Lakers Set Two First-Round Picks as Trade Standard; Pelinka Hints Evaluations for Contending Status Will Come After Games

The Los Angeles Lakers are prepared to offer two first-round draft picks when the right trade presents itself.

On Wednesday, Rob Pelinka, the Lakers’ general manager, stated, “If there is a way to elevate the Lakers to a sustainable better level, we will trade with two draft picks. At the same time, if we believe that there is indeed a player in the market that we need, we will also use one draft pick for a minor upgrade.” Pelinka added that any such move would be carefully considered. When asked whether a trade could transform the team into a contender, Pelinka said, “We still believe in this team at present,” but he added that it would take about 30 games to accurately assess the team’s strength in the new season.

In response to Pelinka’s remarks, media personality Robbie Calder commented, “Rob Pelinka giving vague future draft pick trade parameters has become a preseason tradition, much like Ben Simmons’ workout videos.”

At the Lakers’ Media Day in 2022, Pelinka stated that he and the management were “very cautious with the use of draft assets,” and since then, the Lakers have not made any significant trades. The mid-season restructuring before the 2023 trade deadline helped the Lakers reach the Western Conference Finals, but they ultimately lost to the Denver Nuggets for the second consecutive year, which did not seem to truly raise the team’s ceiling.

This year, Pelinka once again advocates caution over rash action, and such passive operation is indeed not what a general manager should do for a championship-aspiring team. Moreover, with both of the Lakers’ best players being over 30 years old, isn’t it too late to evaluate the team’s strength after 30 games under the current Lakers roster? However, so far, perhaps the Lakers’ championship window may have completely closed, and therefore making the kind of trades Lakers fans hope for might backfire.

This is the dilemma Pelinka faces, where he must find a balance between the long-term interests of the team and sitting idly by as one of the greatest players in history ends his career.