While optimism was a big theme of Monday’s Lakers Media Day, there was another story (and set of quotes) which I find very interesting. During his media availability, Rob Pelinka provided additional context on the team’s plans for 2018 free agency. Pelinka made it clear he values financial flexibility in next summer’s chase for free agents while simultaneously opening up more options than the “2 max players or bust” mindset that seemed to dominate the discussion to this point.
Lakers have been going hard at the idea that they'll sign 2 superstars in 2018. Slight shift in the way Rob Pelinka talked today. pic.twitter.com/7FYB2xhNYj
— Tania Ganguli (@taniaganguli) September 25, 2017
This really is a shift in language. In the wake of the NBA draft, Rob Pelinka spoke at length about all things Lakers and I noted at that time the plan he and Magic were trying to execute sounded very similar to the one Mitch Kupchak and Jim Buss had tried in previous years. Here’s an excerpt from my piece:
At one point, when speaking about the D’Angelo Russell trade, Pelinka pivoted to wanting to maintain cap flexibility in order to sign two max level free agents in the future.
This prompted ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne to ask the following question:
The ability to add two max salaried guys, that’s thinking big; that’s swinging big. And they did that here once, what makes you think you can actually get those guys?
Rather than transcribe Pelinka’s answer, which was quite long, I think I can summarize it thusly: with Magic now at the head of basketball ops, there’s a new energy in the building that inspires a sense of confidence. Pelinka noted that this feeling isn’t just limited to the team, its staff, etc, but could be felt during the pre-draft workout process via prospects giving off a vibe of wanting to play for the Lakers; to wanting to be a part of where this organization is going. Pelinka also gets the sense this is true of players around the league and, via conversations and anecdotally, he believes the new energy and believing positively in what they’re doing is going to work out for them.
In that same post, JA Adande also posted a video of Magic Johnson making very similar points — at one point laughing and saying if he didn’t think he’d be able to spend the money saved from the Russell/Mozgov trade, he wouldn’t have made that deal to open up the cap space.
For what it’s worth, I do not think Pelinka’s comments at media day reflect a huge shift in what their priorities will be next July. The team still wants two stars (or more) to add to this core of young players. Take your pick between LeBron, Westbrook, George, or others — the Lakers want them and will be on the chase like a Thursday night on KCAL 9.
But the pivot to highlighting how the flexibility could also mean “multiple guys” or to “re-sign some of our own players” should not be ignored. Yes, it’s wise to lay out all the team’s options. It’s also wise not to put all your eggs in the star free agent basket. But in a world where every word is dissected and scrutinized — especially from a team’s General Manager — going on the record to provide these type of clarity can also be viewed as a walking back of what was previously thought to be the only plan there.
I don’t want to belabor this point, but it’s important. In the big picture, the Lakers should have all options on the table. And they should be willing to bring back their own players (hello Julius Randle!) or sign multiple guys with that space. But, after hearing about the pursuit of max players for nearly 6 months (and longer than that, if you count the previous regime), comments like Pelinkas will also be interpreted as something different than being prudent or keeping their options open.
They’ll be looked at as a precursor to disappointment; as a setting of expectations towards less than what was “promised” before. Even if none of that is actually true.