Report: Teams Trying To Take Advantage Of Lakers In Trade Talks Because They Know Rob Pelinka Is Inept And Desperate

According to NBA insider Anthony Irwin of Lakers Daily, teams are trying to take advantage of the Los Angeles Lakers in trade talks because they know Rob Pelinka is inept and desperate. 

The Lakers have been linked to Jerami Grant, Kyle Kuzma, Bruce Brown, Cameron Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith and Wendell Carter Jr.

Los Angeles hasn’t added any new players to the roster this offseason via free agency or trades. The only new players are rookies Bronny James and Dalton Knecht.

“Another major factor in the Lakers’ stagnant summer: a league that feels it can take advantage of what it considers an inept and desperate organization,” Irwin reported. “For years, fans have decried a ‘Lakers tax’ that raises asking prices in trade negotiations. While it’s certainly true teams don’t like helping the Lakers if they can avoid it, league sources say the focus is more on getting the Lakers to pay up with the understanding eventually Rob Pelinka will have to save his job with some kind of move.”

The Lakers went 47-35 in 2023-24. They lost to the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs in five games.

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

The Lakers fired Darvin Ham as head coach and hired JJ Redick, who has never coached in the NBA. Redick was podcast partners with LeBron James. 

D’Angelo Russell picked up his 2024-25 player option worth $18.7 million. The Lakers are shopping the Ohio State product even though he wants to play for Redick. 

One of the best shooters in NBA history, Redick has yet to coach above the youth level. He played 15 years in the NBA with the Orlando Magic, Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers, New Orleans Pelicans and Dallas Mavericks.

The Lakers are trying to acquire Grant, who has the same agent as LeBron and Anthony Davis, but the Portland Trail Blazers want two first-round picks and Los Angeles doesn’t want to trade two first-round picks for Grant.