Lakers Exec Rob Pelinka Brings Bold Playoff Claim, Talks Anthony Davis Trade Saga

The Los Angeles Lakers got into a big trouble after LeBron James suffered a groin strain on Christmas Day. The team tried to talk about several players before the trade deadline, including Anthony Davis. Unfortunately, the Pelicans did not like Magic Johnson’s offer. Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka made a bold claim.

Pelinka said he would not want to play against the current Lakers team in the playoffs. According to him, the Lakers are strong enough without the Pelicans star.

The Lakers got back on their feet in the Boston Garden. They defeated a team that was 9-1.

“There’s no question that was the goal,” Pelinka said. “When we had a significant slew of injuries, we were fourth. We were just a couple games back of second or third seed in the West on Christmas Day when LeBron got injured.

“We can’t look at that as an excuse. We have to look at it as an opportunity. Life is full of circumstances that you can’t predict. They fly at you and you have to react to it, you’ve got to batten down the hatches and find a way to get through it. 

“Hopefully with our team we’ve gone through some of this adversity and it’ll meld us together. If we can get in the playoffs, I wouldn’t want to see us in any seven-game match-up, that’s for sure.”

Pelinka addressed trade issues

Trade rumors somehow affected the game against the Indiana Pacers, but Pelinka is convinced that his players will survive the Davis issue.

“The NBA rules are so strict are so tough around us talking around specific transaction, specific trade and specific player on another team so I can’t really get into this,” the Lakers general manager said.

“But overall, from Jeanie [Buss], to Magic [Johnson], to myself, to Luke [Walton], we always want to be aggressive, to do everything we can to put ourselves in a championship position every season. At every trade deadline, this one and in future ones, we’re going to continue to be aggressive until we accomplish that mission.

“I think at the end of the day all of us have jobs that are being publicly discussed. The wins and losses and the front office are being publicly discussed. Good trade, bad trade. Same for players. That’s just part of the territory. I think it’s important to recognise that’s part of the business. Hopefully, with the trade deadline over, the group will just stay together. We have a mission to try to make a playoff push, get in the playoffs and make some noise.”