Lakers extend GM Rob Pelinka, add president to title

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On the eve of the NBA playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers extended the contract of general manager/vice president Rob Pelinka, with a promotion included, just over two months after star Luka Doncic was acquired from the Dallas Mavericks.

Under the new deal, Pelinka now becomes the president of basketball operations to go along with his GM title. Vice president was added to his title in 2020.

Terms of the new deal were not announced.

Under Pelinka, the Lakers added LeBron James as a free agent in July of 2018 and since-departed Anthony Davis in a July 2019 trade. Prior to this season, he hired JJ Redick as coach.

“For eight seasons, I have relied on Rob’s vision and leadership to do what’s best for the Lakers organization,” Lakers governor Jeanie Buss said in a release. “I value his partnership and professionalism and believe in his ability to deliver championship-caliber basketball for Los Angeles and Lakers fans everywhere.”

The Lakers went 50-32 in the just-completed regular season to earn the No. 3 playoff seed in the Western Conference. They open the playoffs Saturday with a best-of-seven series against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Doncic was acquired Feb. 7 in a deal that cost the team Davis and Max Christie among other assorted pieces included in the deal. In 28 games with Los Angeles, Doncic averaged 28.2 points with 8.1 rebounds and 7.5 assists. The team went 19-13 after Doncic made his Feb. 10 debut.

The Lakers were just 35-47 in Pelinka’s first full season as GM in 2017-18 then won the NBA title in 2020 during the shortened pandemic season. Los Angeles has made the playoffs in four of the five seasons since then, advancing as far as the Western Conference finals in 2023.

–Field Level Media