Author Monojit Mandal
Rob Pelinka, president of basketball operations for the Los Angeles Lakers, is being praised for his incredible comeback this season, which culminated in his team’s triumph against the Grizzlies in the 1st round of the 2022-23 NBA play-offs. The Lakers ended the series by winning the sixth and final game by an astonishing margin of 40 points, 125-85.
Pelinka received praise on social media when his plan to reorganize the team’s squad in the middle of the season worked. He took the audacious step of trading three old and expensive senior point guards, Russell Westbrook, Patrick Beverley and Kendrick Nunn, for Thomas Bryant, some second-round selections and a protected first-round pick in the top four. This pick proved to be crucial in saving the Lakers’ season.
Westbrook’s absence and his maximum salary of $47.1 million were cited as the reason for the team’s success. In addition, the presence of D’Angelo Russell, Jarrett Vanderbilt, Rui Hachimura and Malik Beasley, as well as late-season additions Bamba, Harrison and Tristan Thompson, helped the Lakers to victory in the playoffs and the first round of the series.
During the game, Los Angeles forward Anthony Davis showed an excellent performance and finished with a double-double of 16 points and 14 rebounds in just 28 minutes of play. Pelinka’s choice to surround Lakers stars LeBron James and Davis with cast members who made much more sense on the court together was also praised.
Pelinka’s recent success demonstrates his competence and ability as a team president. Previously, he built the Lakers’ most recent championship squad, which won the title in 2020. The Lakers now have a chance to fight harder in the playoffs and perhaps win another title under Pelinka’s supervision.
When the Lakers’ playoff chances were hurt in the middle of the season, many Lakers fans lost hope. Pelinka’s boldness in reorganizing the cast, on the other hand, showed that he didn’t hesitate to take risks in order to achieve success. His ability to make tough decisions and execute them efficiently has earned him the respect of the Lakers organization, as well as the basketball community as a whole.