Latest news with #RobPelinka
Yahoo
16 hours ago
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Lakers Turn Heads With Move Immediately After NBA Draft
Lakers Turn Heads With Move Immediately After NBA Draft originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Los Angeles Lakers waited a long time to make a pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. They didn't have a first-round selection, but they traded up to No. 36 on Thursday to get Arkansas forward Adou Thiero. Advertisement Los Angeles still needs a starting center, but it has several months to figure that out before opening night in October. The team traded Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks for Luka Doncic in February and has had a hole in the frontcourt ever since. It also agreed to acquire Mark Williams from the Charlotte Hornets shortly after, but it nixed the deal after he failed his physical. The Lakers made another move right after the draft on Thursday, via ESPN's Shams Charania. Los Angeles Lakers general manager Rob Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images "Villanova star Eric Dixon has agreed to a two-way NBA contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, sources tell ESPN," he reported. "Dixon was the No. 1 scorer in college basketball last season, shooting 41% from 3-point range." Advertisement The 6-foot-8-inch, 265-pounder averaged 23.1 points on 45.1 percent shooting with 5.1 rebounds across 34.7 minutes for the Wildcats last season. Fans had mixed reactions on social media. "Lakers fans gonna say he's better than [Jayson] Tatum now," one said. "How was he undrafted then?" one asked. "How did he go that low in the draft if he was hooping like that?" another one asked. "Lakers got a SNIPER!" another said. "Ring us I've seen enough," another said. "NOT GONNA SAVE THEM," another said. Dixon played five seasons at Villanova and became a full-time starter in 2021-22. Related: NBA Fans React to Lakers-Timberwolves Trade Related: Warriors NBA Champion Emerges as Potential Lakers Target This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
a day ago
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Lakers 'Expecting' Good News on Key Wing's Contract Decision
Lakers 'Expecting' Good News on Key Wing's Contract Decision originally appeared on Athlon Sports. There are numerous issues at hand for the Lakers in the wake of this week's NBA draft, and one of the first ones on which they will get some clarity comes from wing Dorian Finney-Smith, the forward the team acquired in a trade with the Nets in December. Finney-Smith played 43 games with L.A. last season, making 20 starts and averaging 12.3 points while making 39.8% of his 3s. Advertisement But Smith is heading into the final year of a four-year, $56 million contract, and has the opportunity to opt out. He is due $15.4 million next season, and could not attract more than that on the open market, which gives him incentive to opt in and keep his money intact. The Lakers, though, are not banking on that. "I'd say they're expecting him to opt out," one NBA executive said. "But then they're expecting him to sign on to stay in L.A. after that. If he opts in, that's even better, as long as it keeps him on the team. Unless there is a trade that comes out of nowhere, he will be a Laker next year, that's what everyone expects." Los Angeles Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob PelinkaGary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images DFS is not likely to get much of a raise from the Lakers, not because he is not worthy of a bump--he is a very good 3-and-D player--but because it's clear the market is so tight that he would not get much of a raise if he did opt out. Advertisement But he wants to ensure he will be paid beyond this season. Thus, he could sign a longer-term deal and give himself some security with the Lakers. Finney-Smith would be a good candidate for a four-year deal with a modest raise over what he got when he signed an extension with Dallas in 2022. He could, though, seek to limit the deal's length in hopes of getting back into free agency in a year or two, when there is more money available. That won't be the case here in 2025, though, so expect to see Finney-Smith back with the Lakers. Finney-Smith's deadline for opting out is June 29. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
a day ago
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Lakers rumors: What Rob Pelinka isn't ‘thrilled' about in trade talks
The post Lakers rumors: What Rob Pelinka isn't 'thrilled' about in trade talks appeared first on ClutchPoints. Amid the beginning of what's already been an exciting offseason, days removed from the 2025 NBA Finals, Rob Pelinka and the Los Angeles Lakers will look to improve their roster to compete with the champion Oklahoma City Thunder. Advertisement The Houston Rockets' blockbuster move for Kevin Durant set the tone for a busy summer across the association. The Lakers are reportedly interested in acquiring Andrew Wiggins from the Miami Heat, but executing a deal won't be easy. In a proposed deal centered around Lakers forward Rui Hachimura and Wiggins, Pelinka is reportedly growing frustrated with the Heat's asking price, per ClutchPoints' Anthony Irwin. 'Now, fans may be wondering why the Lakers would entertain this kind of deal while their center spot is in such dire straits, but league sources say Rob Pelinka hasn't been thrilled with the asking prices he has been presented with this summer in trade talks,' Irwin reports. 'If they went ahead with this deal or something similar, look for the Lakers to acquire next year's starting center with their mid-level exception. As things stand right now, they would have access to the taxpayer mid-level exception, worth $5.7 million.' There's also a possibility that the Lakers are in the market for a center, and they're allowing the misleading reports about Wiggins run amok. Advertisement 'It's also possible these kinds of rumors are being floated so that those teams the Lakers have been holding trade talks with for a starting center might believe they're serious about using their trade assets on something else if prices for centers don't drop,' Irwin adds. 