Ever since their slow start to the season, Los Angeles Lakers fans urged Rob Pelinka to pick up the phone and start making some moves.
But the former agent had been mostly quiet throughout the first couple of months of the season, making it quite clear that he had no intention of trading their future first-round picks unless a superstar suddenly became available.
And while that stance hasn’t changed all that much thus far, the Lakers have finally struck gold with a transaction, bringing in F Rui Hachimura from the Washington Wizards.
Moreover, Pelinka looked to appease the fans by letting them know that they’re not done making moves just yet and that they’ll continue to monitor the situation with other teams.
“[We] felt like it was an opportunity for us to strike early and address a need in a market that has proven to be a little bit slow,” Pelinka said. “And [it] doesn’t mean our work is finished: We’re going to continue to monitor the situation with the 29 other teams.”
Rob Pelinka introducing Rui Hachimura, says: “Doesn’t mean our work is finished.” pic.twitter.com/fYtsPQrSCQ
— Mirjam Swanson (@MirjamSwanson) January 25, 2023
The Lakers are still in contention for a playoff spot, and Anthony Davis will make his return from a lengthy absence in their next game.
Hachimura gives them a versatile and athletic forward who could play at both the three and the four, giving Darvin Ham another versatile weapon to shake up his rotations.
But even with Davis returning and Hachimura making his debut, it seems like the Lakers could use a couple of shooters and a wing-stopper, so it’s nice to know they won’t cross their arms and just wait and see if a player falls into their lap.
Bojan Bogdanovic, Cam Reddish, or even Jae Crowder would all be a solid fit in Southern California, and neither of them should demand a hefty price in return.
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