Lakers, Pelinka waits on LeBron James: “We want to honor him”
LeBron James remains at the center of the Lakers’ plans: Rob Pelinka is waiting on his decision while also working on a new deal for Austin Reaves
The elimination at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder, capped by a 4-0 sweep after a 115-110 loss in Game 4, has officially started the most delicate offseason the Los Angeles Lakers have faced in years.
General Manager Rob Pelinka opened his end-of-season media session with a message directed toward his superstar: LeBron James.
We may have never seen a player who has honored the game the way he has
Rob Pelinka
Pelinka emphasized that the franchise is ready to welcome James back for a 24th season, even as he turns 42 next December.
He has given so much to his teammates and to this organization. The thing we want to do more than anything else is honor him in return
Rob Pelinka
LeBron’s decision and the Reaves situation
The future of LeBron James remains uncertain. After eight seasons in purple and gold – the longest stint of his career with one franchise – the superstar must decide whether to return to the Lakers, join another team one final time, or retire.
James said he plans to “recalibrate” with his family in the coming weeks, and Pelinka promised patience.
The first item on the agenda is allowing him to take the time he needs to decide his next steps. Does he want to play another year? That will be decided through time spent with his family and inner circle. We respect this moment for him
Rob Pelinka
At the same time, attention is also on Austin Reaves, who has become a cornerstone since arriving in Los Angeles as an undrafted player in 2021. Coming off a career-best season averaging 23.3 points and 5.5 assists, Reaves is entering free agency, but both sides appear committed to staying together.
He started his journey here as a Laker and made it clear he wants to continue as a Laker. We want his odyssey to keep unfolding in purple and gold. Both sides have made it abundantly clear that we want to find an agreement so he can continue his productive career here
Rob Pelinka
Redick’s vision and Luka Doncic’s role
Head coach JJ Redick envisions a system built around a high-level trio of LeBron James, Austin Reaves, and Luka Doncic.
Pelinka compared the challenge to managing “three quarterbacks,” a luxury that still requires the right tactical balance. Redick confirmed his belief in the current core.
We want that core back together. All three of those guys showed tremendous growth this year
JJ Redick
Doncic is expected to play a major role not only on the floor, but also in offseason decision-making. Pelinka called him an “incredible partner”.
His basketball IQ is something fans can see, but JJ and I get to appreciate his understanding of players around the league and how he wants to play. The possibilities we have with him are incredibly exciting
Rob Pelinka
Front office: the quiet revolution
While Pelinka works on extensions for key pieces such as Rui Hachimura and Luke Kennard, the most significant transformation may be happening behind the scenes under the new ownership group led by Mark Walter.
The UCLA Health training center will undergo a complete overhaul designed to bring the Lakers to the forefront of sports science.
Working with some experts from the Los Angeles Dodgers, we’ll introduce a biomechanics lab, new movement and recovery labs. This is a full rebuild that will elevate what we already have here to the next level
Rob Pelinka
The organizational chart will also expand with new hires to support the front office. The Lakers plan to add two assistant general managers.
One will focus on the draft and player evaluation processes, the other will be more strategy-oriented – salary cap and data analytics. It’s not that we had deficiencies. We have a hardworking staff. We simply want to add value, and we’ve already begun a broad search for those positions
Rob Pelinka
The Lakers offseason begins now – waiting on LeBron James, and measuring everything else accordingly.