Luka Doncic, Rob Pelinka, Lakers
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Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic gives a first pump to general manager Rob Pelinka, right, before game four of the first round of the NBA playoffs between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Luka Doncic made three wishes to Los Angeles Lakers president Rob Pelinka, like Aladdin did to the genie in the bottle.
Doncic specifically asked Lakers president Rob Pelinka to add a pick-and-pop guy, a defensive stopper, a rim protector, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, during their much-publicized dinner meeting after their first-round exit.
Pelinka and Redick used the dinner to examine future cap space, the picks they owned, the picks they didn’t own and to discuss how to tackle their future together. Doncic was encouraged to share the archetypal players he felt the roster could use — a pick-and-pop guy, a defensive stopper, a rim protector — so the Lakers could identify realistic players to fit that mold.
Pelinka granted Doncic’s wishes with his savvy offseason moves.
He signed Jake LaRavia, a pick-and-pop wing who shot no lower than 38.5% over the last three seasons, to a two-year, $12 million guaranteed deal.
The Lakers also hit big in the buyout market.
They landed Marcus Smart, the defensive stopper who won the 2022 NBA Defensive Player of the Year and former No. 1 pick Deandre Ayton, the rim protector who started for the Phoenix Suns in their NBA Finals run in 2021.
As a bonus, Pelinka netted the three significant additions without costing them a pick.
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Deandre Ayton, Blazers
Getty Deandre Ayton is excited to become Luka Doncic’s pick-and-roll partner.
In return, Doncic signed a three-year, $165 million extension with the Lakers on the first day he was eligible to sign it.
The new face of the Lakers franchise expressed his satisfaction over Pelinka’s moves this offseason.
“I think we have a great team, we have what we need to compete for the championship,” Doncic told reporters during his Aug. 2 press conference. “I’ll try to win every game no matter what and we’ve got some new great guys on the team, so you know we’re going to go for it.”
Doncic played a key role in recruiting both Ayton and Smart.
Ayton shares the same agent as Doncic under Bill Duffy, the WME Sports head of its basketball operations. Doncic personally called Smart to extend his invitation to join him at the Lakers.
Smart said Doncic personally recruiting him meant a lot to him, which is one of the reasons why he chose the Lakers after he reached a buyout with the rebuilding Washington Wizards.
“When you get a guy like Luka calling, referencing, checking on you, trying to see where you at to see if you want to come and join something special that he’s trying to cook up over here,” Smart told reporters during his introductory press conference. “And for him to say that he can really use my help, that meant a lot.”
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Marcus Smart, LeBron James, Lakers
Getty LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers looks to pass the ball against Marcus Smart.
Aside from his new diet that transformed his body, Doncic says Smart’s addition will also help him become a better defender.
“I think [I will play defense] way better,” Doncic told reporters. “You got Marcus, so he’s going to teach me some things. But that’s going to help a lot.”
Doncic said he recruited them for his singular focus on a championship pursuit next season.
“To build a team to win the championship,” said Doncic on why he helped the Lakers recruit Smart and Ayton. “I think we had two great, great guys. I played against them before, never with them. So now I’m happy they are on my team.”