According to multiple sources, including a series of Tweets from Adrian Wojnarowski, the Los Angeles Lakers will name former NBA agent Rob Pelinka its new general manager.
Pelinka has had a very successful career representing some of the top names in the game, including Chris Bosh, former NBA player/coach Derek Fisher, 2017 3-point champion Eric Gordon, and James Harden. One of the most notable of Pelinka’s clients is Kobe Bryant. The representation of Bryant, who played for the Lakers his entire career, provided Pelinka with a unique relationship with the team’s ownership and how the organization functions.
It was reported that the Lakers were originally pursuing Golden State Warriors GM Bob Myers, who is also a former agent. However, once Myers signed a contract extension, the Lakers searched for alternative options. As one would imagine, part of accepting this position means that Pelinka would need to separate himself from his agency, Landmark Sports Agency, and his long list of clients. According to Wojnarowski, Pelinka will turn his agency over to his employees, including Brandon Rosenthal, Diana Day and Erika Williams.
Pelinka is not the only new member of the Lakers front office, as the organization parted ways with long-time executives Mitch Kupchak and Jim Buss. In addition to Pelinka, former Laker great and NBA legend Magic Johnson has come aboard as the new president of basketball operations. Johnson has been pretty vocal about the possibility of ever running a team, and told ESPN.com, “First call I’ll make if I’m in charge, Kobe Bryant. Because Kobe understands winning. He understands also, these players, you know?…Whatever time he has, I want him to come and be a part of it.”
Now that Johnson and Pelinka are in place, will the third member of the trifecta be the recently retired Bryant?