The Los Angeles Lakers have experienced a lot of underachieving results throughout the 2021-22 NBA season. Now, holding a 27-34 record, they rank ninth in the Western Conference standings with just a two-game lead over the New Orleans Pelicans and Portland Trail Blazers.
There has been no shortage of questionable personnel decisions from the Lakers to lead them to where they are now. Atop the list was the Russell Westbrook that Pelinka reportedly originally wanted to be the Buddy Hield trade instead, but catered to the demands of LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
According to Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer, one NBA general manager criticized Rob Pelinka for not being all that good at his job, stating he “wasn’t returning some teams calls” at the trade deadline last year.
“He wasn’t returning some teams calls at [this year’s] deadline,” one general manager told B/R.
The not-so-great reviews about Rob Pelinka date back to when he was an agent representing Kobe Bryant as the CEO of The Landmark Sports Agency. One NBA assistant general manager went as far to call him an “asshole.”
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Russell Westbrook, Lakers Share ‘Mutual Interest’ In Trade
“He was an asshole as an agent,” said another assistant general manager. “He had the most powerful players and if he wanted the player moved, he would’ve eviscerated you as a staff to get whatever he wanted. You can’t do that to people, and then expect them to work with you when you join their side.”
The Lakers surely will undergo changes in the offseason, even if there was reporting about there being a chance “this is the roster” going into the 2022-23 season. The continued losing has just become too much to overlook.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Russell Westbrook, Lakers Share ‘Mutual Interest’ In Trade
For a Los Angeles Lakers team that set the bar as high as being an NBA title contender, being in the Western Conference play-in tournament is simply unacceptable. There is little patience for teams with LeBron James and as his career winds down, that will only intensify. Perhaps a front office change will be in order.
