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Rob Pelinka Issues Strong Statement on Lakers' Offseason Plan

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kevin Binoy | Last updated Jun 27, 2025 3:18 AM ET

Last season, the NBA world was turned upside down when the Lakers pulled off one of the most unexpected trades in recent memory sending Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Luka Doncic.

The move made headlines and instantly changed the dynamic of both franchises. While adding Luka was a massive win, the trade left the Lakers with one major hole in their lineup: the center position. And now, as the offseason kicks into gear, all eyes are on Rob Pelinka and what he has up his sleeve to fill that void.

In a recent interview, with Spectrum Sportsnet, Pelinka was asked about his plans for the off season especially when it comes to the center position.

To this, the 55-year-old executive said, "I said at the end of the year, we know one of the things we have to address is the center position and that’s clearly gonna be one of our focuses as we begin the free agency period......we won’t rest until we get it right."

Rob Pelinka on Lakers' center search:

"We won't rest until we get it right."
— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) June 27, 2025

With vets like Brook Lopez, Clint Capela, and Al Horford possibly hitting the market, L.A. will have options. Add in the uncertainty around Dorian Finney-Smith’s player option, and the Lakers have some big decisions ahead in a tough Western Conference.

The Lakers are clearly in win-now mode, hoping to make the most of their LeBron-Luka window. However, in order to have any chance at silverware, rim protection is a must and if that position is not sorted out before the season starts, winning a championship might not be on the table for the Lakers.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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