'This is smokescreen season, after all.' The Lakers have had a thin frontcourt ever since their trade with the Charlotte Hornets for Mark Williams was rescinded due to a failed physical. Many anticipate that Los Angeles will address those concerns at some point during the Lakers' offseason this summer. Lakers checked in with Heat on Andrew Wiggins trade? Sam Navarro-Imagn Images The Lakers' interest in Andrew Wiggins is intriguing, considering his championship experience with the 2022 Warriors and defensive flexibility. The thought of adding Wiggins to the starting lineup piqued Lakers GM Rob Pelinka's interest, per ClutchPoints' Anthony Irwin. Advertisement 'I will say that the Lakers again, because of their relationship with Pat Riley, I would imagine they are very well in tune with what Pat thinks of what he saw from Andrew Wiggins, which I don't think was all that great,' Irwin said. 'I don't know, but the Lakers have checked in on him. They have asked about what the price would be.' That price may fluctuate between now and the end of the offseason. Related: Lakers fans react to Suns' wild Mark Williams trade after previous fail Related: Sources: Lakers, Heat moving forward with Andrew Wiggins trade talks
Yahoo
2 days ago
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New Report on Luka Doncic's Lakers Decision
New Report on Luka Doncic's Lakers Decision originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Los Angeles Lakers pulled off one of the most surprising trades in NBA history after acquiring Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks in February of last season. In his first season in LA, Doncic averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.5 assists in 28 games, and helped the Lakers to the third seed in the Western Conference. Advertisement While the superstar guard remains under contract next season, the Lakers are hoping to secure his longterm future in Los Angeles during the offseason. Doncic is entering the final year of his current deal, which includes a player option for the 2026-27 season. Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) with GM Rob Pelinka and head coach JJ Redick.© Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images While there's no formal deadline for an extension this summer, teams typically look to finalize deals before training camp begins. The Lakers are expected to offer the maximum allowed under the CBA, and internally, there's been reports of confidence that the 26-year-old will commit long term. Still, ESPN's Brian Windhorst noted that while Doncic has given no indication that he plans to leave, there is a sense of mystery until he officially does sign the extension. 'The Lakers need to do some things with their roster. It would be nice to get Luka a center and a rim runner who he really excels along with," Windhorst said. "It'll be sort of a referendum on where Luka feels about the Lakers in their direction, if he extends. He has given no indication that he will not. However, there is a sense of mystery until he does.' Advertisement That uncertainty has kept the situation closely watched around the league, especially as Los Angeles tries to solidify its cap structure before the season starts. Doncic has not publicly commented on the extension talks, and league sources say the front office is maintaining an aggressive but patient stance. Related: New Report on Austin Reaves' Relationship With Lakers After $89 Million Decision Related: Lakers Coaching News Emerges Amid NBA Offseason This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
2 days ago
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Rob Pelinka Issues Strong Statement on Lakers' Offseason Plan
Rob Pelinka Issues Strong Statement on Lakers' Offseason Plan originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Last season, the NBA world was turned upside down when the Lakers pulled off one of the most unexpected trades in recent memory sending Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Luka Doncic. Advertisement The move made headlines and instantly changed the dynamic of both franchises. While adding Luka was a massive win, the trade left the Lakers with one major hole in their lineup: the center position. And now, as the offseason kicks into gear, all eyes are on Rob Pelinka and what he has up his sleeve to fill that void. In a recent interview, with Spectrum Sportsnet, Pelinka was asked about his plans for the off season especially when it comes to the center position. To this, the 55-year-old executive said, "I said at the end of the year, we know one of the things we have to address is the center position and that's clearly gonna be one of our focuses as we begin the free agency won't rest until we get it right." With vets like Brook Lopez, Clint Capela, and Al Horford possibly hitting the market, L.A. will have options. Add in the uncertainty around Dorian Finney-Smith's player option, and the Lakers have some big decisions ahead in a tough Western Conference. Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77), forward Jarred Vanderbilt (2), forward LeBron James (23) and guard Austin Reaves (15)© Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images The Lakers are clearly in win-now mode, hoping to make the most of their LeBron-Luka window. However, in order to have any chance at silverware, rim protection is a must and if that position is not sorted out before the season starts, winning a championship might not be on the table for the Lakers. Advertisement Related: Lakers Announce LeBron James News After Luka Doncic's Debut This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
