Latest news with #Rob Pelinka
Yahoo
03-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Hernández: Lakers' commitment to Luka Doncic raises questions about LeBron James' role
Near the conclusion of the news conference to address his contract extension with the Lakers, Luka Doncic detailed the training program that contributed to his striking weight loss. When he was finished talking about how he lifted weight and refrained from playing basketball for a month, general manager Rob Pelinka made it a point to offer some thoughts. 'Luka's done all the work,' Pelinka said, 'but it's important to have a support system around you to help you do the great work.' Pelinka went on to praise Doncic's trainer, Anze Macek, and physiotherapist, Javier Barrio. He remarked how Macek and Barrio have 'worked seamlessly' with the Lakers' staff. He name-checked Doncic's agent, Bill Duffy, and business manager, Lara Beth Seager. Read more: 'Just the beginning': Luka Doncic on why he agreed to a three-year, $165-million contract extension These weren't garden-variety compliments. This was a pledge of allegiance. Shortly after Doncic was traded by the Dallas Mavericks to the Lakers last season, stories emerged about tensions between his inner circle and former team. Pelinka's words contained an indirect message: We will support you the way Mavericks didn't. This is your team. The commitment was formalized on Saturday, the Lakers signing the 26-year-old Doncic to a three-year, $165-million contract extension. The news conference ended with seven Lakers players and coach JJ Redick emerging from the back to take a picture with Doncic as he held up his jersey. A couple of the players, center Deandre Ayton and guard Marcus Smart, were personally recruited to the team by Doncic. Doncic is now officially the center of the Lakers' universe, and as inevitable as that seemed from the moment Pelinka acquired him, the dynamic intensifies a question that was initially raised last season: What does this mean for LeBron James? Too much shouldn't be made of James' absence from the news conference on Saturday, as Austin Reaves wasn't there either. However, James is under contract for just one more season and Doncic for at least three more, and how will James deal with not being the focal point of his franchise? James is a player who is used to exercising boundless influence over teams that employ him, enough to where the 17-time NBA champion Lakers drafted his undersized son. While the Lakers once had visions of Anthony Davis replacing James as the face of their franchise, the imaginary baton was never passed. The Lakers didn't make as big a deal of Davis' extension two years ago as they did with Doncic's on Saturday, for which a Doncic-themed photo gallery was erected for the news conference. There's an uneasy feeling about the situation, in large part because James hasn't clearly communicated his thoughts. When James exercised his player option for the upcoming season, his agent said that because James wanted to play for championships and the Lakers were 'building for the future,' their camp wanted 'to evaluate what's best for LeBron at this stage in his life and career.' The 40-year-old James will have a say in what happens, as his deal includes a no-trade provision. Asked how James viewed the Lakers' summer and whether he thought James would retire with the team, Pelinka replied, 'So all the interactions we've had with LeBron and his camp, [agent Rich Paul] in particular, have been positive and supportive. So very professional and Rich has been great. The dialogue with him has been open and constant. 'In terms of LeBron's career, I think the number one thing we have to do there is respect he and his family's decision in terms of how long he's going to play. I think that's first and foremost and we want to respect his ability to come up with his timetable on that. I think that's really important, but if he had a chance to retire as a Laker, that would be great." In other words, there wasn't enough clarity for Pelinka to be able to say with any degree of certainty, yes, he thought James would retire a Laker. Doncic accepted an offer from the Lakers to be their next headliner. That was an important development for them. But for them to be able to properly showcase their next act, they will have to close their previous one, whether it's by him accepting a supporting role or deciding to take his talents elsewhere. Sign up for our weekly newsletter on all things Lakers. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Insider claims Lakers have had trade talks about three new targets
While mid-July usually marks the start of the quiet part of the NBA's offseason in terms of player movement, teams aren't necessarily done making moves. The Los Angeles Lakers are one team that could still make a move or two if there is an opportunity available for them that they deem appropriate. They can free up most of their bi-annual exception — $3.9 million, to be exact — to spend on at least one more free agent if they waive guard Shake Milton by July 20. There is also the remaining possibility of a trade, especially since they have the expiring contracts of Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent and Gabe Vincent to offer a team looking for some salary cap relief. According to Anthony Irwin of ClutchPoints, L.A. has talked to teams about wing Matisse Thybulle, guard Marcus Smart and backcourt player Ayo Dosunmu. "Sources say Matisse Thybulle, Marcus Smart (though most teams are watching to see if he's going to be bought out), Ayo Dosunmu and others are names the Lakers have had preliminary conversations with teams about availability and price, though no offers have been made," Irwin wrote. Right now, the NBA's main summer league is taking place in Las Vegas. There are plenty of team executives there to watch their young players in action, which presents Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka with an opportunity to talk to other executives about potential deals. 'Rob (Pelinka) likes Vegas because he can just pull so-and-so aside and have a conversation that would otherwise take a little planning,' an Eastern Conference executive said. 'Summer league has become a real opportunity for all of us in that way.' Thybulle is a 3-and-D player who is 28 years of age and could fill a big need for Los Angeles. This past season, as a member of the Portland Trail Blazers, he averaged 7.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.2 steals in 20.8 minutes a game and shot 47.7% from the field and a career-high 43.8% from 3-point range. He made the All-Defensive second team for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons. Smart isn't a 3-point sniper — he has a career mark of 32.4% from that distance and made 34.8% of his 3-point attempts this past season — but he is a defensive pest. He has made the All-Defensive first team three times and was named the Defensive Player of the Year three years ago. The 31-year-old 6-foot-3 guard can also serve as a facilitator and has averaged 4.6 assists a game over his 10 NBA seasons. Dosunmu, 25, is 6-foot-5 and 200 pounds, and his 3-point shooting is a work in progress — he made 40.3% of his attempts from downtown during the 2023-24 season but fell to 32.8% this past season. But he's a solid defender and has shot 50.2% from the field in his four pro seasons. This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Insider claims Lakers have had trade talks about three new targets
