Western Conference executive says Rob Pelinka is smart for waiting
Since the middle of last season, Los Angeles Lakers fans have been impatiently imploring their team to make a trade.
Most trade rumors have centered around Russell Westbrook, who has been playing better in his new role off the bench, although he has shot poorly in his last three games.
If Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka was incompetent and impulsive in trading for Westbrook in the summer of 2021, he appears to be trying to not compound the mistake by being suckered into a substandard trade.
Amid rumors that have arisen in recent days and weeks, one rival executive in the Western Conference actually believes Pelinka is doing the right thing by waiting for the right offer.
Via Lakers Daily:
“The praise revolved around recent rumors that the Lakers may try to target Washington Wizards star guard Bradley Beal.
“‘So here was the quote from the Western Conference executive I spoke to who had mentioned this,’ Howard Beck told Sports Illustrated‘s Chris Mannix on the “Crossover” podcast. ‘He says, “Washington is the one that I keep thinking that’s going to happen. … (Bradley Beal) got a no-trade clause; he wants to come to California.”‘
“Beck then laid out that Beal offers a unique opportunity for the Lakers due to the no-trade clause in his contract with the Wizards. If he wants a trade, and the only team he is interested in joining is the Lakers, Pelinka and company could further force the Wizards’ hand.
“‘Whatever you want to say about Pelinka, he’s being smart, he’s taking his time,’ the exec said, according to Beck.”
Los Angeles is 3-10, which would make one think it would have greater urgency to do something on the trade market. However, the team wants to wait until at least Thanksgiving before getting serious about potentially making a deal.
One reason is guard Dennis Schroder and center Thomas Bryant are expected to make their regular-season debuts soon, and the team wants to see what they will bring to the table.
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