Rarely do you hear NBA general managers use the terms “championship road” and “young core” to describe the same strategy.
After a flurry of moves at the deadline, a 24-hour period that shipped out five players and brought in five new ones, Lakers GM Rob Pelinka said he thought the Lakers got better, but also touted the roster’s younger, fresher feel. Including Rui Hachimura acquired from the Wizards last month, the team has added what Pelinka called “five core players” who are 26 or younger.
Does that add up to a contender, especially for a team that sat in 13th place entering the weekend? Maybe not. But the Lakers’ pivot to youth may be less about this season – with the team’s playoff hopes fading – and more about the future.
Pelinka spoke to the media Saturday morning for more than 20 minutes about the team’s active deadline, including sending out former MVP Russell Westbrook in what he acknowledged was a failed bid to compete for a championship. Many basketball observers gave Pelinka solid marks at the deadline for adding shooting, defense and clearing Westbrook’s $47 million set to expire this summer for one protected first-round draft pick. The Lakers were able to retain their 2029 pick, as well as coveted young players Austin Reaves and Max Christie.
But while Pelinka said coach Darvin Ham was “excited” to coach his remade roster down the stretch, the difficulty of what the Lakers are trying to accomplish this season isn’t lost on anyone. Adding to the issues, 38-year-old LeBron James was ruled out Saturday morning with what the team called left ankle soreness, his second consecutive missed game. Pelinka confirmed Ham’s Thursday comment that James had gotten imaging on his foot, but said, “we’re grateful that things came back clean and good.”
With James’ uncertainty adding to the challenges of blending the roster together, Pelinka’s comments about the Lakers’ future stood out even more than how the deals help…
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