“We know we need a pivot. It would be good if it was a threat to its verticality and someone who could protect the area in defense. In this next signing market there will be a lot of movement in the league. There are many aggressive leaders in teams that expect immediate success. There will be many opportunities to attend and I am excited about what there is, “he said this week Rob Pelinka, President of Operations and General Manager of Los Angeles Lakers Just after confirming the disappointing elimination of the Angelino team in the first round of the NBA’s play off at the hands of the Timberwolves.
Pelinka does not live its best moment despite these words. Indicated by all. For his choice of JJ Redick as a coach, for the unexpected change of Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis in the middle of the season … The executive has to spin very fine to convince in the coming campaign.
For now, he must convince LeBron James to continue after the leader of the Angelina franchise has dropped his future and will talk to his family. But it must also convince, with a solid and future project, to A Luka Donc that could be an agent free of not having a previous agreement. The former Mavericks has a year of guaranteed contract with the Lakers, plus a ‘Player Option’, where he must choose between renewing or signing for any other franchise that does offer him a winning project.
Doncic will have its future in hand next year
His bet must be important and, although he said he was excited about what is coming, he will not have anything easy. Mimbres has to change, but also some wage limitations and stops that invite you to have to release some of your young stars or future options in the draft.
Jovan Buha, of The Athletic, assured this week, after the elimination, that the priority will be Doncic’s continuity and that, for this, there is already a plan. “Los Angeles Lakers will be willing to any contract structure that Luka Doncic wants. The organization completed the Exchange for Doncic without guarantees that it would sign again, although it told ESPN before the playoffs that wanted to keep the Lakers, “he says.
The floor would not be the one that would have gained in the Mavericks, but it would place the Slovenian at the height of the great NBA stars. Although that will not be enough and will have to surround them with a set with aspirations, which they managed to do at the end in Dallas.
Even before the ‘play off’ will begin They began associating pivots names to the Lakers, among which was a European star such as the ‘Malaga’ Sabonis Domantas. Now, the name they put on the horizon of the Angelino team is a pivot who already played with Doncic in the Mavericks and knows what he can contribute. This is Daniel Gafford, which this year has averaged 21.5 minutes, 12.3 points and 6.8 rebounds in the Texan team.
Gafford’s is not one of those exciting names that Pelinka spoke about, but it could be a first stone to build an interior game of the Lakers that was very weakened after the march of Anthony Davis.
