The Lakers like their in-the-family decision-making core of GM Rob Pelinka (Kobe Bryant’s former agent), senior basketball advisor Kurt Rambis, his wife Linda (the Rambi), and Jeanie Buss. That group expands on some topics — trading Russell Westbrook, for example — but that group is the core.
And it’s staying that way. The Lakers have extended the contract of Rob Pelinka through 2026, according to a report from Chris Haynes at Yahoo Sports.
Pelinka was rumored to be on a hot seat after last season when he orchestrated a Russell Westbrook trade, but pulled off the most important move of the summer for the Lakers — he got LeBron James to sign an extension. It’s a two-year deal that keeps LeBron on the Lakers through at least 2024.
Pelinka also spent the summer executing changes — ones demanded by LeBron — after another disappointing season: hiring Darvin Ham as coach, plus changing the supporting cast around LeBron, Anthony Davis, and Westbrook to be younger and defend better. The Lakers looked for a Westbrook trade, but couldn’t find one they were willing to pull the trigger on.
The Lakers should be better, but Pelinka and his team are still looking for moves that can vault Los Angeles up to contender status. Pelinka had a championship team in 2020 based on defense and versatility (3&D wings) around LeBron and AD, then proceeded to tear it down to get high-usage ball handlers, and the results have not been pretty. Pelinka started to undo that work over the summer and now he’s got more time to put together a team around LeBron that can contend.
