Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Lakers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
The summer of optionality is here for the Lakers. With few players on the books, the Lakers can have more cap space than any other team, allowing them to be as aggressive as they want this offseason.
However, having flexibility is only good if you know what to do with it.
Under the
leadership of President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka, the Lakers had some great hits and some tough misses.
Pelinka was able to trade for Anthony Davis, win a title and then move on from AD to acquire Luka Dončić in what’s considered one of the most one-sided deals in NBA history. But he also broke up his championship team, traded for Russell Westbrook and hasn’t found a long-term solution at center for the Lakers.
So, for our SB Nation Reacts survey this week, we ask fans how much belief they have in the team’s decision makers ahead of free agency.
This feels like a litmus test of one’s Lakers optimism.
If you look at the good Pelinka has done, then voting on having a lot of confidence makes sense. This means you value his big trades and recognize how he has made small deals that have had a big impact, like trading Gabe Vincent for Luke Kennard at the deadline this year.
Now that the Lakers have open roster spots, cap space and their superstar in place, Pelinka will cook and turn this franchise into title contenders.
Another positive is that Pelinka has new people in the organization to help him improve this team. The Lakers hired Rohan Ramadas as assistant general manager and brought on Tony Bennett as an NBA Draft advisor. With these additional people on the payroll, the Lakers front office will find a quality player with the No. 25 pick and make the right moves in free agency.
But if you see that the Lakers were not much of a factor in attracting interest in Giannis Antetokounmpo, and think the reason LA doesn’t have a center is that the front office can’t get a deal done, then voting with little to no confidence makes sense.
From that pessimistic angle, the Lakers’ optionality will amount to minimal changes. They’ll likely re-sign Austin Reaves, bring back LeBron James and sell the fanbase on end-of-the-rotation players other teams walked away from as being diamonds in the rough that will blossom with Luka as their teammate.
The Lakers will end this summer still far away from being a threat to the Spurs or the Thunder in the West.
So, what do you think? Do you believe the Lakers front office can build out a better team, or will this summer end with more excuses and less execution? Let us know by participating in our SB Nation Reacts survey.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.
