What makes a team successful? Players and strategies. But that’s not all, a major responsibility lies with the governing bodies. Individuals like managers and presidents also play an important role in enhancing their squad. Deciding which players to keep, whom to trade, and what kind of investments are required is crucial for any team. And well, Rob Pelinka has been doing a good job with the LA Lakers. Since he took the reins of the iconic team, things have changed for the better. However, not everyone will agree with this.

The 6’9″ power forward Kyle Kuzma debuted with the Lakers in 2017, the same year when Rob Pelinka took charge as the General Manager of the team. Kuzma spent four seasons and also played alongside, the King, LeBron James. Moreover, Kyle’s skills were and still are one of a kind- a true asset for any team. But, all his talent and achievements weren’t enough for Pelinka. The team let go of Kuzma soon after he won the 2020-21 season. Recently, the one-time champion shared a piece of his mind on the ifs and whats of his transfer.

What if Rob Pelinka retained Kuzma after 2021? Would the team continue to challenge the championship contenders? Kyle Kuzma believes there could’ve been a 100% possibility. “I think it was tough because I think they kind of gave up on me and they gave on that team too.” Right after the Lakers’ 17th championship title in 2020, Pelinka traded Kuzma for Russell Westbrook. Many fans believe this move wasn’t required at all. “Worst transfer in the franchise’s history,” many accused. The dynamics of the team changed and the downfall was visible. Who was at the center of all of this? GM, Rob Pelinka.

Moreover, the LA Lakers could’ve defended the title in ’21 had the trading fiasco not taken place. And not just Kyle Kuzma, several ex-players have blamed Rob Pelinka for the team’s downfall. Yes, injuries have been a problem, but monetary clutches and management issues have hampered the overall performance as well. The team hasn’t recovered since 2021 and a few big names also believe it’s because of their GM.

Ex-Lakers blame Rob Pelinka for the team’s concerning conditions

The 2019-20 LA Lakers was nothing less than a dream team. Their chemistry and understanding of the game led to the championship win. The never-seen-before unity also came from the fact that their legend Kobe Bryant’s sad and untimely demise had shaken the roots of the NBA. Moreover, the pandemic had grappled the world, thus fighting all odds became a must. Moreover, winning the title that year became a heartfelt tribute to the Mamba. But unfortunately, all the glory and records turned into a distant dream from 2020 onwards.

General manager Rob Pelinka felt bringing in some fresh legs in 2020 was necessary. So guys like Dwight Howard, JaVale McGee, and others were swapped out for Marc Gasol, and Wesley Matthews. Then a year later, the Lakers got rid of more members of the 2020 team like Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Alex Caruso to bring in Russell Westbrook. These trades were a massive blow for the team. Dwight Howard bluntly points his fingers at Pelinka. “I’m going to tell you who it was,” Howard said. “Rob Pelinka, man! God, Rob. Why did you do that to us? Rob, come on. I still love you, Rob. We still had the squad and we could have run it back.” 

And, as you might have guessed already, Dwight wasn’t the only one. Phil Handy completely agrees with the allegations. He too believes the LA Lakers’ downfall has Rob Pelinka written all over it. The former assistant coach stated: “Rob kinda messed up the dynasty we were starting.” Surely, the team is trying to recover from the setbacks, but how fruitful will it be? A new roster, some new faces, and new strategies- the loop continues. But the damage the Lakers faced due to Rob Pelinka’s trading plans cannot be undone.

Of course, a sudden change in a team’s dynamics either makes or breaks and there’s nothing in between. Were the admins slightly greedy to continue the winning streak? Yes. Did that lead to a major debacle? Absolutely. Moreover, injuries and losing players due to health and safety protocols have taken a toll on the team as well. The upcoming season is highly anticipated. Can LeBron James & Co. bounce back?