge, and, as his promotion underscores, reaping the benefits of experience.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and Human Resources management, corporate communications, and business development.
