Lakers hire 'literal rocket scientist' Rohan Ramadas as assistant GM

So, Ramadas is smart enough to launch a rocket. But is he the basketball mind who can launch the Lakers back into the championship stratosphere? 

The Pelicans were among the worst teams in the league over the past two seasons, posting a 47-117 record. Attribute the losing to questionable front-office moves, including trading the draft rights for Atlanta Hawks forward Asa Newell and pick No. 8 in the 2026 NBA Draft for center Derik Queen during the 2025 draft. 

Queen, who made the 2025-26 All-Rookie second team, flashed promise but has yet to prove he's worth the draft capital the Pelicans gave up. He averaged 11.7 points per game in 81 games this past season and started in 48 of those contests. 

Like many roster transactions, it's unclear how much say Ramadas had in the move. For what it's worth, his role with the Pelicans didn't seem to involve personnel decisions. He established AI and coded models to assist the front office. It sounds like he may do more of the same in L.A. 

"More on the strategy side," Pelinka said of Ramadas' job description during his end-of-season news conference on May 12. "Cap analytics and data." 

Pelinka plans to hire another assistant GM to handle "player draft and evaluation processes."

Ramadas' position with the organization appears to focus on the salary cap, but that's still a crucial role. L.A. must answer multiple contract questions this offseason, including whether to re-sign forward LeBron James and whether to do the same with guard Austin Reaves if he enters free agency. Reaves can decline his $14.9M player option before the June 29 deadline to do so. 

If Ramadas navigates these situations effectively, he could help the Lakers plot a championship trajectory. L.A. fell short of that target this past season, losing to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round of the playoffs.