Lakers GM Rob Pelinka doomed LA with $182M move that could create major problem for JJ Redick image
The Los Angeles Lakers are heading into the season with an almost entirely new roster after changing the entire outlook of the team this offseason. It was an eventful summer with plenty of moving parts, and it remains unclear whether all of those changes will ultimately pay off.
The Lakers opened free agency with a bang, signing a trio of players. Their first major addition of the summer was Walker Kessler.
“The Los Angeles Lakers started the process of remaking their roster in the wake of LeBron James' decision to leave with a blockbuster trade and a trio of free agency signings Wednesday. Sources told ESPN's Shams Charania that the Lakers are acquiring Walker Kessler from the Utah Jazz for unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033 and first-round swaps in 2028 and 2030," ESPN wrote.
Los Angeles also added power forward Sandro Mamukelashvili.
“The Los Angeles Lakers have signed forward Sandro Mamukelashvili (ma-MOO-kell-osh-VEE-lee). Mamukelashvili (6’9”, 240) appeared in 80 games (13 starts) for Toronto during the 2025-26 season, averaging career highs of 11.2 points and 21.9 minutes, along with 4.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists, while shooting 52.3 percent from the field and 38.9 percent from 3-point range,” NBA.com wrote.
The two additions give the Lakers more size and shooting up front, but Lake Show Life’s Maxwell Ogden believes head coach JJ Redick could have a major problem if he tries to play the two together.
“Unfortunately, Pelinka has backed Lakers head coach JJ Redick into a corner by signing both Kessler and Mamukelashvili to four-year deals with eight-figure annual salaries without knowing if they can share the court. Unfortunately, there are a number of signs that point to that duo being unable to coexist. That's a rather daunting possibility considering Kessler signed a four-year, $130 million contract and Mamukelashvili joined the Lakers on a four-year, $52 million deal,” Ogden wrote.
It is still unknown whether playing the two together will actually become a problem. That is something Los Angeles will need to monitor closely, especially if Mamukelashvili has to move into a bench role for the betterment of the team.
Kessler is expected to be the starting center, leaving the Lakers without an established starting power forward. That could open the door for Mamukelashvili to start alongside him. However, if the two prove unable to share the floor effectively, Redick may decide that Mamukelashvili is better suited to lead the second unit. This will be one of the more interesting storylines to watch early in the season, if not detected, it could be a huge problem for Redick.
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