The Los Angeles Lakers pulled off a miracle in the second half of last season, with general manager Rob Pelinka and the team’s front office making some moves that turned things around for the storied NBA franchise.
Once the team finally moved off Russell Westbrook and brought in key role players like D’Angelo Russell, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Rui Hachimura, the Lakers were a rejuvenated team, even while superstar LeBron James was recovering from a foot injury.
As a result of these moves, the Lakers were able to defy the odds by reaching the Western Conference Finals to face Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets.
Unfortunately, the team didn’t stand much of a chance against the eventual NBA champions, as they were swept in four games.
However, Pelinka and company created a lot of optimism along with a clear plan heading into the offseason, which the team pulled off to perfection, which prompted former Lakers star Byron Scott to sing the praises of the team’s general manager, via Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson of Bally Sports.
Lakers GM Rob Pelinka deserves NBA’s Executive of the Year Award for moves made in the off-season says Byron Scott on Scoop B Selects. “You gotta give Rob Pelinka a lot of credit; I think right now he’s the Executive of the Year for what he was able to bring to the table.”
“I’d… https://t.co/f4TtRY191v pic.twitter.com/Tzgc0d8ZwK
— 👑 Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson (@ScoopB) August 29, 2023
Along with retaining Russell, Hachimura, and Austin Reaves this summer, the Lakers were able to bring in some solid additions, like Gabe Vincent, Taurean Prince, Cam Reddish, and Jaxson Hayes.
Adding all these players, along with keeping the roster relatively intact, makes the Lakers a force to be reckoned with right out of the gate next season and quite possibly the biggest threat to the Nuggets’ hopes to come out on top in the West and repeat as NBA champions.
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