Report: Lakers Owner Jeanie Buss Not Considering Firing Rob Pelinka

According to NBA insider Anthony Irwin of Lakers Daily, Los Angeles Lakers owner Jeanie Buss is not considering firing president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka. 

Pelinka hasn’t made any moves this offseason. 

“None of this is meant to excuse the Lakers not doing anything of substance this summer,” Irwin wrote. “Pelinka may like to remind fans and media at every turn how difficult his job is, but he is paid extremely well to do it. If he can’t help improve this roster, he needs to be replaced by someone who can. Sources close to the Lakers say Buss is adamantly against even considering such a change.”

The Lakers lost to the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the 2024 playoffs in five games.

Denver also beat Los Angeles in the 2023 Western Conference Finals in four games. 

Pelinka fired Darvin Ham as head coach and hired JJ Redick, who has never coached in the NBA. LeBron James signed a new contract this offseason and the Lakers drafted Dalton Knecht and Bronny James in the 2024 NBA Draft. 

Knecht and Bronny are the only new players on the team.

The Lakers tried to sign Klay Thompson, but the four-time NBA champion signed with the Dallas Mavericks. 

“So, even as fans hold onto every new whisper and report that maybe, just maybe, the Lakers will do something, in all likelihood, Pelinka is done for the foreseeable future,” Irwin wrote. “Yes, things change quickly in this league and that always needs to be considered, but unless the trade market sees a real shift, the Lakers will finish this offseason with less talent on their roster than they finished last season with.”

All signs point toward the Lakers not making any moves via free agency or trades this offseason.

Pelinka is not liked by many Los Angeles fans, but he has a close relationship with Buss, which is all that matters for his job security.