Lakers Give Rob Pelinka New Title and Contract

The Los Angeles Lakers have awarded general manager Rob Pelinka a contract extension and a new title, the team announced Friday.

Pelinka signed a multi-year deal that will keep him attached to the organization for the near future. Additionally, he is being named the president of basketball operations. He previously held the vice president title since 2020.

The former player agent was hired by the Lakers in 2017. He’s overseen several iterations of the club. When he joined, the Lakers were in flux. It was just a year after Kobe Bryant’s retirement. Pelinka, Bryant’s former agent, was tasked with bringing the franchise back to prominence

Two years later, LeBron James signed with the Lakers as a free agent. The next season, Pelinka orchestrated the deal that brought Anthony Davis to Los Angeles. The James-Davis duo led the Lakers to the franchise’s 17th championship.

The years proceeding the 2020 title weren’t as successful. After an injury-riddled ’21 campaign, the Lakers front office agreed to a multi-team deal which sent former league MVP Russell Westbrook to LA. It was a poor fit from the start. After missing the playoffs in 2022, the Lakers fired championship-winning coach Frank Vogel and hired Darvin Ham — the third head coach under Pelinka’s watch.

A midseason trade in 2023 catapulted the Lakers to a surprising Western Conference Finals run. However, after back-to-back playoff drubbings by the Denver Nuggets, Ham was eventually canned. JJ Redick was named the Lakers’ head coach — the fourth in seven years.

Everything has gone right for the Lakers and Pelinka since then.

Redick has proven to be a brilliant hire, and is a Coach of the Year candidate.

In February, Pelinka pulled off one of the most shocking trades in NBA history in acquiring 25-year-old Dallas guard Luka Doncic for Davis, Max Christie, and a first-round pick. Adding a player of Doncic’s caliber has reinvigorated the 40-year-old James. LA’s new superstar has the city buzzing for an 18th title.

Three months ago, the Lakers looked poised for another early playoff exit. Today, the Lakers are in title contention and have a generational star in his prime who can lead the franchise for the next decade. That shift was enough for the organization to reward Pelinka with a new deal.