The Los Angeles Lakers are signing general manager Rob Pelinka to a multi-year contract extension that will also see him take on the role of the team’s president of basketball operations, according to sources who spoke to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Pelinka not only hired current head coach JJ Redick, but he also orchestrated the Luka Dončić trade with the Dallas Mavericks, which is considered to be one of the most lopsided trades in NBA history.
The Los Angeles Lakers have signed Rob Pelinka to a contract extension, with his new title as president of basketball operations along with general manager, sources tell ESPN. Lakers leadership is now signed long-term with Pelinka and coach JJ Redick. pic.twitter.com/BCpZNgxCzE
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 18, 2025
“For eight seasons, I have relied on Rob’s vision and leadership to do what’s best for the Lakers organization,” said Lakers governor Jeanie Buss in a statement. “I value his partnership and professionalism and believe in his ability to deliver championship-caliber basketball for Los Angeles and Lakers fans everywhere.”
Pelinka was named the Lakers’ general manager on March 7th, 2017. Three years later, he was promoted to vice president of basketball operations while maintaining his position as general manager. This was the same season that LA won the NBA Championship.
A smart and worthwhile extension
This move provides long-term stability to the Lakers, at least from a front-office perspective. Last June, Pelinka hired head coach JJ Redick to a four-year, $32 million contract. Now, with this extension, Pelinka and Redick will likely be tied together through the end of the 2027-28 season. If Redick continues to prove to be a good leader, their relationship could last well into the 2030s.
This type of stability is what great franchises are made of. The Celtics, Lakers, Thunder, and Cavaliers have all been the most successful teams in the NBA this season. And it’s no surprise that each one of them has GMs and head coaches who have been there for several years in a row to provide consistency.
How much money is Rob Pelinka gonna slide to the mavericks ownership and Nico Harrison lol for the extension ?
— Chris Williamson (@CWilliamson44) April 18, 2025
Conversely, if we look at some of the worst teams and biggest underachievers (the Suns, Kings, Wizards, etc.), they all have a ton of turnover at the head coach or GM position. The Kings fired their coach in the middle of the season. The Suns will be on their fourth coach in four years at the start of next season. Meanwhile, the Wizards, who finished with the second-worst record in the NBA, have had two different coaches and two different lead executives since the start of the 2022-23 season.
Across all sports, stability is one of the foundations of good teams. When you also realize that Rob Pelinka has been able to bring LeBron James and Luka Dončić to the team during his tenure, it’s clear that this is an executive who deserves more responsibilities and more time as the general manager of the Lakers.
